There’s something magical about Halloween in Australia. We don’t have the snow-dusted pumpkins of America’s autumn, but we do have bright evenings, warm breezes, and kids who are just as excited to dress up, rattle a few chains, and ask for treats. For me, it’s the perfect excuse to gather the family (teenagers included, even if they groan) around the craft table for an afternoon of spooky, silly fun.
If you’re after easy Halloween crafts for kids, quirky decorations for your front porch, or simple projects to make with the grandkids, I’ve rounded up 35 fun and affordable Halloween craft ideas that you can whip up with things you already have at home.
Quick & Easy Decor for Last-Minute Crafters
- Paper-Plate Jack-o’-Lanterns
Paint or colour paper plates orange, cut out eyes and mouths, and glue black cardstock behind them. Hang on your front fence or in the window. - Pom-Pom Spiders
Make big fluffy pom-poms from black wool, glue on googly eyes, and add chenille stick legs. They’re great for dangling from light fittings. - Cotton-Bud Skeletons
Snap cotton buds to different lengths, glue them into a skeleton shape on black paper, and add a hand-drawn skull. - Ghost Garlands
Cut ghost shapes from white fabric scraps or paper, add black eyes with marker, and string them along twine for an instant hallway spook. - Paper Bag Monster Faces
Flatten brown paper lunch bags and decorate with sharp teeth, wild hair, and bulging eyes for a fun wall display.
Spooky Accessories to Wear or Gift
- Monster Eye Headbands
Glue plastic eyes to fuzzy pipe cleaners and twist them onto a plain headband—instant party prop. - Vampire Capes from Old Sheets
Cut a large semicircle from a black sheet or tablecloth, add a red lining if you have it, and tie with ribbon. - Mummy Hair Clips
Wrap white ribbon around plain hair clips and glue tiny eyes peeking through. - DIY Witch Hats
Roll black cardboard into a cone, tape the inside, and glue it to a flat circle for the brim. - Glow-in-the-Dark Bead Bracelets
String glow beads onto elastic for a spooky accessory kids can wear trick-or-treating.
Treats That Turn into Crafts
- Origami Bat Toppers
Fold small black paper squares into bats and tape them onto lollipop sticks. - Frankenstein Treat Jars
Paint small jars green, draw on a stitched mouth, and add paper bolts to the sides. - Ghost-in-a-Bottle
Place a small white tissue ghost inside a recycled clear drink bottle with black confetti for a fun party favour. - Pumpkin Treat Bags
Fill orange tissue paper with lollies, gather at the top, and twist with green pipe cleaners to look like a pumpkin. - Haunted House Cupcake Stands
Glue cardboard haunted house cut-outs to sturdy paper plates for themed dessert displays.
Lighted and Hanging Decor to Set the Mood
- Tissue Paper Lanterns
Cover empty jars with orange tissue paper, draw on spooky faces, and pop in LED candles. - Ghost Windsocks
Use white plastic tablecloth strips and glue them to a paper cup—add a ghost face and hang from a tree. - Bat Swarm Wall
Cut bat shapes from black cardstock and stick them on your walls in a flying pattern. - Glow Stick Broomsticks
Wrap raffia around one end of a glow stick to look like a witch’s broom, then poke into pot plants. - Hanging Eyeball Ornaments
Paint polystyrene balls white, add a big iris and red vein details, and hang them with fishing line.
Clever Costume Add-ons & Props
- Werewolf Ears Headband
Cut felt triangles, glue onto a headband, and add tufts of faux fur. - Cardboard Shields for Little Knights
Paint with spiderweb designs or monster faces for Halloween play-fighting. - Skeleton Gloves
Draw bone shapes with white fabric paint onto black gloves. - Pumpkin Trick-or-Treat Buckets
Recycle ice cream tubs, paint orange, and add jack-o’-lantern faces. - Wizard Wands
Twist paper into wand shapes, cover in hot glue for texture, and paint gold, silver, or black.
Crafts for Kids’ Parties & Playdates
- Pin the Hat on the Witch
Draw a big witch on poster board and make separate hats to tape on while blindfolded. - Slime in Spooky Colours
Make oozy slime with green or purple food colouring and add glitter or fake spiders. - Pumpkin Bowling
Paint old tins with ghost faces, stack them, and use a small pumpkin to knock them over. - Spooky Mask Making Table
Provide plain cardboard masks, paints, feathers, and fabric scraps for guests to decorate. - Monster Footprint Painting
Cut big monster foot shapes from cardboard, dip in paint, and stamp onto a paper “path.”
For the Porch or Front Yard
- Witch’s Parking Sign
Paint an old board with “Witch Parking Only – All Others Will Be Toad” and stick it in the garden. - Creepy Window Silhouettes
Cut silhouettes of witches, cats, or zombies and tape inside your windows. - DIY Gravestones
Use cut foam or cardboard, paint grey, and write funny epitaphs with black paint. - Pumpkin Path Lights
Cut pumpkin faces from milk jugs, place LED candles inside, and line your path. - Hanging Cauldron Planter
Fill a hanging basket with fake moss, black cloth, and orange fairy lights for a bubbling cauldron effect.
Tips for Crafting Success
- Use What You Have: Halloween doesn’t have to be expensive—raid your recycling bin before buying supplies.
- Think Safe: For little ones, avoid sharp tools and swap real candles for LED lights.
- Get Messy: Half the fun is in the gluey fingers and glittery chaos.
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