Introduction

With the leaves turning golden, the air crisp, and the silhouette of a jack-o-lantern beginning to flicker at doorsteps, it’s official: the season of spookiness is upon us. Halloween isn’t just about costumes and candy—it’s a perfect time to unleash your creativity and transform your space into a haunted spectacle. In this article, we bring you 17 Halloween craft ideas that are both fun and accessible, whether you’re crafting solo, with kids, or planning a party. From eerie décor to charming DIY accents, these projects embrace the spirit of the season and give you something to talk about at your next spooky soirée. Get ready to roll up your sleeves, gather your supplies, and make this Halloween a little more magical—and a little more haunting.

1. Ghostly Mason Jar Lanterns

Turn ordinary glass jars into glowing apparitions that cast haunting shadows across your table or front porch. A mason jar, some white tissue or paint, googly eyes, and a battery-operated tea light are all you need. Wrap the jar with a thin layer of tissue (glued or decoupaged), add the eyes, and pop in the light. These ghostly jars lend an ambient, friendly spookiness, perfect for welcoming trick-or-treaters or setting the mood for a Halloween gathering. Because they’re so simple, they’re also great for crafting with kids, yet stylish enough for adult décor.

2. Spooky Cobweb Wall Art

Embrace the eerie elegance of a cobweb motif, but skip the sticky mess of real webs. You can create “webs” by stretching white yarn or string across a black canvas or poster board, attaching spiders or bats for effect. Hang the finished piece on a wall or lean it against a mantle to add instant atmosphere. This craft works especially well when you complement it with a soft, glowing light behind it, casting spider shadows and giving your space that cinematic haunted house feel.

3. Pumpkin Painted Portraits

Classic carved pumpkins are great, but painted pumpkins bring a fresh, stylish twist to Halloween décor. Choose real or faux pumpkins and decorate them with acrylic paint—think metallics, ghost motifs, elegant patterns, or even chalkboard paint so you can write your own spooky messages. The beauty of painted pumpkins is that they can stay on display from early October through the holiday and beyond, and they allow for creativity that suits your home’s style, whether that’s minimalist, rustic, or glam.

4. Witch Hat Centerpieces

Elevate your Halloween table décor with DIY witch hat centerpieces. Use cone-shaped craft paper, felt, or foam to build the hat, and embellish with ribbon, faux spiders, or glitter if you like glam. Place the hat atop a cylinder base—old cans wrapped in black paper or painted jars—to give it height. Surround with small pumpkins or LED lights to complete the look. These centerpieces are festive without being over the top and work beautifully for dinner parties or family gatherings.

5. Bat Garland Across the Mantle

Give your fireplace or shelf a spooky upgrade with a bat garland. Cut out bat shapes from black cardstock or felt, punch a hole at the top of each, and string them across twine or ribbon. For more dimension, fold the wings slightly for a 3D effect or layer different sizes. Hang the garland above a mantel, across a window, or even along the stair railing for extra fright-factor. It’s a simple craft that adds a lot of visual impact.

6. LED Potion Bottle Display

Transform recycled glass bottles into glowing “potions” with the help of LED fairy lights. Clean out the bottles, label them with mysterious names (like “Witch’s Elixir” or “Ghost Draught”), wrap wire-led lights around inside, and place them on a shelf or table. You can tint the liquid inside using food colouring or add decorative elements like webs, feathers, or small skull charms. These potion bottles are whimsical and perfect for creating a dramatic focal point in a Halloween display.

7. Spider Web Doily Placemats

DIY placemats made from spider-web-shaped doilies or crocheted mats lend a chic haunted vibe to your dining table. Use white or silver doilies on a dark tablecloth for contrast, or spray paint traditional placemats to resemble webs. Even if you buy ready-made doilies, you can personalise them by adding small plastic spiders, glitter accents or fabric paint. It’s a subtle way to integrate spooky décor into everyday dinner settings.

8. Haunted Mirror Frame

Take a plain mirror and give it a haunted makeover. Use black matte spray-paint on the frame (if needed), then glue on small bats, skulls, spider decals, or faux cobwebs. Add a flickering LED candle nearby or behind the mirror for a ghostly glow. This craft turns an ordinary household item into a conversation piece, and when placed in a scene with dim lighting and seasonal décor, it can evoke the mysterious ambiance of an old haunted manor.

9. Mummy Treat Bags

Treat bags don’t have to be basic brown sacks—turn them into mini mummies instead. Wrap small paper bags or cloth sacks in strips of white fabric or gauze, leave two small black dots for eyes, and you have a charming mummy ready to hold candy or little gifts. They’re fun for kids to help make, and they double as décor on a treat table. Handy for parties, classroom festivities, or handing out sweets at your door.

10. Floating Ghost Balloons

Bring playful spookiness to your party or room décor with floating ghost balloons. Inflate white balloons, draw ghost faces with permanent markers, and optionally overlay a white gauze sheet for a more ethereal effect. String them from the ceiling or have them floating at different heights to create a ghostly gathering. Kids love them, and they’re a great addition to a Halloween photo backdrop or party entrance.

11. Black Cat Lanterns

Celebrate the classic Halloween icon—the black cat—with a lantern craft. Paint small lanterns or jars black and add cat ears cut from cardstock or felt. Use gold or yellow paint for eyes, and place a light inside for that flickering feline stare. These lanterns can decorate your porch, hallway, or bedrooms, and they add a whimsical yet spooky touch that works well with other Halloween accents like pumpkins or bats.

12. Witch’s Broomstick Wall Décor

Channel your inner witch (or wizard) and craft broomstick wall décor. Use a bundle of twigs or natural broom bristles and attach them to a wooden stick or dowel for the broom handle. Add ribbon, fake leaves, or small spiders for embellishment. Hang the broom on the wall, lean it in a corner, or use it as an entrance prop. It’s rustic and unique, and gives your space that hand-crafted enchantment.

13. Terrarium of the Dead

Create a miniature haunted world with a “Terrarium of the Dead”. Use a clear glass jar or bowl, add small skeleton figures, miniature tombstones, moss, LED lights, and maybe a plastic bat or two. It’s inexpensive, highly customisable, and makes for a great conversation piece. Place it on a coffee table, shelf, or as part of a larger Halloween display. The juxtaposition of cute miniatures and a spooky theme makes this project fun for all ages.

14. Ghost Tassel Garland

Add movement and texture to your décor with a ghost tassel garland. Make tassels from white tissue paper or lightweight fabric, add eyes and mouths with black felt or markers, and hang them across a wall, doorway, or victim-er… Sorry, I mean festive space. The gentle swaying of the tassels gives a ghostly effect, and the craft is simple enough to knock out in an afternoon.

15. Skeleton Hand Vases

Give your vases a skeletal makeover by attaching plastic skeleton hands or bones around the base or handle and filling the vase with dark-tinted foliage, black roses, or autumn leaves. Use white spray-paint on the bones for contrast, or keep them natural for a grungier look. These vases work well on side tables, party buffets, or even outdoors if you choose weather-safe materials. The mix of natural florals and skeletal accents offers a stylishly spooky aesthetic.

16. Glow-in-the-Dark Pumpkins

Amplify your pumpkin game by going beyond carving and embracing glow-in-the-dark paint. Use stencils or free-hand designs in fluorescent or neon paint that glows under black-light or in darkness. You can combine this with LED lights inside or behind the pumpkin for an extra effect. These glowing pumpkins are ideal for nighttime displays and instantly elevate your front porch décor to a dramatic level.

17. Haunted Photo Booth Backdrop

Hosting a Halloween party? Craft a dedicated backdrop for photos that your guests will love. Use black plastic or fabric as a base, drape cobwebs or silver streamers, attach bats, ghosts, or spooky silhouettes, and add string lights for sparkle. Provide props—witch hats, skeleton masks, broomsticks—and you’ll create an interactive décor piece that gets used again and again. This craft not only decorates your space, but also becomes part of your event’s memories and shared photos.

Conclusion

There you have it—17 Halloween craft ideas that span from playful and kid-friendly to stylish and adult-ready. Each project invites you to add your own creative twist, whether by choosing unique colours, materials you already have on hand, or embellishments that fit your personal style. This Halloween, let your imagination lead the way: your home can become a haunted wonderland, a chic autumn hideaway, or something delightfully in between. The best part? These crafts don’t just decorate one night—they set a mood, make memories, and bring the spirit of the season alive. So grab your glue gun, turn on some spooky tunes, and let the crafting begin. Happy haunting! 👻