Halloween is just around the corner, and with it comes the perfect excuse to let your kids’ imaginations run wild with creative crafts! From adorable decorations to spooky accessories, crafting is a fantastic way to get everyone in the Halloween spirit without breaking the bank.

Here, we’re diving into some budget-friendly Halloween crafts for kids that keep the fun high and the cost low. Let’s make this Halloween extra memorable with some DIY magic!

1. Pumpkin Paper Plate Faces

Supplies Needed: Paper plates, orange paint, black construction paper, glue, scissors.

This classic craft is an easy hit with kids of all ages and only requires items you likely have at home. Start by having your kids paint a paper plate orange and let it dry. While they wait, they can cut out eyes, noses, and mouths from black construction paper to give their pumpkin its character. Once the paint is dry, they can glue on the facial features, creating cute or spooky pumpkin faces to hang around the house.

2. Ghostly Milk Jug Lanterns

Supplies Needed: Empty milk jugs, black marker, battery-operated tea lights.

Got empty milk jugs? Don’t throw them out just yet! With a black marker, your kids can draw ghostly faces on each jug, using different expressions for variety. Once done, pop in a battery-operated tea light to give the jug a spooky glow. Line these “ghosts” up along a walkway or porch for a kid-friendly, eerie effect.

3. Monster Rocks

Supplies Needed: Smooth rocks, acrylic paint, googly eyes, glue.

Take a stroll with your kids to find some smooth rocks, then bring them home for this monster rock craft. Once cleaned, the rocks can be painted in all kinds of fun colors. After the paint dries, add a few googly eyes and other features to give your monsters some personality. This is a fun, mess-free activity that can be done indoors or outside, and the results make for adorable Halloween decorations around the garden or in the house.

4. Halloween Handprint Art

Supplies Needed: Paper, washable paint, markers.

Kids love handprint art, and it’s perfect for Halloween! Paint one of your child’s hands in spooky colors like black, orange, or white, and press it onto a piece of paper. Once the handprint dries, use markers to turn it into a ghost, spider, or bat. These make sweet keepsakes and can be hung up as DIY Halloween art around the house.

5. Cardboard Roll Spiders

Supplies Needed: Cardboard rolls (toilet paper or paper towel), black paint, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, glue.

With just a few basic supplies, your kids can create creepy-crawly spiders. Start by painting the cardboard rolls black. Once they dry, glue on googly eyes, then attach four pipe cleaners on each side to make eight legs. Bend the pipe cleaners to help the spiders stand up and move around. These are a perfect addition to any Halloween setup and can even be hung from string to “crawl” down from the ceiling.

6. Paper Bag Monster Puppets

Supplies Needed: Paper lunch bags, markers, construction paper, glue.

Transform paper bags into monster puppets for endless Halloween fun! Have your kids draw faces, arms, and other monster features on the bags using markers. Cut out ears, noses, and teeth from construction paper, then glue them on to create silly or scary monster faces. These puppets are great for a Halloween puppet show or just a fun afternoon activity.

7. Q-Tip Skeletons

Supplies Needed: Black construction paper, Q-tips, glue, white crayon or chalk.

For a skeleton-themed project, Q-tips are ideal for forming bones! Arrange them on black construction paper to make a stick-figure skeleton, using shorter Q-tips for the arms and legs and full Q-tips for the ribs. Glue them down once they’re in place, then draw a head with the crayon or chalk to complete your skeleton friend. This craft is easy and fun, and perfect for teaching kids about the human skeleton.

8. Witch Hat Treat Holders

Supplies Needed: Black construction paper, glue, scissors, candies.

Nothing says Halloween like a classic witch hat! To make these treat holders, cut a black paper circle for the hat’s brim and a cone for the top. Glue the cone to the circle and let it dry. Once the hats are ready, fill them with small candies. These witch hats make fantastic Halloween party favors or cute table decorations.

9. Popsicle Stick Haunted Houses

Supplies Needed: Popsicle sticks, glue, markers, black paint.

This craft uses one of the most versatile items in kids’ crafts—popsicle sticks! Arrange and glue the sticks together to form a small house shape, then paint it black. Once it’s dry, add ghost or bat designs, or even cut-out windows, for an added haunted effect. Kids can get creative with different designs, and these haunted houses make fun additions to a Halloween display.

10. Leaf Ghosts

Supplies Needed: Fallen leaves, white paint, black marker, glue, string.

Leaf ghosts combine the spirit of Halloween with a touch of nature. Collect a few large leaves, paint them white, and add spooky faces with a black marker once they’re dry. Attach string to each “ghost” and hang them around the house or outside for a fun, homemade Halloween decoration.

11. Spider Web Plates

Supplies Needed: Paper plates, black marker or paint, yarn.

Spider webs are a Halloween staple, and this craft brings them to life. Draw or paint a spider web on a paper plate, leaving holes around the edge. Kids can thread yarn through the holes to mimic a web effect. Add a plastic spider or two for extra creepiness! This simple craft adds a festive touch without much effort or cost.

12. Glowing Mummy Jars

Supplies Needed: Empty jars, gauze or white crepe paper, glue, googly eyes, battery-operated tea lights.

Give any glass jar a mummy makeover with this easy DIY. Wrap the jar in gauze or crepe paper, gluing it down as you go. Leave space for a pair of googly eyes to peek through, then add a tea light to create a glow from within. These mummies make perfect porch decorations or nightlights.

13. Halloween Finger Puppets

Supplies Needed: Felt, glue, scissors, markers.

Create a family of spooky Halloween finger puppets using felt. Cut the felt into ghost, witch, or monster shapes, and let your kids decorate them with markers. Glue the edges of the felt together, leaving a gap at the bottom for little fingers. These puppets are a hit for storytelling and play, making Halloween even more interactive.

14. Puffy Ghosts

Supplies Needed: Cotton balls, black construction paper, glue.

These fluffy ghosts are adorable and super easy for even the youngest crafters. Cut ghost shapes out of black construction paper, then have your kids cover them with cotton balls. Once dry, add eyes and a mouth with a marker. These can be strung together to make a garland or displayed as individual decorations.

15. Spooky Suncatchers

Supplies Needed: Clear contact paper, tissue paper, black construction paper.

Suncatchers aren’t just for summer! Cut out Halloween shapes like pumpkins, bats, or ghosts from black construction paper, then add pieces of colorful tissue paper to make them glow in the sunlight. Sandwich the tissue paper between two layers of contact paper for a suncatcher effect that shines when placed on a sunny window.

16. Frankenstein Bookmarks

Supplies Needed: Green and black construction paper, glue, scissors, markers.

Encourage reading with these fun Frankenstein bookmarks. Cut a strip of green paper for the face and add black hair on top. Draw a mouth and glue on some googly eyes, and you’ve got a monster that’ll hold kids’ place in their favorite spooky stories!

17. Bat Candy Holders

Supplies Needed: Empty toilet paper rolls, black paint, glue, construction paper.

Paint a toilet paper roll black and fold the top edges inward to form bat wings. Glue on some googly eyes and cut bat wings from black paper to attach to each side. These are great for holding Halloween treats, and the best part—they’re reusable year after year!

18. Witch’s Brew Slime

Supplies Needed: Clear glue, green food coloring, baking soda, contact lens solution.

For a fun (and slightly messy) activity, make a batch of Halloween slime that your kids can stretch, squish, and play with all day. Mix clear glue with a few drops of green food coloring, a pinch of baking soda, and a little contact lens solution until it reaches the desired slimy consistency. Store it in jars labeled “Witch’s Brew” for a spooky touch.

Key Takeaways

Halloween crafts don’t need to be complicated or pricey. With these budget-friendly ideas, you’ll keep the kids entertained and engaged throughout the Halloween season. Plus, they’re a great opportunity to add some handmade flair to your holiday décor. So gather your supplies, pick your favorites, and enjoy some crafty, spooky fun together!

These DIY Halloween craft projects not only make the holiday extra special but also introduce kids to handmade ideas for Halloween, keeping the festive spirit alive with kids Halloween crafts. Plus, these easy Halloween crafts for kids use items you likely have around the house, making them as affordable as they are fun!

FAQs

Q1: What age group are these Halloween crafts suitable for?
A) These crafts are designed for a range of ages. Many of the projects, like the pumpkin paper plate faces and cotton ball ghosts, are perfect for toddlers and younger kids with some supervision. Other crafts, like the Q-tip skeletons or cardboard roll spiders, may appeal more to older kids who can manage cutting and painting on their own. Adapt each activity to match your child’s skill level and comfort with crafting materials.

Q2: What supplies do I need for these Halloween crafts?
A) Most of these crafts use common household items like paper plates, markers, construction paper, and glue. For some crafts, you may need inexpensive items like googly eyes, acrylic paint, or puff paint, which can easily be found at any craft store. Part of the fun is finding budget-friendly supplies you already have around the house!

Q3: Can these crafts be used as Halloween decorations?
A) Absolutely! Many of these crafts, such as the ghostly milk jug lanterns and witch hat treat holders, double as Halloween decorations that can be displayed around the home or on the porch. Get creative with how you arrange them to add a festive touch to any room or party setup!