Halloween is all about fun and spooky thrills, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Using everyday household items to create DIY Halloween decorations is a smart, budget-friendly way to unleash your DIY creativity. By repurposing what you already have, you can save money while also helping the environment by cutting down on waste.
How to Create a Spooky Atmosphere with Paper Bags
Craft a spooky Halloween atmosphere using paper bags decorated safely with glow sticks and markers. Swap out traditional candles for glow sticks or LED lights placed inside the bags to cast an eerie, colorful glow. Then, draw haunting designs, like bats, ghosts, or pumpkins, with black markers, turning the bags into one-of-a-kind glowing luminaries.
Simple Lollipop Ghosts
Looking for Halloween budget ideas? Turn Tootie Pops or Blow Pops into the cutest (or spookiest) little ghosts ever. Your little pumpkins will have a blast crafting these easy, adorable treats with just a handful of simple supplies. Perfect for a sweet Halloween twist!
What You'll Need
- Tootsie Pops or Blow Pops
- Facial tissue or coffee filters
- Ribbon or string (black is traditional)
- Black Sharpie marker
- Optional: Googly eyes
- Optional: Glue to adhere googly eyes
- Optional: Scissors
Instructions
-
Prepare the ghost head:
- Place the Tootsie Pop in the center of a piece of tissue paper or coffee filter.
- Gather the paper up around the lollipop, creating a “head” shape.
- Secure the paper at the “neck” of the lollipop with ribbon or string, tying it tightly to hold the shape.
- If using a coffee filter, you may want to use two to prevent the lollipop color from showing through, according to a video tutorial from Northeast Family Night.
-
Add the face:
- Use the black Sharpie marker to draw eyes and a mouth on the tissue paper or coffee filter.
- Alternatively, you can use googly eyes and glue them on for a fun effect.
-
Final touches:
- Fluff out the tissue paper or coffee filter to create a ghostly shape.
- You can trim the ribbon or string tails to your desired length.
- Your Tootsie Pop ghost is ready to enjoy or give away!
Grab Everything You Need at Stater Bros.
Spooky Orange Pumpkins
Make these easy Halloween decorations using oranges, black markers, and construction paper! Draw spooky, or silly faces to match your mood and let your creativity run wild. These cute, fruity crafts aren’t just a blast to make; they’re also totally snack-worthy and nutritious.
Crack 'em up with these Spooky Eggs
Looking for a fun and mess-free way to decorate hard-boiled Halloween eggs? Using colored pens or markers is a creative, easy alternative to traditional egg dyeing, no bowls or vinegar required!
What You'll Need
-
Hard-boiled white eggs (cooled and dry)
-
Non-toxic permanent markers or food-safe pens
-
Pencil (optional for sketching)
-
Paper towels or a protective work surfa
How to Decorate
-
Start with Clean, Dry Eggs
Make sure your hard-boiled eggs are completely dry before decorating to avoid smudging. -
Sketch (Optional)
Lightly sketch your design with a pencil if you’d like a guide before using marker. -
Draw Your Designs
Use colorful markers to draw patterns, doodles, faces, or write messages. Let your creativity shine — stripes, polka dots, florals, and animals are all popular themes. -
Let Ink Dry
Allow the ink to dry for a minute or two before handling to prevent smears.
Tip for Success
-
Use non-toxic markers only, especially if you plan to eat the eggs.
-
Metallic markers add a shiny touch, but avoid glitter glue or paint unless the eggs are for display only.
-
Sharpies or other permanent markers provide vibrant color and better precision.
