Spooktacular Halloween Crafts for Kids

Last October, I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my niece, a pile of paper, glue, and way too much glitter scattered everywhere. She wanted to make something “spooky but cute,” and honestly, I had no idea where to start. Have you ever been in that spot—wanting to keep kids busy with Halloween crafts but running out of ideas fast? It’s tricky, right? You want activities that are simple enough for little hands, but also fun so they’re not bored in five minutes. Plus, let’s be real, you don’t want to spend a fortune on supplies that end up stuck to your floor. That’s why I put together this list of Halloween crafts for kids. We’re talking easy, budget-friendly projects that actually hold their attention (yes, it’s possible!). By the end, you’ll have a handful of creative ideas ready to roll out—and maybe even enjoy making them too.

Halloween Crafts for Kids

Halloween Crafts for Kids offer a fun way to celebrate the spooky season while sparking creativity. These easy and safe crafts help kids develop motor skills and enjoy festive activities.

Paper Plate Ghosts

I swear, paper plate ghosts were one of the first Halloween crafts I ever did with my kids, and they’ve kind of stuck around as a tradition. The best part? They’re ridiculously simple, and you don’t need fancy supplies. Just grab a stack of paper plates, some black markers, and a bit of tissue paper or streamers for the ghostly “tails.” I usually cut big goofy eyes and a silly oval mouth—it never looks perfectly round, but that’s kind of what makes them fun. Honestly, half the charm is that each ghost ends up with its own “personality.” One looks scared, another looks like it’s laughing, and sometimes they look completely bonkers, which makes the kids giggle.

What I love most is how quickly these ghosts can fill up a room. Last year, my daughter insisted we tape them all over the hallway, and it looked like an entire haunted parade. To be fair, I thought it might be overwhelming, but it ended up being everyone’s favorite decoration. If you want to step it up a bit, you can even punch a hole at the top, string some yarn through, and hang them from the ceiling. Watching them sway whenever someone walks past feels like you’ve got real spirits floating around the house. It’s cheap, fast, and in my opinion, an absolute must-do craft.

Pumpkin Handprint Art

Pumpkin handprints are messy, let me warn you right away—but in the best kind of way. There’s just something about kids dipping their little hands in orange paint and slapping them onto paper that screams “Halloween memory.” I still have a wrinkly old sheet of paper from when my son was four with his tiny handprints turned into little pumpkins, and honestly, it’s one of my favorite keepsakes. The trick is to have plenty of wipes nearby because, to be fair, kids don’t really stop at the paper. Their faces, clothes, even the dog—everything’s fair game once paint is involved.

After the handprints dry, we usually add little green stems and some curly vines with markers or paint. Sometimes the pumpkins come out looking like blobs, but I’ve found that if you add a goofy smiley face, kids suddenly get so proud of their “jack-o’-lantern.” My daughter once gave hers vampire teeth, and it looked hilariously weird but also kind of brilliant. In my opinion, the real joy is less about how perfect they look and more about capturing a little moment in time. These are the crafts that end up in memory boxes—or at least taped to the fridge until November.

Spider Web Collage

Spider web collages are one of those crafts that start off looking simple, but the more you layer them, the cooler they get. I usually give the kids black or dark-colored paper, and we use white yarn or even strips of tissue paper to make the webs. There’s no “right way” to do it, which is exactly why kids love it—every web looks different. Sometimes we make the lines neat and crisscrossed, and sometimes it just looks like a tangled mess, but to be fair, that’s how real spider webs are anyway. I’ve found that letting the kids glue down tiny plastic spiders (or even drawing their own with markers) makes the whole thing come alive.

One year, my son insisted his web needed glitter. At first, I rolled my eyes because glitter is basically craft doom for parents, but honestly, it turned out amazing. The sparkly webs under the lamp almost looked magical, like frosty spider silk. Another time, we cut out little construction paper bugs and stuck them “caught” in the web, which the kids thought was both gross and awesome. In my opinion, this craft is perfect when you want something that looks impressive without actually needing much effort. It’s a little messy, a little creative, and super easy to adapt depending on how much time (and patience) you’ve got.

Ghost Lanterns

Make glowing ghost lanterns to light up the night with some spooky fun. This craft is great for older kids and will add a festive touch to your Halloween decorations.

Tips:

• Use cheesecloth or a white cloth to create the ghost shape.

• Place an LED tea light underneath to make it glow.

• You can paint the faces on the cloth for a more personalized look.

• For extra fun, add a small pumpkin base underneath the ghost.

Pumpkin Garland

Create a fun garland of pumpkins to hang around the house. This simple craft is perfect for kids to help decorate the home for Halloween.

Tips:

• Use orange construction paper or felt for the pumpkins.

• Have kids cut out pumpkin shapes, and decorate them with markers.

• String them together using yarn or twine.

• Add faces to the pumpkins for a more festive touch.

Monster Bookmarks

A fun craft that combines Halloween with reading! These monster bookmarks can be used for marking pages in Halloween-themed books.

Tips:

• Use colorful paper and markers to create unique monster faces.

• Add googly eyes or cut out extra monster features like teeth and horns.

• Punch a hole at the top and add a ribbon for extra decoration.

• Encourage kids to write their names on their bookmarks for a personalized touch.

Witch’s Broomstick

A simple and fun craft that allows kids to create their own witch’s broomstick. This craft is easy to make and can be used for costume play.

Tips:

• Use craft sticks or wooden dowels for the broomstick.

• Cut fringe from black construction paper to create the broom’s bristles.

• Glue the fringe to the stick, then attach a ribbon or string at the top for extra detail.

• Kids can decorate the broomstick with Halloween-themed stickers.

Candy Corn Pencil Toppers

Add some Halloween flair to your school supplies by making candy corn pencil toppers. These fun and easy crafts are perfect for kids who love to get crafty.

Tips:

• Use foam or paper to create the candy corn shape.

• Color them yellow, orange, and white for the classic candy corn look.

• Add googly eyes to make them more fun and playful.

• Attach the candy corn to the top of a pencil using glue or double-sided tape.

Bat Wings Costume

Help kids get into the Halloween spirit by making their own bat wings. This is a fun DIY project that can be used for Halloween costumes.
Tips:

• Use black fabric or construction paper for the wings.

• Cut out bat wing shapes and attach them to a headband with glue.

• Add details like bat ears or fangs using felt or foam.

• Make the wings adjustable by attaching elastic straps to fit around the arms.

Spooky Handprint Spider

This craft uses handprints to make a creepy spider. It’s a fun way to use kids’ handprints for a Halloween decoration.
Tips:

• Use black paint for the spider body and legs.

• Let kids add googly eyes for a fun effect.

• Paint the handprints onto white or black paper for contrast.

• Add a web background by drawing lines with a white crayon or chalk.

Pumpkin Patch Diorama

Make a mini pumpkin patch diorama using cardboard and mini pumpkins or cut-out pumpkin shapes. This is a perfect Halloween decoration for the home.
Tips:

• Use brown or green construction paper to create the patch ground.

• Cut out mini pumpkins from orange construction paper or use small real pumpkins.

• Decorate the background with a spooky Halloween scene.

• Add cotton balls for clouds or to represent hay in the patch.

Paper Bat Lanterns

Create bat-shaped lanterns to light up your Halloween night. These bat lanterns are simple to make and can be used as decorations.
Tips:

• Use black construction paper to make bat wings.

• Add an LED candle inside to create a glowing effect.

• Hang the bats from the ceiling or place them around the house.

• Decorate the bats with googly eyes or glitter for added detail.

Frankenstein Bookmark

Create a spooky Frankenstein bookmark to mark your page in Halloween books. This is an easy and fun craft that kids can personalize.
Tips:

• Use green paper for Frankenstein’s face.

• Cut out his iconic bolts and stitches using black paper.

• Add googly eyes or draw a spooky face on the bookmark.

• Punch a hole and add a ribbon for extra decoration.

Haunted House Diorama

Create a haunted house diorama to display as part of your Halloween decorations. Kids will love designing their own spooky house.
Tips:

• Use a shoebox as the base for the diorama.

• Cut out windows and doors to make the haunted house look spooky.

• Decorate with mini ghosts, skeletons, or pumpkins.

• Add a spooky background with black paper or dark colors.

These Halloween crafts for kids will keep them busy and entertained while they create fun decorations for the season. Each craft can be adapted to suit different age groups, and they are perfect for classroom activities, home projects, or Halloween parties.

DIY Halloween Decorations

Halloween is the perfect time to get creative and add some spooky flair to your home. DIY Halloween decorations allow you to personalize your space with fun, festive crafts that are easy to make and sure to impress. Whether it’s glowing ghost lanterns, a pumpkin garland, or a fun bat wings costume, these projects are simple and fun for kids and adults alike. Here are a few easy DIY Halloween decoration ideas to bring the spooky spirit to your home.

Ghost Lanterns

These glowing ghost lanterns are a spooky way to light up your Halloween night. They’re simple to make, and they add a cool, eerie glow to your home.
Materials Needed:

• White cheesecloth

• LED tea light candles

• Small pumpkins
  Steps:

• Place an LED tea light candle inside each small pumpkin.

• Drape the cheesecloth over the pumpkin, letting it hang loosely to create a ghost-like effect.

• Adjust the cheesecloth so it looks like a floating ghost.

• Set them around the house, or line the porch with these spooky lanterns for a glowing Halloween vibe.

Pumpkin Garland

A pumpkin garland is a cheerful and fun way to decorate your space for Halloween. This simple craft adds a festive touch to walls, windows, or doorways.
Materials Needed:

• Orange construction paper

• Scissors

• Glue

• String
  Steps:

• Cut out pumpkin shapes from the orange construction paper.

• Decorate the pumpkins with faces, drawing spooky eyes, noses, and mouths with markers.

• Punch small holes at the top of each pumpkin.

• String them together using the string to create a garland.

• Hang the garland on a wall, mantle, or across windows to add a festive Halloween touch.

Bat Wings Costume

Create your own bat wings costume for dress-up or party fun! This easy DIY project lets kids get into the Halloween spirit and gives them a fun accessory for costumes.
Materials Needed:

• Black fabric

• Scissors

• Elastic bands
  Steps:

• Cut the black fabric into bat wing shapes, ensuring the wings are wide enough to fit comfortably around the child’s arms.

• Attach elastic bands to the top corners of each wing for easy wearing.

• If desired, add extra details like bat ears or face decorations using felt or fabric paint.

• Slip the wings over the child’s shoulders and adjust for a perfect bat costume.

These simple DIY Halloween decorations will help set the perfect spooky atmosphere for your Halloween celebrations. Whether you’re creating glowing ghosts, a pumpkin garland, or a fun bat costume, these crafts are sure to bring the Halloween spirit into your home.

FAQ

What are Halloween crafts for kids?

Halloween crafts for kids are creative, hands-on activities that allow children to make decorations, costumes, and other spooky items for Halloween. These crafts can include projects like paper plate ghosts, pumpkin garlands, and bat wings, helping kids engage in the festive spirit of the holiday while developing their creative skills.

Are Halloween crafts safe for kids?

Yes, Halloween crafts for kids can be very safe when appropriate materials are used. Always supervise children while crafting, especially when using scissors, glue, or small parts. Choose age-appropriate crafts and materials to ensure safety.

What materials do I need for Halloween crafts?

The materials for Halloween crafts vary depending on the project, but common supplies include construction paper, glue, scissors, markers, paint, yarn, fabric, and googly eyes. Many crafts also use everyday household items like paper plates, cardboard, or small pumpkins.

Can Halloween crafts help with kids’ development?

Absolutely! Halloween crafts can enhance kids’ creativity, fine motor skills, and problem-solving abilities. Cutting, gluing, and drawing help with hand-eye coordination, while designing and decorating encourage imaginative thinking and artistic expression.