19 Simple and Affordable DIY Halloween Decorations to Make with Kids

1. Toilet Paper Roll Eyes

Toilet paper roll eyes are an incredibly easy and affordable way to add some Halloween spirit to your home. Cut eye shapes out of toilet paper rolls, paint them black, and insert glow sticks inside. Place them in bushes or windows to give your home an eerie glow at night.

2. Spidery Mason Jars

Turn ordinary mason jars into spooky decorations with a bit of paint and some plastic spiders. Paint the jars black or orange, place a tea light inside, and hot-glue some spiders around the exterior. These jars make a fantastic centerpiece or can be lined up along walkways for a haunted glow.

3. Stand-Alone Ghosts

Create adorable stand-alone ghosts using cheesecloth and balloons. Drape the cheesecloth over inflated balloons and use fabric stiffener to harden it. Once dry, remove the balloons, and you’ll have ghostly figures perfect for tabletops or windowsills.

4. Eyeball Flowers

For a creepy touch, make eyeball flowers using faux flowers and ping pong balls. Draw eyeballs on the ping pong balls with markers, glue them in the center of the flowers, and arrange them in a vase. They add a fun, spooky element to any room!

5. Spooky Cups

Kids will love these spooky party cups! Draw Halloween-themed faces—like pumpkins, ghosts, and monsters—on plain white or orange plastic cups. Use them for serving treats, or as a fun, quick craft to entertain kids during a Halloween party.

6. Mummy Mason Jars

Wrap mason jars in white gauze or bandages, and add googly eyes to create mummy jars. These cute and spooky containers are great for holding treats or tea lights, and they’re simple enough for even young children to make.

7. Black Cat Garland

For a minimalist Halloween vibe, create a black cat garland. Cut cat shapes out of black construction paper and attach them to a string. This easy, low-cost garland can be hung along walls or stair railings to add a festive touch.

8. Monster Doors

Transform any door in your home into a monster face! Use colored construction paper to cut out eyes, teeth, and horns, and tape them to the door for a fun, kid-friendly decoration. This craft is perfect for greeting trick-or-treaters or just adding a bit of fun to your home.

9. Trash Bag Spiderwebs

Make giant spiderwebs out of black trash bags. Cut the bags into strips, and arrange them in a web pattern on windows or walls. This is a quick and easy decoration that’s great for both indoors and outdoors!

10. Dried Apple Shrunken Heads

These dried apple shrunken heads are sure to add a touch of creepy to your Halloween decor. Carve faces into apples and let them dry out over a few days. Once they’re wrinkled and shrunken, you’ll have eerie, lifelike decorations that look amazing in jars or as table centerpieces.

11. Milk Carton Haunted Houses

Save your empty milk cartons and transform them into haunted houses! Paint the cartons black and cut out windows and doors. Place a small tea light inside to create a spooky glow. These mini haunted houses look great lined up on a windowsill or porch.

12. Ping Pong Eyeball Wreath

For an eye-catching decoration, create a wreath using ping pong balls decorated as eyeballs. Attach the balls to a wreath base, alternating colors and sizes for variety. This boo-tastic wreath will give your door a fun and festive Halloween look!

13. Ghostly Fridge

Give your fridge a spooky makeover! Cut ghostly shapes out of black and white construction paper and tape them to the fridge to create a haunting face. This is a quick and simple way to bring Halloween into your kitchen.

14. Seeing Tree

Add a creepy effect to the trees in your yard by hanging eyes made from ping pong balls. Draw or paint eyes on the balls, then use string to hang them on tree branches. At night, these “watchful” trees will add a fun scare factor to your yard!

15. Pipe Cleaner Spider

Create a fun spider friend using pipe cleaners and a foam ball. Simply attach several pipe cleaners to the foam ball to create legs, and add googly eyes for personality. These little spiders are perfect for scattering around the house or as party favors.

16. Balloon Eyeballs

Balloon eyeballs make for a simple, impressive decoration. Draw eyes on white balloons with markers, and cluster them together as a centerpiece or hang them in windows. It’s a spooky but easy craft that adds a whimsical touch to your Halloween setup.

17. Paper Plate Ghosts

For the younger kids, paper plate ghosts are a simple and fun craft. Glue white crepe paper to the bottom of a paper plate to create a ghostly body, then draw a spooky face. These ghosts are great for hanging around the house or as fun classroom decorations.

18. Cauliflower Brains

Cauliflower makes an excellent “brain” prop! Place a whole cauliflower in a jar, cover it with water, and add a few drops of red food coloring for a creepy look. Display it on a table for a guaranteed spooky effect!

19. Pumpkin Surprise

Carve a large pumpkin with a goofy or scared expression, and place a bowl of green-colored guacamole or dip inside, spilling out slightly. This creative snack station will not only entertain your guests but also make for a fantastic table centerpiece!

Enjoy a Spooky Halloween with DIY Decor!

With these ideas, you’re ready to dive into some Halloween crafting and make this season unforgettable. Gather your kids, grab some crafting supplies, and let the spooky, silly, and fun family bonding begin. These simple, inexpensive projects not only brighten your home but also create memories that last a lifetime.