20 Fun DIY Halloween Crafts Kids Will Love Making

Do you hear those little voices asking “Can we make something spooky?” every five minutes as Halloween approaches?

Finding Halloween crafts that are actually fun (and not a complete mess) can feel impossible when you’re juggling excited kids and a busy schedule.

Get ready to become the ultimate Halloween hero with 20 easy crafts that use simple supplies you probably already have at home – from glittery slime monsters to glowing pumpkin jars that will make your neighbors jealous.

Let’s dive into these amazing Halloween projects that will keep your little ghouls and goblins happily creating spooky masterpieces!

Our Best Picks

1 Halloween Painted Rocks

Your kids can turn ordinary rocks into spooky Halloween decorations with just paint and imagination. Head to your local beach, park, or riverbank to collect smooth, flat stones together.

Let them paint pumpkins, ghosts, or bats on each rock using bright orange, white, and black acrylic paint. Simple faces work best for younger children.

Display their masterpieces around your front yard or porch for instant Halloween charm. Create a painted rock pathway leading to your door that will delight trick-or-treaters and showcase your kids’ creativity.

2 Felt Bat Toppers

Tiny felt bats transform ordinary pencils into spooky study buddies that make homework time more fun.

These adorable pencil toppers work perfectly for different age groups. Little ones love picking bat colors and drawing templates, while older kids handle the cutting duties.

Parents handle the sewing portion, but teens can learn this valuable skill during your Halloween crafting session. You’ll need various colored felt pieces, which come in convenient bulk packs.

Your kids will actually look forward to using these cute bat-topped pencils for school assignments and Halloween-themed activities.

3 Orange Pumpkin Slime

Bright orange slime stretches and squishes just like a real pumpkin’s gooey insides! This messy craft keeps kids entertained for hours while celebrating Halloween fun.

Older kids can handle the mixing process better, but little ones love playing with the finished product. The pumpkin-pie scent makes it extra special for fall.

Set up your slime station on kitchen counters or outdoor tables for easy cleanup. This orange creation becomes the perfect sensory toy that captures Halloween magic in every stretch.

4 Giant Chenille Spider

Black chenille stems transform any round object into a spooky dancing spider that moves with every breeze. Kids love watching these fuzzy creatures wiggle their legs!

Start with a round base like cardboard or wood, then poke eight chenille stems through for legs. Bend the legs into creepy angles for that realistic spider look.

Hang these spiders anywhere for instant Halloween magic. They look amazing dangling from tree branches, backpack zippers, or your front porch decorations.

5 Monster Slime Craft

Green, gooey slime transforms into the perfect monster companion for Halloween fun. Kids love squishing and stretching this satisfying craft that doubles as a toy.

You’ll need green-colored glue and activator (magical liquid) to create this spooky slime. Pre-packed slime kits make the process even easier for busy parents.

This craft works best for children over 3 years old since it uses non-edible ingredients. The therapeutic squishing action keeps kids entertained for hours after crafting.

Even adults find slime surprisingly relaxing to play with, making this a fun family activity everyone enjoys.

6 Paper Straw Skeletons

White paper straws transform into spooky skeletons with just a few simple supplies. This mess-free craft keeps kids busy while you relax nearby.

Pre-cut the straws beforehand so little hands stay safe from scissors. Kids arrange the pieces on black cardstock to form skeleton shapes, then glue them down.

Use white markers to add skull details and bone joints. The finished skeletons make perfect fridge decorations that instantly spook up your kitchen for Halloween.

7 Movable Skeleton Hands

Realistic skeleton hands that actually bend and move will have your kids cackling with spooky delight. These creepy crawlers flex just like real fingers, perfect for surprising unsuspecting trick-or-treaters.

This craft works best for older kids since it involves careful cutting and threading with blunt needles. The detailed work makes it extra rewarding when finished.

You’ll need black craft foam, yarn, pony beads, white straws, and black and white paint to bring these bony hands to life. The movable joints create an amazingly lifelike effect that’s worth the effort.

8 Pumpkin Spin Art

Swirling orange and black paint creates stunning pumpkin masterpieces that look like magical tie-dye art. Your kids simply drop paint onto spinning paper and watch the colors blend into beautiful patterns.

These vibrant spin paintings make perfect Halloween window decorations or unique greeting cards. Kids love watching the paint fly and create unexpected designs.

The spinning motion does all the work while children experiment with different color combinations. Each artwork turns out completely different and special.

9 Googly Eye Headband

Turn any plain headband into a spooky fashion statement that works with every Halloween costume. Your kids get a fun accessory that’s perfect for school parties or trick-or-treating.

This craft uses simple stick-and-stick assembly, making it ideal for younger children. Even preschoolers can handle this project with minimal help.

• Plain headband (any color works)
• Colorful felt pieces
• Assorted googly eyes in different sizes
• Craft glue or adhesive dots

Simply glue the felt pieces onto the headband, then attach googly eyes on top. Your child creates their own creepy-cute design that matches their personality perfectly.

10 Pine Cone Spiders

Transform ordinary pine cones into spooky eight-legged creatures that’ll surprise your Halloween guests! These adorable spiders use nature’s perfect spider body – the bumpy, oval shape of pine cones.

Start with a family adventure to collect pine cones from your local park. Back home, simply glue on googly eyes and twist four chenille stems in half to create eight legs.

Hide your finished spiders around doorways, under furniture, or along your front porch. Watch friends and family jump when they discover these realistic-looking creepy crawlers lurking in unexpected spots!

11 Paper Jack-O-Lantern

Orange origami paper transforms into spooky jack-o-lanterns with just a few simple folds. This beginner-friendly project teaches kids basic origami skills while creating Halloween decorations.

Your little ones can make multiple pumpkins in different sizes for variety. Each one takes about 10 minutes to complete.

These paper jack-o-lanterns work perfectly as wall decorations or gift tags. Kids love drawing different facial expressions to give each pumpkin its own personality.

12 Paper Hand Collage

Tiny hands create spooky masterpieces with this mess-free Halloween craft that’s perfect for your littlest artists.

You trace and cut your child’s hand on orange or black paper while they pick out colorful beans, rice, or small pasta shapes to decorate it. This keeps the scissors away from small fingers.

Kids love spreading glue and pressing different textures onto their hand silhouette to make it look like a monster, ghost, or fall tree. The repetitive sticking motion helps build those important fine motor skills.

You probably have everything needed at home already—construction paper, white glue, and pantry items like lentils or cereal.

13 Halloween Pompom Garlands

Bright orange and black pompoms transform into spooky decorations that kids love making and hanging everywhere. Your little ones can create adorable ghost, pumpkin, and spider garlands in just one afternoon.

You’ll need an egg carton, colorful yarn, googly eyes, and markers to get started. A glue gun helps attach pieces securely, so plan to supervise younger children during this step.

Make extra garlands for friends and neighbors. Kids feel proud giving handmade Halloween gifts that spread festive cheer throughout the neighborhood.

14 Window Clings

Colorful puff paint transforms ordinary windows into spooky masterpieces with these removable clings. Kids squeeze paint directly onto glass to create ghosts, pumpkins, or bats.

Add googly eyes and glitter while the paint stays wet for extra Halloween magic. The best part? These clings peel off easily when the season ends.

Your little artists get hours of creative fun while you enjoy some peaceful weekend time. They can even make new designs for other holidays throughout the year.

15 Tin Can Ghosts

White painted tin cans transform into spooky singing ghosts that whistle in the wind! These adorable decorations create eerie sounds when autumn breezes blow through them.

Start with clean, rust-free tin cans and paint them white. Let parents handle the nail hammering to create sound holes safely.

Glue on googly eyes and add string for hanging. The wind creates ghostly whispers as air flows through the holes, making your yard delightfully haunted all season long!

16 Flower Pot Spiders

Transform old flower pots into adorable giant spiders that will make trick-or-treaters smile instead of scream. These friendly eight-legged creatures bring cute Halloween vibes to your front yard.

You only need basic supplies: clay pots, chenille stems (pipe cleaners), and black paint. Paint your pot, poke holes for the legs, and thread the stems through to create bendy spider legs.

Line several spiders along your driveway or scatter them across your lawn. Kids love spotting these oversized crawlers, and you’ll enjoy watching their delighted reactions as they discover each friendly spider friend.

17 Coffee Filter Bats

Coffee filters transform into spooky flying bats that kids can proudly display around your home. This simple craft creates realistic bat wings that flutter in the breeze.

Your child paints coffee filters black and clips them with clothespins for the bat body. Once dry, they add googly eyes and yarn for hanging.

Hang multiple bats from your porch or trees to create an eerie bat colony effect. The lightweight filters move naturally in the wind, making them look like they’re actually flying around your Halloween decorations.

18 Glass Pumpkin Jars

Transform old jars into glowing pumpkin decorations with this simple recycling craft. Your kids will love creating their own spooky lanterns while learning to reuse household items.

Gather clean glass jars, Mod Podge, orange and green napkins, and chenille pipes for stems. Use a foam brush to apply the adhesive smoothly.

Always choose battery-powered tea lights instead of real candles for safety. Look for lights with childproof battery compartments to keep little ones protected.

These adorable pumpkin jars make perfect Halloween decorations that your kids can proudly display in their rooms.

19 Coffee Filter Monsters

Colorful monsters come to life when you transform ordinary coffee filters into spooky decorations! These round filters make perfect monster faces that kids love creating.

Grab some markers or food coloring to add bright colors and scary features. Draw big eyes, jagged teeth, and wild hair to give each monster its own personality.

No coffee filters at home? Paper plates work perfectly as substitutes, or simply cut regular paper into circles.

Tape your finished monsters on windows, doors, or the refrigerator to spread Halloween cheer throughout your house!

20 Halloween Shadow Box

Your child’s Halloween scene comes alive inside a magical shadow box that becomes a spooky miniature world.

Grab any shoebox or wooden box to create the frame. Cover the inside walls with colorful paper or fabric to set the Halloween mood.

Let your little one fill their box with tiny pumpkins, plastic spiders, or paper bats. They can even make their own mini decorations from clay or construction paper.

Use glue dots to secure everything in place. Display the finished shadow box on a shelf where everyone can peek into their creative Halloween world.