Do it yourself Halloween craft ideas

A few craft supplies, glass vessels and battery-powered lights are all you need to recreate these easy Halloween craft projects. Best of all, most of the materials and components can be reused when 31 October is over.

In this article, we’ll show you how to make four do it yourself Halloween crafts:

• Batty bouquet. A glass jar of long twigs with cut-out bats ‘flying’ out.
• Mop-head lanterns. Cute but scary alternatives to pumpkin carving, this is a great Halloween craft for kids.
• Bead garland. To add a gothic vibe to your home.
• Skull terrarium. Jump scare your guests with a skull on the coffee table.

Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment. 

Batty bouquet

Select sculptural fallen twigs from the garden and brush off dirt and loose bark. Wearing safety gear and working on a drop sheet in a well-ventilated area, spray twigs with two light coats of black paint, leaving to dry after each coat. Find bat stencils online, print out and trace onto black craft paper, then cut out bat shapes using scissors. Stand the twigs in a glass jar, then feed bead wire lights into the jar, leaving the battery/control box to sit behind. Place bats sitting in or glued to the branches using PVA.

Mop-head lanterns

Search online for a DIY witch’s hat template. Cut hat template from felt adhesive roll, then form the hat, removing strips of the paper backing to secure along the joins. Cut oval ‘eyes’ from scrap felt. Turn on a puck light and place inside a glass vase, then sit a mop head on top, spreading the tassels around the outside of the glass. Remove paper backing from felt eyes and stick onto the front of the mop tassels. Sit hat on top to hide the mop collar.

Tip: After some more Halloween goodies? Check out our full range of Halloween decorations.

Bead garland

Wearing safety gear and working on a drop sheet in a well-ventilated area, spray beads (we used four packs) with two light coats of black paint, leaving to dry after each coat. Thread beads onto a spool of black blind cord.

Tip: For a pleasing look, group the largest beads together, interspersed with the smaller beads. Once all beads are used up, tie off both ends of the cord tightly, trim, and display garland hanging from clear removable hooks.

Skull terrarium

Place an artificial plant inside a glass bowl and spread mulch at the base. Switch on two battery tea lights, place them inside a skull decoration and sit the skull in the bowl, nestling into the mulch. Arrange the fronds of the plant over and around the bowl and place the terrarium in position.

Keep in mind...

• When spray-painting, wear eye protection, a mask and gloves and work outside or in a well-ventilated area, covering surrounding areas with a drop sheet to avoid overspray.
• Keep all beads, paint and chemicals out of reach of children and pets.
• Wear gloves and a mask when handling mulch.
• Paint colours may vary on application.

For more spooky Halloween projects…

Check out how to use a garden trolley to create the perfect treat station.

Photo credit: Martina Gemmola.