Symmetrical Smoosh Haunted House Art

Watch your haunted house come to life with this symmetrical smoosh haunted house art! A fun and easy Halloween project that teaches symmetry through spooky, creative play.

A finished symmetrical haunted house art project created for a preschool Halloween activity. The house is painted black with yellow windows and orange doors, all adorned with googly eyes and surrounded by colorful dot decorations.

Raise the roof with symmetrical smoosh haunted house art

I am beside myself over this haunted house art project, friends.

BE.SIDE.MY.SELF.

Preschool teachers have been making smoosh art since the beginning of time with our kids, and they’re a favorite for good reason.

But, it wasn’t until I learned about this Christmas car art project from Deep Space Sparkle years ago that I realized we could use the concepts of symmetry in other (super) fun ways.

In the video I posted on Instragram, you can see me come up with this project on the spot (including some trial and error) and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share this with you!

A half-painted symmetrical haunted house on white paper, showing the black paint on one side before the paper is folded to create the full house design.

The math behind the symmetrical smoosh in this haunted house art

The “smoosh” technique isn’t just fun—it’s a great way to teach symmetry (an important math skill).

When you paint one side of the haunted house and fold the paper, the paint transfers, creating a mirror image.

This introduces kids to the concept of symmetry, showing them that both sides of the haunted house are identical.

Don’t miss these other fabulous Halloween art projects that kids love!

Materials

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The necessities

White paper
Black paint
Paintbrush
Crayon or pencil

The extras – you decide what items work best for you

Drawing materials
White oil pastel to draw ghosts
Colored paper
Googly eyes
Scissors
Glue

Step-by-step drawing process for the haunted house, showing the outline of the house on folded white paper, ready to be painted in black for the symmetrical art project.

Let’s make symmetrical smoosh haunted house art

Start by folding a piece of white paper in half, then open it up.
On one half of the paper, draw one half of a haunted house using a crayon or pencil. An adult can assist with the drawing!

A close up of half of a haunted house outline drawn on white paper with a grey marker. — *I outlined it in a bold grey so you could see the outline well. Trace something similar to this on your paper, knowing yours doesn’t have to be exact.*

Use black paint to paint the inside of your haunted house half.
While the paint is still wet, fold the paper in half again and gently press the two sides together.
Open the paper to reveal your symmetrical haunted house.
Add details like paper windows with googly eyes, stickers, and drawings to bring your haunted house to life.

A close-up of a symmetrical haunted house art project, featuring black paint, bright yellow windows with googly eyes, and colorful dot decorations around the house on a white background.

Smoosh-tastic tips and tricks for extra fun

Try using different colors for the haunted house instead of just black for a colorful twist.
Add a spooky moon or stars in the background using stickers or cut-out paper shapes.
Use a white oil pastel to draw some ghosts or bats flying out of your haunted house.
Create a haunted neighborhood by making multiple smooshed haunted houses.

The unfolded paper showing the completed symmetrical haunted house after the black paint has been pressed and transferred, with two side towers and a central house.

What is mixed-media art and how does it enhance your symmetrical haunted house?

Mixed-media art refers to using different materials to create a single piece of artwork.

In this symmetrical smoosh haunted house art project, we combine paint, paper, stickers, and googly eyes to create a haunted house that jumps off the page.

Using different materials gives kids the chance to experiment with textures and layering, making their artwork more engaging and visually interesting.

This technique also teaches kids that art can be made from just about anything, not just paint or pencils.

A detailed look at the middle section of the haunted house art project, featuring a yellow paper window decorated with googly eyes, colorful dots surrounding the house, and black painted outlines.

Why this symmetrical smoosh haunted house art is a must-try this Halloween

This project blends creativity, math, and fine motor in one easy activity.

Creativity: Seeing how kids choose to decorate their haunted houses will be the very best part! The sky is the limit.

Math: Watching their haunted house double in size introduces symmetry in a meaningful, hands-on way.

Fine motor: By drawing, painting, folding, and decorating, preschoolers strengthen their fine motor skills.

Kristian smiling and holding the completed haunted house art project, showcasing the black painted house with orange and yellow paper windows, decorated with googly eyes and colorful dots.

Spook-tacular ways to display your haunted house

Frame it: Create a little “Halloween Art Gallery” in your home or classroom by framing your symmetrical haunted house art.
Hang them on a string: Use clothespins to hang multiple haunted houses on a string like a creepy, crafty bunting!
Turn it into a card: Fold your haunted house in half again and turn it into a spooky Halloween card for friends or family.