Store-bought Halloween decor is fun, but there’s something special about pieces you made yourself. They cost less, they look one of a kind, and they come with a story every time you pull them out of the box.
The best part? You don’t need to be crafty. These DIY Halloween decorations use cheap supplies like cardstock, mason jars, cheesecloth, and paint. We start with five full step-by-step tutorials for beginners, then share 30 more quick projects you can make in an afternoon. Grab a glue gun and let’s get spooky.
Why Make Your Own Halloween Decorations?
Learning how to make Halloween decorations saves real money. A pack of cardstock and a few mason jars can replace dozens of store-bought pieces. DIY decor also fits your exact space and color palette, so nothing looks out of place.
Handmade projects are a great family activity too. Kids love cutting bats and drawing ghost faces, and they’re proud to see their work on display. Many of these crafts store flat, so they come back year after year with almost no effort.
What You’ll Need for Most Projects
Keep these basics in one bin and you’ll be ready for almost every idea on this list:
- Black and white cardstock
- Scissors and a craft knife
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Black, white, and orange acrylic or spray paint
- Mason jars and battery tea lights
- Cheesecloth or gauze
- Twine, fishing line, and removable putty
- Googly eyes and a black marker
5 Step-by-Step Halloween Decorations Tutorials
These five projects are the easiest place to start. Each one takes under an hour.
Tutorial 1: Floating Cheesecloth Ghosts
- Blow up a small balloon and set it on top of a tall bottle.
- Soak cheesecloth in fabric stiffener or a mix of white glue and water.
- Drape the wet cloth over the balloon so it hangs down like a ghost.
- Let it dry for 24 hours, then pop and remove the balloon.
- Glue on two black felt eyes and hang it from a tree or curtain rod.
Tutorial 2: Ghost Mason Jar Lanterns
- Clean a mason jar and wrap it in white gauze, gluing the ends.
- Cut two oval eyes and a mouth from black felt.
- Glue the face onto the gauze.
- Drop a battery tea light inside.
- Group three jars on a windowsill or step.
Tutorial 3: Paper Bat Wall
- Draw or print a bat template in three sizes.
- Trace onto black cardstock and cut out 20 to 30 bats.
- Fold each bat gently down the middle so the wings lift.
- Stick them to the wall in a sweeping line with removable putty.
- Place the largest bats at the start and the smallest at the end so they look like they’re flying away.
Tutorial 4: Painted Black and Gold Pumpkins
- Wipe faux or real pumpkins clean and let them dry.
- Spray two coats of matte black paint outside.
- Once dry, brush gold paint onto the stems.
- Add speckles by flicking a stiff brush dipped in gold paint.
- Display in a group of three on a mantel or table.
Tutorial 5: Potion Bottles
- Collect empty glass bottles of different shapes.
- Fill with water and a few drops of food coloring.
- Print or hand-write vintage labels like “Bat Wings” and “Witch’s Brew.”
- Glue the labels on and tie twine around each neck.
- Line them up on a bar cart with a little fake cobweb.
30 More DIY Halloween Decorations Ideas
Once you’ve tried the tutorials above, these quick projects use the same supplies and skills.
Indoor DIYs
6. Toilet Paper Roll Bats
Paint rolls black, add paper wings and googly eyes. Line them up on a shelf or hang them from string.
7. Witch Hat Garland
Cut small witch hats from cardstock and string them on twine. Drape it across a mantel or doorway.
8. Book Page Pumpkins
Fold old book pages into a fan shape and glue into a pumpkin.
9. Spooky Picture Frames
Spray old frames black and fill them with vintage Halloween printables.
10. Floating Candles
Paint paper towel rolls cream, add a battery tea light on top, and hang with fishing line.
11. Tissue Paper Ghosts
Bunch white tissue over a cotton ball and tie with string. Hang a dozen from a chandelier for a fun party look.
12. Black Cat Silhouettes
Cut cats from cardstock and stand them on a shelf with a small stand.
13. Mummy Jars
Wrap jars in white gauze strips and add googly eyes.
14. Painted Skull Planters
Paint cheap plastic skulls and plant small succulents inside.
15. Spider Web Doily Table Runner
Dye white lace doilies black and lay them down the table. Thrift stores sell old doilies for pennies.
16. Pumpkin Pillow Cover
Cut a felt pumpkin and stitch or glue it onto a plain pillowcase.
17. Witch Broom
Tie dried twigs around a branch with twine for a rustic broom.
Outdoor DIYs
18. Foam Board Tombstones
Cut foam board into tombstone shapes, paint gray, and add funny epitaphs. Push a wooden skewer into the base to stand them in the lawn.
19. Milk Jug Ghost Lights
Draw faces on clean milk jugs and place a string light inside. They glow beautifully along a path.
20. Giant Rope Spider Web
Tie rope in a web pattern between two posts and add a big spider.
21. Pumpkin Stack
Paint three pumpkins white, black, and orange and stack them by the door.
22. Lantern Spiders
Glue pipe-cleaner legs to a black paper lantern.
23. Door Mummy
Wrap your front door in white crepe paper and add big paper eyes.
24. Pallet Sign
Paint “Boo” or “Trick or Treat” on an old wood pallet.
Quick 10-Minute DIYs
25. Glow Stick Jars
Crack glow sticks and drop them into jars for instant outdoor lights. Kids love this one.
26. Spooky Window Clings
Paint shapes onto wax paper with glue and black paint, then peel off.
27. Pumpkin Vase
Hollow a small pumpkin and fill it with fall flowers.
28. Ghost Balloons
Draw faces on white balloons with a black marker and tie them to chairs or the mailbox for parties.
29. Coffee Filter Bats
Color coffee filters with black marker, spray lightly with water, and pinch the middle with a clothespin once dry.
30. Candy Corn Jars
Layer yellow, orange, and white candy in a jar.
31. Bat Candle Holders
Glue paper bats onto plain glass candle holders.
32. Cobweb Lampshade
Drape thin webbing over a lampshade for a haunted glow.
33. Ghost Door Hanger
Cut a ghost from felt and add “Boo” in marker.
34. Painted Rocks
Paint small rocks as pumpkins, ghosts, and skulls for the garden. Seal them with clear spray so they survive the rain.
35. Paper Chain Garland
Link black and orange paper strips into a classic garland.
Tips for Better DIY Halloween Decorations
Pick one color palette so every project matches.
Use spray paint for the fastest, smoothest finish.
Make it a family night. Kids can cut, color, and glue many of these.
Store flat pieces in folders so they last for years.
Short on time? Our quick Halloween decorations can be set up in an hour. On a tight budget, try these cheap Halloween decorations. And for a full room-by-room plan, use our Halloween decorations checklist.
Final Thoughts
Making your own decor is cheaper, more personal, and a lot more fun than buying it. Start with one of the step-by-step tutorials, then add a few quick projects as you build confidence.
Looking for more ideas? Browse our list of the best Halloween decorations ideas, or find outdoor Halloween decorations for your yard.
