The scariest thing about Halloween may be the price tags on decorations. But with a little creativity and a few everyday supplies, students can turn their homes into spooky haunted houses without spending a fortune. The Daily Texan has put together budget-friendly DIY Halloween crafts that will help save your bank account and help the environment.
toilet paper roll bat
Turn empty toilet paper rolls into a swarm of mischievous bats! Paint the roll black and glue on black paper wings, googly eyes, and small fangs made from white paper. Craftsmen can tie them with twine to create a creepy bat cave effect in any room.
spider web doormat
Use a plain doormat and white puff paint to create a spider web pattern. This simple upgrade will greet your guests with a Halloween atmosphere right on your doorstep.
ghost lantern
Don’t throw away empty pasta sauce or jam jars. Breathe new life into a glass container by covering it with a layer of white tissue paper and creating a ghost face by pasting black paper cutouts for eyes and a mouth. Take it to the next level by adding a battery-powered tealight inside to provide a soft glow.
tissue paper pumpkin garland
Orange and green tissue paper easily transforms into mini pumpkins hung in a garland. Roll the orange tissue into a ball shape for the pumpkin, twist the green paper to make the stems and glue them together. Tie pumpkins to string or twine to make a festive wreath to hang in a doorway or on a wall.
bottle cap spider
Make small spiders by reusing metal bottle caps. Paint them black and use small beads or googly eyes for the faces. For the legs, use pipe cleaners or pieces of black paper and glue them to the underside of the cap. You can scatter them around a room or on a table to create a whimsical atmosphere.
mummy wrapped in thread
Wrap the can with white thread, leaving a space for the googly eyes to peek through. Use these cute mummies to hold candy or decorate your table for a little Halloween charm.
pumpkin mason jar vase
Easily transform a used mason jar into a festive jack-o-lantern vase. Paint the jar orange and use a Sharpie to draw a jack-o-lantern face. Fill it with fall flowers, straws for a Halloween drink station, candy for trick-or-treaters, and more.
cardboard gravestone
Save the box for the next time your online delivery arrives. Transform a cardboard box into a realistic gravestone by cutting out a gravestone shape, painting it gray, and using a marker to write a funny or spooky epitaph. Create a miniature graveyard by placing these DIY headstones in your garden or around your home.
bloody handprint window
Craftsmen can get a frightening effect by dipping their palms in red washable paint and pressing it against the window. Once Halloween is over, the paint is washable, so you can easily wipe it off.
