31 Easy Halloween Crafts You Can Make in Under an Hour

candy pumpkin hedgehog diy fall display
Photo: Carson Downing

Not a crafting wizard? No worries. We rounded up these simple DIY Halloween projects to take your home from drab to Dracula-worthy. Trick your friends into thinking you're a crafting genius with our quick tutorials and free printable downloads. See all our favorite Halloween crafts for kids, pumpkin crafts, and other Halloween DIY ideas.

01 of 31

$5 Halloween Twig Wreath

diy twig halloween spider wreath on blue door
Marty Baldwin

Craft this quick-and-easy Halloween wreath with natural materials found in your backyard. It doubles as a way to get your kids to pick up all the sticks! Find various lengths of sticks and attach them to a DIY cardboard wreath form with glue. This twig wreath craft comes together when you add spooky faux spider webbing and inexpensive plastic spiders. Hang the final Halloween wreath from your front door for a haunting display.

02 of 31

No-Carve Unicorn Pumpkin for Halloween

diy chic white pumpkin

Forget Halloween ghouls and vampire fangs! This Halloween, create a magical unicorn pumpkin. Start this easy Halloween craft with a white crafts pumpkin (or spray paint an orange one white). Paint the soft pink cheeks and black eyelashes. You could also use a vinyl sticker for the eyes. Paint a pre-made crafts horn with golden spray paint or make your own horn with gold polymer clay. Hot glue the horn and several faux flowers to the top of the pumpkin.

03 of 31

Temporary-Tattoo Decorated Pumpkins

small white pumpkin floral painting
Carson Downing

Ink your love of Halloween with this easy pumpkin design that takes minutes to make. To create your own, just pick up a few autumn-theme temporary tattoos or whatever the kids like (we're on board for superhero pumpkins) and apply them to your faux pumpkin with a damp sponge, just like you would to skin. Kids love this quick Halloween craft because the end result is a gorgeous customized tattoo pumpkin that will last for years to come. We like it because it's an easy Halloween craft, but it looks hand-painted.

04 of 31

Easy DIY Halloween Doormat

diy doormat with boo stenciled letters
Carson Downing

Add a boo-tiful accent to your Halloween front porch with this fun and simple DIY Halloween doormat. To make a free Halloween stencil, print the letter B and a jack-o'-lantern shape from your computer. Cut them out to use as stencils. Then paint the design onto your doormat with a foam brush. Personalize this playful craft by mixing up the colors or adding bright fall leaves along the edges. This cute pumpkin doormat will have you, your guests, the mail carrier, trick-or-treaters, even local headless horsemen smiling.

05 of 31

DIY Constellation Pumpkin

constellation painted pumpkin display
Marty Baldwin

This adorable Halloween pumpkin design is written in the stars. Plot out the stars of your favorite constellation on a crafts pumpkin or real cleaned-out pumpkin. Drill a hole in each spot where a star should be and then paint the pumpkin black. Once it's dry use white paint to connect the stars in your constellation. Add a battery-operated votive in the pumpkin to see it glow. Add your zodiac sign or adapt this design to include make-believe constellations like a bat, ghost, or witch's hat.

06 of 31

Three-Step Spooky Halloween Wreath

diy black halloween wreath with spider on wood door
Carson Downing

Don't be afraid—only three simple steps stand between you and this DIY Halloween wreath. Coat a grapevine wreath with black spray paint, then weave tiny battery-operated LED string lights through the twigs. To finish this easy Halloween craft, add an itsy-bitsy wood bead spider. String wooden beads on to floral wire to create and shape the legs. Glue three large wooden beads together and then hot glue the legs to the body. Spray paint the spider black and attach it to the wreath.

07 of 31

Easy No-Carve Hedgehog Pumpkins

candy corn hedgehog pumpkins
Carson Downing

These adorable candy pumpkins are adored by kids (especially if you let them sneak a few bites of candy corn) and require absolutely no carving. Craft these no-carve hedgehogs by hot-gluing sweet candy corn onto a faux pumpkin, then decorating with a happy hedgehog face.

08 of 31

Crepe Paper Pumpkins

diy pumpkins craft with crepe paper

Get ready for an easy Halloween craft that everyone will enjoy! Decorate strips of inexpensive crepe paper with markers, watercolor paints, or even diluted food coloring to create a mottled pattern. Then hot-glue the strips of crepe paper to a crafts pumpkin. These paper pumpkin Halloween decorations are so easy that you'll want to create a whole patch!

09 of 31

Slime It Up

pulling apart crunchy slime
Brie Passano

There's no better season for playful slime than Halloween. Make a big batch of your favorite slime recipe, and mix in some spooky accessories. Store the Halloween slime in small Mason jars or plastic containers to hand out to trick-or-treaters. Just make sure to include these care instructions: This Halloween slime recipe should be kept in a closed, refrigerated container for up to two weeks.

10 of 31

Make a Halloween Flower Pot

diy halloween decor planters
Adam Albright

Get ready for your eyes to "bug" out on Halloween! Upgrade your terra-cotta pots from ordinary to an ogle-worthy Halloween plant decoration when you use plaster of Paris to cover plastic spiders and centipedes. This creepy look might leave your skin crawling. If you can't find the perfect plant (like the jade plant pictured here), consider using this pot for treats.

11 of 31

Cream Pumpkin Blooming with Autumn Flowers

fall table centerpiece floral arrangement white pumpkin
Marty Baldwin

Looking for a more subtle DIY Halloween decoration? This faux pumpkin makes a blooming Halloween centerpiece when you tuck orange ranunculus and white hydrangea inside. To start this flowering fall craft, set a waterproof container inside a crafts pumpkin. Fill it with soaked florists foam. Press the fall flower stems into the foam and fill in with sprigs of decorative foliage.

12 of 31

Miniature Haunted House Favor Bags

hanging haunted house favor bags

Paper haunted house bags will have your guests screaming in delight at your next Halloween party. Show off these DIY Halloween treat bags by placing thick branches in a vase and hanging the miniature bags from the display. We won't judge if you skip the treats and use them just for decoration—they're too cute to give away!

13 of 31

DIY Velvet Pumpkins for Fall

diy velvet pumpkins fall display
Matthew Clark

Velvet fall decorations manage to make us feel warm and cozy inside, even on a chilly fall day. Transform classic Halloween pumpkins into this cozy DIY decoration with warm shades of velvet (imagine purple pumpkin decadence!). The trick to this no-sew project is to buy foam pumpkin, then wrap velvet around the model with pleats. Our budget-friendly velvet is secured around the fabric pumpkins with hot glue, then topped with a twine-wrapped stem. Craft a variety of these no-sew velvet pumpkins for an easy Halloween craft you can use year after year.

14 of 31

Make a Succulent Pumpkin Planter

succulents plant table display white pumpkin

If you love succulents this is a Halloween craft idea that will last all season. Cut the top off of a crafts pumpkin and place a waterproof container inside. Fill the planter with a colorful mix of succulents. Water occasionally and you have a perfect centerpiece for the whole autumn season. It's a win-win in our book.

15 of 31

Halloween DIY Bat Garland

hanging halloween decor and pumpkin display
Carson Downing

We're batty for this easy Halloween garland! To create your own DIY Halloween decoration, cut foam pieces into bat shapes and string a strand of them along your mantel. For another quick Halloween craft, string colorful trimmed straws on another piece of string. It's that simple. Once you hang it, spread out the straws and twist to add the different angles.

16 of 31

Painted Halloween Pumpkin Message

message painted white pumpkin fall decor
Carson Downing

Halloween is the holiday for spooky celebrations, but it's also ideal for gathering with neighbors and friends on chilly nights. Paint (or use permanent markers to write) welcoming messages like Gather on white pumpkins, then display them on your front porch to set the scene for a cozy fall get-together. You could add in a few Boo! pumpkins just to be festive.

17 of 31

Haunted Halloween Birdhouses

halloween bird house display orange table
Greg Scheidemann

This spooky Halloween town has gone to the birds. Round up an array of wooden birdhouses and coat them with glossy black and matte gray spray paint to re-create this easy Halloween craft. We positioned our haunted town on a vibrant orange bench and completed the scene with mini pumpkins and plastic spiders.

18 of 31

DIY Fall Mantle Ideas

home fireplace mantel fall pumpkin acorn decor
Jay Wilde

Give a subtle nod to Halloween with this easy fall craft that highlights the natural beauty of the season. Add small pumpkins in orange and white to your holiday mantel, then craft an acorn garland and wooden beads to string above the fireplace. We made this one out of faux leather, but you could also use felt or cardstock. This cohesive display will last all of fall—and honestly, you could leave the beads year-round.

19 of 31

Halloween Paper Strip Pumpkin Craft

diy paper strip pumpkin craft

Kids will love creating this easy Halloween craft from orange and green cardstock. This simple DIY pumpkin craft comes together in minutes. Gather Halloween-theme scrapbook paper or cardstock and cut into 1-inch strips. Form the strips into a circle and attach them using a brad at the top and bottom. Add a few green leaves to cover your tracks, and this kid-friendly Halloween craft is finished!

20 of 31

Make a Braided Spiderweb

front deck pumpkin display diy rope spider web
Carson Downing

No sticky, gross cobwebs here. Weave an easy, budget-friendly spiderweb using just three crafting materials. The best part: This Halloween spiderweb craft transitions seamlessly from indoor to outdoor decorating. We know; you feel like a genius for finding a way to make such a big statement with so little trouble. We do, too.

21 of 31

Make a No-Carve Pineapple Pumpkin

diy no-carve pineapple pumpkin
Marty Baldwin

Dreaming of warmer weather as Halloween approaches? Channel some island inspiration by crafting a no-carve pumpkin in the shape of a pineapple. Start by spray painting a pumpkin yellow. You'll also want to paint wooden teardrop cutouts in the same shade of yellow. Hot glue the wooden cutouts on the pumpkin, starting from the top row and working your way down.

22 of 31

Halloween Pinecone Spiders

diy halloween cactus spider display
Adam Albright

The scariest thing about these spiders is how easy it is to make them. Pick up some pinecones or sweet gum pods from the backyard to form this easy Halloween craft. Use wire to form the legs and hot glue the legs to the pinecone body. Spray paint legs and body black. Add a pom for the head and beads for the eyes. Tuck these creepy-crawlies into houseplants or along shelves for a scary touch anywhere.

23 of 31

Sweet Halloween Wreath for Less Than $5

candy box wreath
Courtesy of Megan Hoeppner

Tease Halloween trick-or-treaters with this inexpensive Halloween wreath that puts candy front and center. Just turn empty cardboard candy boxes into a wreath by gluing them to an embroidery hoop using hot glue. On Halloween night, kids will know your house is the best stop on their route.

24 of 31

DIY Halloween Pumpkin Doormat

Welcome mat with pumpkins and leaves
Carson Downing

Say hello to guests with this DIY Halloween doormat decorated with stenciled pumpkins and leaves. All you need is one afternoon to dress up a plain coir doormat with painted fall leaves and pumpkins, and you'll have an easy welcome mat for the season. Print pumpkin shapes and leaves to use as stencils to re-create our design, or paint a custom pattern that's all your own.

25 of 31

DIY Nail Polish Pumpkins

nail polish tie dye miniature pumpkins

Use up old shades of nail polish with this painted pumpkin craft that can be a girls' night activity, too. Replicate our chic marble design by dropping nail polish into water, then mixing the colors with a toothpick. Decorate the small pumpkins by dipping the gourds into the colorful mixture, then allow to dry. Plus, you can do your nails to match after. Genius!

26 of 31

DIY Bat Wreath

diy bat halloween wreath on orange door
Greg Scheidemann

Fly high with this easy Halloween wreath covered with origami critters! To make the Halloween craft, spray-paint a grapevine wreath form matte white, and let dry. Next, it's time to form your bats. Cut black and gray art paper into squares, then fold the squares into origami bat shapes. (You can also use pre-made bat shapes.) Hot-glue the bats to the wreath.

27 of 31

Melted Crayon Pumpkin

diy melted crayon display white pumpkin
Jason Donnelly

Forget about orange and black as the only Halloween color scheme—our easy-to-follow tutorial will help you create a melted crayon pumpkin that showcases the entire rainbow. This quick Halloween craft only takes about 20 minutes to make.

28 of 31

Make a Fun Fall Wreath

fall floral wreath
Jay Wilde

Combine faux autumn leaves, billy ball flowers, and succulents for a harvest-hue wreath that will last well beyond Halloween. Touches of orange and yellow carry this gorgeous wreath through the spooky season to Thanksgiving. Start with a grapevine wreath and tuck in your greenery. Secure with hot glue. Along the top, place the billy ball flowers and faux succulents for added interest. This easy craft is perfect for DIYers who prefer subtle decorations during fall.

29 of 31

No-Carve Decoupage Pumpkins

diy floral decoupage pumpkins

Grab your patterned wrapping paper or scrapbook paper and decoupage, folks—it's time to get crafty! These easy DIY pumpkins will have you whipping up autumn decorations all afternoon. Spray paint the pumpkin with a base color. We used gold for our pumpkins. Then cut out the shapes you want to use. Apply a decoupage medium to the pumpkin, press the paper onto the pumpkin, and smooth it into all the creases. Apply another layer of the decoupage medium on the pumpkin and let it dry.

30 of 31

No-Carve Pumpkins Decorated with Yarn

yarn decorated fall pumpkin display
Blaine Moats

This one is so easy, you can do it while watching your favorite show. Grab a few mini gourds, then wrap them with colorful yarn for the coziest Halloween craft. Use a little hot glue to hold the yarn in place as you wrap it around the pumpkin. Have fun with it! Sew some yarn into burlap and wrap a pumpkin in the decorated burlap ribbon. Use any colors and designs that speak to you.

31 of 31

Floating Front Porch Ghosts

artificial hanging ghosts patio halloween decor
Ann Vander Wilde

Give your front porch a spooky effect by inviting over a few floating ghosts to hang around. If you don't have spirits on speed dial, you can re-create our Halloween ghost craft in three steps. Simply draw black eyes on a white balloon or white globe paper lantern, apply a thin coat of decoupage to the top of the balloon, then cover with cheesecloth. Cut the bottom of the cheesecloth into strips for an uneven edge that will wave in the wind on Halloween night.

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