1Crystal Ball Centerpiece
Mike GartenYour kids can create a glowing centerpiece that doubles as decor with just a clear vase and a couple strings of LED lights. Simply wrap them inside the vase for a DIY they'll be proud to put on display.
2Starry Night
Mike GartenSuitable for older kids with the help of an adult, this craft will shine all season long. Start by carving the pumpkin and hollowing it from the bottom. Poke holes using a skewer through the pumpkin and add starbursts with a thin flexible knife. Add LED lights inside the pumpkin for a spooky glow.
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3Sweetgum Wreath
Mike GartenWard off evil spirits with sweetgum balls! Incorporate them into a grapevine wreath form using hot glue. For a finishing touch, tuck in some reindeer moss throughout.
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4Drippy Candles
Mike GartenCreate eerie candles with dried amaranth flowers. Simply wrap them around the base of a few candles for a "drippy" effect. Make sure an adult takes over if you choose to light them.
5Witch's Lantern
Mike GartenGather empty jars around the house and peel off any labels. Print out our bug and frog clip art and arrange your critters on the jar using Mod Podge. Then, layer three- to four-inch pieces of tissue paper all around the jar, applying the glue on top. Let the jar dry for a few hours and then place a tea light inside to light up your witch's lantern.
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6Branch Spider Web Wreath
Mike GartenWhat kid doesn't love gathering twigs in the yard? For this craft, cut a wreath out of cardboard. The wreath should be around 12 inches in diameter with a five-inch circle cut out from the inside so that it resembles a donut shape. Find twigs and sticks, cutting or breaking them so that they are between five and 10 inches long. Hot glue the twigs onto the wreath, layering and breaking them so that they fill the space. After letting the twigs dry completely, stretch small pieces of spider webbing around, criss crossing as you go. Finally, tuck in a few fake spiders with hot glue for added spookiness.
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7Bleach Pen Napkins
Mike GartenWatch kids draw spiderweb designs on the front of cloth napkins. Choose any color that'll make the designs pop. After letting the design dry for two hours, you'll see it turn completely white. Make sure to rinse and dry the napkins before displaying them on your table.
8Puff Paint Spider Web Glasses
Mike GartenAny kid would surely have fun decorating their plastic or glass tumblers with spiderweb patterns. Use puff paint to add texture and vibrancy to any Halloween-themed cup. It'll especially make any colorful drinks pop.
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9Webbed Placemats
Mike GartenGive your table an even spookier upgrade with these DIY placemats made out of puff paint and parchment paper. Make a web shape on the parchment paper using puff paint. Let it dry overnight before peeling the paper off the back. When placed under a clear plate, the design will really stand out.
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10Outdoor Halloween Lanterns
Mike GartenWe share all the steps to making a variety of eerie lanterns kids can help DIY for the backyard or porch. You can create splatter-paint pumpkin lanterns with acrylic paint, mummy shroud lanterns with cheesecloth and creepy crawler lanterns with bug clip art.
113D Puff Painted Pumpkins
Mike GartenHere's a carve-free pumpkin craft where the kids can draw designs on their jack-o'-lanterns. Trace the lines with puff paint and once the paint dries, cover the stem with masking tape and use matte spray paint or chalk paint for a 3D look.
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12Skull Lanterns
Danielle OcchiogrossoAfter DIYing, you'll want to keep these skull lanterns up all spooky season long! Cut the adorable faces out of black paper then Mod Podge them onto white paper lanterns. This will really put your kids' drawing skills to the test.
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13Skeleton Pumpkin
Mike GartenThis skeleton will scare away any monster that tries stealing candy from your doorstep! Stack two pumpkins on top of each other. Spray paint both of the pumpkins white and use black paint for the eyes and bones.
14Spa Pumpkin
Mike GartenA pumpkin wearing a face mask and shower cap? We hope your kids get a kick out of this look after decorating their jack-o'-lantern in a colorful mask, cucumbers, and spa attire.
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15Cobweb Wreath
Mike GartenKiddos will love making this mini wreath. All it takes is stretching a faux cobweb over a 12" embroidery hoop. Help them trim any extra web off the back and add little spider figurines to the front for a creepier effect.
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16Black Bat Pumpkin
Mike GartenPaint the pumpkin a vibrant neon hue, like this eye-catching pink, before decorating it with black paper bats. Keep your new "batty" display inside or under a covered porch so the bats last throughout the holiday season.
17Face Mask Pumpkins
Mike GartenFor these stylish masked pumpkins, grab a sleeping mask and a few straight pins to keep the straps in place. It's that easy!
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18Vampire Bat Leaves
Take the kids on a walk and gather some leaves to be painted black with matte spray paint. After they dry, they can use a white marker to make little vampire faces.
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19Skeleton Face Candy Packaging
To make, spray paint all of the egg boxes white inside and out before letting them dry completely. Cut out the skeleton face templates out of black craft paper with scissors or a craft knife (or make your own!). Glue on the paper face pieces using a light layer of tacky glue and make sure you securely press down the pieces since the egg is round. Fill your skeleton face with some paper shreds and treats!
20Macramé Ghosts
Begin by painting embroidery hoops with black paint and letting them dry. Cut equal lengths of a macramé cord about 50” long (you will need 12 - 14 pieces of cord per hoop).
Follow the instructions below for simple knots or make your own:
- Lark’s Head Knot: Hold two pieces of cord together and fold them in half. Wrap the folded half around the embroidery hoop and pull all four tails through the loop. Pull tight to secure. Repeat the process around the top of the hoop.
- Square Knot: Start by creating Lark’s Head knots with one cord each across the top of the hoop. Starting with the leftmost piece, wrap it over the next two cords to the right. Then take the fourth cord and wrap it behind the previous two cords on the left, tucking it through the space between the first two cords. Pull to tighten. Continue across the embroidery hoop.

Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.

Laura Millar (she/her) is a freelance lifestyle journalist for Good Housekeeping. She holds a degree in Film, TV & Media from the University of Michigan, and was previously the assistant lifestyle editor for GH, where she covered home design. Her byline has appeared in NBC's TODAY.com, PEOPLE, Real Simple, and Business Insider.
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