Fallout 76 inspired hanging bat Halloween decorations made with the xTool P3 laser cutter.

How to Make Fallout Bats (Halloween Hanging Decor)

If you've ever wandered through the Savage Divide in Fallout 76, you might have spotted the adorable little hanging bats decorating the roofline of the Pumpkin House. This quirky Halloween decoration is one of those small environmental details that makes exploring the wasteland so much fun! Naturally, I had to bring these Fallout 76 hanging bats into the real world and make my own version for Halloween.

The best part? They're made from cardboard, paint, and twine! I used my xTool P3 laser cutter to cut ten cardboard bats in practically no time, then turned them into spooky little decorations with Plaid craft paint and a few dots for their eyes. They're lightweight, inexpensive, and perfect for hanging individually or stringing together into a Halloween bat garland. Bat experts will agree they are cool.

And honestly, there's something especially fitting about making these bats out of cardboard. In the world of Fallout, they're the kind of decorations that could have been hanging around before the bombs fell. They're simple, a little silly, and full of that handmade Halloween charm.

Whether you're decorating a game room, adding a little Fallout-inspired flair to your Halloween display, or just looking for an easy DIY Halloween decoration, these hanging bats are a fun project to try. Let's make some!

What Are the Hanging Bats in Fallout 76?

If you're familiar with Fallout 76, you probably know that the game is full of little environmental storytelling details. From abandoned houses to quirky seasonal decorations, there's always something interesting to discover while exploring Appalachia.

One of those details is the Pumpkin House, located in the Savage Divide region of the game. This recognizable Halloween destination has a wonderfully spooky atmosphere, and the hanging bats along the roofline are a fun part of its seasonal look.

The bats have a simple, handmade appearance that makes them easy to recreate using basic crafting supplies. They're the sort of decorations that might have been cut from cardboard and painted by hand before the world ended.

I decided to make my own Fallout 76 hanging bats using cardboard, my xTool P3 laser cutter, and some paint. The finished decorations capture that same playful Halloween look, and they're easy to customize for your own spooky season display.

If you're a Fallout fan, these DIY cardboard bats are a fun way to bring a little piece of the game into your home. They're also a great example of how video game decorations can inspire real-life craft projects!

Supplies for DIY Cardboard Hanging Bats

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One of my favorite things about this project is that it doesn't require a huge collection of supplies. You can make these Halloween bats with a few basic materials and a little creativity.

Here's what I used to make my Fallout-inspired Halloween decorations:

Cardboard
xTool P3 CO2 Laser
Paintbrush
White craft paint
Black craft paint
Twine
Long needle
Scissors, if needed for trimming the twine

You'll also need a design for the bats. You can create your own bat silhouette or use a suitable design that captures the look of the hanging bats from Fallout 76.

For the paint, I used Plaid craft paint to cover the main surfaces of the bats. White paint and black paint were used for the eyes, giving each little bat a playful expression.

Cardboard is a great material for lightweight Halloween decorations, especially when you're making several pieces at once. It is inexpensive, easy to paint, and simple to thread with twine.

The twine gives the bats a rustic, handmade look that fits right in with the post-apocalyptic aesthetic of Fallout.

Step 1: Cut the Cardboard Bats with the xTool P3

The first step is cutting out the bat shapes!

I used my xTool P3 laser cutter to cut ten bats from a single piece of cardboard. The P3 made quick work of the project, cutting the shapes cleanly and precisely.

This is one of the reasons I love using a laser cutter for small craft projects. Cutting several identical shapes by hand can take a while, especially when you want the finished pieces to look consistent. With the xTool P3, I could cut all ten bats in one go.

The cardboard also makes sense for recreating the decorations from Fallout 76. It gives the bats that simple, homemade appearance, and the finished pieces are light enough to hang from twine without needing heavy-duty hardware.

Before cutting, make sure your cardboard is suitable for your machine and that your laser cutter is approved for the material. Cardboard can ignite easily, so never leave a laser cutter running unattended. Use the manufacturer's recommended settings, ventilation, and fire-safety precautions, and check that the material is appropriate for your specific machine.

Once the cutting was finished, I had ten little cardboard bats ready to transform into Halloween decorations.

Step 2: Keep the Bats in the Cardboard Sheet for Painting

Here's a little crafting trick that makes this project much easier!

After cutting the bats, I removed the cardboard sheet from the xTool P3 and set it on my desk with all the bats still sitting in their cutouts.

Instead of popping out every single bat and trying to hold each one while painting, I left them right where they were.

Why? Because tiny pieces can be surprisingly fiddly to paint. When you pick them up, it's easy to get paint on your fingers, smudge a freshly painted edge, or accidentally leave fingerprints on the surface. Then you have to figure out how to hold the piece without messing up the paint.

Leaving the bats nestled inside the cardboard sheet solves that problem!

The surrounding cardboard acts like a little holder for each bat. The pieces stay in place while you paint, making it much easier to cover the surfaces without having to grip the edges.

This technique is especially useful when you're making multiple identical decorations. Instead of painting ten individual bats one at a time, you can work across the entire sheet.

It's a simple little shortcut, but those are often my favorite kinds of crafting tricks. Anything that makes a project easier without adding extra steps is a win in my book!

Painting handmade Halloween bats to recreate the spooky decorations from Fallout 76.

Step 3: Paint the Fronts of the Bats

With the cardboard sheet resting on my desk, I painted the top surfaces of the bats using Plaid craft paint.

I worked across the sheet, covering each bat while it was still sitting in its cutout. Since the shapes were held in place by the surrounding cardboard, I didn't need to worry about picking them up or holding their edges.

Painting the wings and bodies of DIY hanging bats for Halloween decorating.

You can use whatever color works best for your Halloween decor or your interpretation of the Fallout 76 bats. Traditional dark colors create a classic spooky look, while other shades can make the decorations fit a more colorful Halloween display.

For this project, the goal was to keep the decorations simple and true to the handmade cardboard look of the in-game inspiration.

Apply the paint evenly across the visible surface. Depending on the color of your cardboard and the paint you're using, you may need more than one coat to get the coverage you want.

Painting backside of a collection of spooky bats inspired by the Pumpkin House roofline in Fallout 76.

Try not to saturate the cardboard with too much paint at once. Cardboard can absorb moisture and soften, so lighter coats are a good way to help preserve the shape.

Once the fronts were painted, I let them dry before moving on to the other side.

The best part about painting the bats in place is that you can work through the whole batch at once. It's an easy way to make a set of matching Halloween decorations without turning the process into a tiny-piece juggling act.

Hand painting laser cut bats to create spooky Fallout 76 inspired Halloween decor.

Step 4: Flip the Cardboard Over and Paint the Back

After the first sides were dry, it was time to paint the other side.

I flipped the cardboard sheet over and painted the backs of the bats, again leaving them nestled in their cutouts.

This made the process just as easy as painting the fronts. The bats stayed in place, and I could work through the entire set without having to handle each individual piece.

Painting both sides gives the hanging bats a more finished look. When the decorations are suspended from twine, they'll naturally turn and move a little, especially if they're hanging near a doorway, window, or other area with air movement.

Laser cut hanging bat decorations for a spooky Halloween display.

If only one side were painted, the plain cardboard backs would be visible whenever the bats turned around. Painting both sides means the decorations look intentional from different angles.

Let the paint dry completely before removing the bats from the sheet. This helps prevent smudges and keeps the finished pieces looking neat.

Once both sides were dry, I had ten painted cardboard bats ready for the fun part: adding their little faces!

Step 5: Add the Bat Eyes

Every good Halloween bat needs a little personality, right?

To bring my cardboard bats to life, I added thick white paint dots for the eyes. Then I added a smaller black dot inside each white dot to create the pupils.

The contrast between the white and black paint makes the eyes stand out against the painted cardboard.

You don't need an elaborate face or lots of tiny details. The simple dot eyes are enough to give these hanging bats a playful look while keeping the design easy to recreate.

A small brush, the end of a paintbrush handle, or another suitable dotting tool can help you create round eyes. If you use a tool to make the dots, wipe it clean between colors to keep the white and black paint separate.

Start with the white dots and let them dry enough that the black paint won't smear into them. Then add the smaller black pupils.

You can position the pupils consistently for a matching set of bats, or give each bat a slightly different expression. A tiny change in the direction of the pupils can make the bats look curious, surprised, or a little mischievous.

I kept mine simple with white eyes and smaller black pupils. It's such an easy detail, but it makes a big difference in the finished look!

Let the paint dry completely before threading the bats with twine.

Step 6: Thread Twine Through Each Cardboard Bat

Now it's time to turn the painted bats into hanging Halloween decorations.

I used twine and a long needle to thread each bat. The needle made it easy to push the twine right through the cardboard without needing to create a complicated hanging attachment.

First, cut a piece of twine to the length you want for each hanging bat. Remember to leave enough extra length for tying a knot and adjusting how low the bat hangs.

Thread the twine through the eye of the long needle. Carefully push the needle through the cardboard bat at the point where you want it to hang.

Because cardboard is relatively thin, the needle can pass through it easily. Take care to position the hole where the bat will hang evenly. If the hole is too far to one side, the bat may tilt when suspended.

Once the twine was through the cardboard, I tied a knot at the bottom of the twine so it wouldn't pull back through the hole.

That little knot is an important detail! Without it, the lightweight cardboard could slide off the hanging string, especially if the hole is a little larger than the twine.

Give the knot a gentle tug to make sure it's secure, then adjust the length of the twine to suit your display.

Repeat the process for the remaining bats.

And just like that, the cardboard shapes become individual hanging bats, ready to decorate your home for Halloween!

Step 7: Hang the Fallout-Inspired Bats

With the twine attached, it's time to put your handmade Halloween bats on display.

I hung my finished bats individually, letting them dangle from their strings. The lightweight cardboard makes them easy to hang, and the twine gives them a simple, rustic look.

You can hang them from hooks, suitable removable hanging hardware, a display branch, or another secure support. They're especially fun when hung at different heights, so the bats appear to be fluttering through the air.

Try displaying them near a doorway, in a craft room, above a Halloween table, or alongside other Fallout-inspired decorations.

If you're putting together a Fallout 76-themed Halloween display, these bats would look great with pumpkins, weathered signs, and other decorations inspired by Appalachia. You could even use them as part of a game room display for fellow Fallout fans.

Because they're made from cardboard, these decorations are best kept indoors or in a dry, sheltered location. Moisture can soften the cardboard and affect the paint, so they're not ideal for rainy or damp outdoor conditions.

The finished bats are lightweight, easy to move around, and simple to store when Halloween is over.

Step 8: Make a DIY Halloween Bat Garland

I also made some of the bats into a garland, which is another fun way to use this project!

Instead of hanging every bat individually, you can thread multiple bats along a longer piece of twine to create a DIY Halloween bat garland.

To make a garland, cut a longer length of twine and decide how far apart you want the bats to hang. Thread the twine through each cardboard bat using the same needle technique but sideways through the bat, then secure the bats with a tiny knot on both sides so they stay in position.

You can space them evenly for a tidy, coordinated look or arrange them at varying intervals for a more casual, handmade appearance.

If the bats slide along the twine, you can use small knots to help hold them in place. Just make sure the knots are secure without pulling too tightly on the cardboard.

A hanging bat garland is a great addition to a mantel, shelf, doorway, or Halloween party display. You could also hang it along a wall in a game room to bring a little Fallout 76 atmosphere into your space.

The garland is especially satisfying because all ten bats can be used together in one long decoration, turning a simple sheet of cardboard into something that makes a bigger visual impact.

You could make several garlands for a larger display or combine individual hanging bats with the garland for a layered look.

It's also an easy project to customize. Make a longer garland with additional bats, change the paint colors, or adjust the spacing to fit the area you're decorating.

Tips for Making Cardboard Halloween Bats

If you're planning to make your own DIY cardboard bats, here are a few things that can help the project go smoothly.

Keep the bats in the cardboard sheet while painting. This is one of the easiest ways to keep the little shapes steady without having to hold their edges.
Let the first side dry before flipping the sheet over. This helps prevent smudges and keeps the paint from transferring onto your work surface.
Use light coats of paint. Too much moisture can soften cardboard, so build up coverage gradually if needed.
Let the eyes dry before handling the bats. The white and black paint dots are small details that can easily smudge if they're still wet.
Position the hanging hole carefully. A centered hanging point helps the bat hang more evenly.
Secure the twine with a knot. The knot keeps the string from pulling through the cardboard.
Keep the finished decorations dry. Cardboard is best suited to indoor Halloween displays or protected areas.

The xTool P3 made cutting the ten bats quick and precise, but the painting and assembly are simple enough that you can enjoy the handmade part of the process, too. Much easier than making an origami paper bat for sure!

Final Thoughts on These Fallout 76 Halloween Decorations

I love projects that take a small detail from a favorite game and turn it into something I can make and display in real life.

These Fallout 76 hanging bats were such a fun Halloween craft. I started with a single piece of cardboard, used my xTool P3 to cut ten matching bat shapes, and transformed them with Plaid craft paint, simple dot eyes, and twine.

The painting process was especially easy because I left the bats sitting in the cardboard sheet while painting both sides. No need to hold each tiny bat by the edges or figure out where to set it down while the paint dried!

Once the paint was dry, adding the eyes gave each bat a little personality. Threading the twine through the cardboard with a long needle was the final step before hanging them up individually and making a garland.

These DIY cardboard Halloween bats are inexpensive, lightweight, and a fun way to bring a little of the Pumpkin House from Fallout 76 into your own Halloween decorations.

They're also a reminder that you don't need complicated supplies or an elaborate process to make something fun. Sometimes a little cardboard, some paint, and a creative idea are all you need.

So, whether you're decorating your game room, planning a Fallout-themed Halloween party, or simply looking for a playful handmade bat garland, give these hanging bats a try!

Have fun creating Halloween memories, and happy crafting!