70 Best Halloween Crafts for Kids to Take on This Spooky Season
Whether you have toddlers or teens, these easy DIY projects will entertain your kids all fall long.
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We all know that when it comes to kids and Halloween, the main event is definitely the candy-hunting. However, there are plenty of other fun Halloween-themed activities that kids can get their hands on before October 31 – crafts being one of them.
What better way to prepare for trick-or-treating than to get in the spirit with some on-theme DIY Halloween crafts for kids? Whether it’s painted pumpkins, mason jar lanterns or Halloween slime, these crafts are all meant for kids to take on with parent supervision. Better yet, most of them require minimal supplies you may even have lying around the house. Think paper plates, popsicle sticks, clothespins and more inexpensive materials.
Although lots of these Halloween craft projects can be completed by younger children, we’ve included a range of ideas, including ones that are slightly more challenging to keep older kids excited, entertained and distracted from their end goal – the inevitable sugar rush come Halloween. And just because these DIYs are kid-friendly doesn’t mean they won’t inspire adults, too. Browse through some of our favorites and check out some easy DIY Halloween costume ideas if you’re feeling adventurous!
Witch's Lantern
Gather 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.
Jack-O-Lantern Balloons
Using peel-and-stick black vinyl or a black Sharpie marker, you can transform orange balloons into silly jack-o-lanterns. After the kids are done designing their masterpieces, attach them to a string and hang as garland around the house for Halloween party decor.
Branch Spider Web Wreath
What kid doesn't love gathering twigs in the yard? For this craft, cut a wreath out of cardboard. The wreath should be around twelve 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 ten 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.
Halloween Flower Pots
Paint your favorite Halloween-themed characters on flower pots and stuff them with candy or succulents. After painting your pot the solid color you want for your design, use paint pens to draw on more intricate details.
Halloween Mason Jars
When it comes to crafting for kids, there's no better combination than glitter and candy. Just cover a jar in glue, sprinkle glitter and attach your facial features. Then, fill with candy and leave on display!
Confetti Pumpkins
Celebrate the fall season with a pop of confetti! Cover the top of your pumpkin with glue and sprinkle on the sparkle.
Ghost Ornaments
If your kids are more into cute ghosts than spooky ones, this craft is for them. Using craft plastic and scissors, cut out the body of your ghosts. Draw faces on each using a black marker. To make them even cuter, add rosy cheeks using pink paint and the eraser end of a pencil.
Bleach Pen Napkins
Watch 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.
Puff Paint Spider Web Glasses
Any 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.
Webbed Placemats
Give 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.
Outdoor Halloween Lanterns
We 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.
3D Puff Painted Pumpkins
Here'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.
Skull Lanterns
After 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.
Skeleton Pumpkin
This 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.
Spa Pumpkin
A 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.
Cobweb Wreath
Kiddos 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.
Black Bat Pumpkin
Paint 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.
Face Mask Pumpkins
For these stylish masked pumpkins, grab a sleeping mask and a few straight pins to keep the straps in place. It's that easy!
Pumpkin Suncatchers
Dress up the windows in your kids' bedroom with these adorable smiley-faced pumpkin suncatchers. Use wax paper and crayons for the design or make use of any tissue paper and contact paper to recreate the craft.
Paper Halloween Luminaries
Kids can take turns drawing silly and scary monster faces on their cylinders. Place tea lights into glass jars before putting paper luminaries over them to create an eerie glow.
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 the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC's TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.
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