DemosUtah Life January 20, 2024

9 Easy & Cheap Halloween DIY Crafts, Food & Decor

Your Fairy Godmother is here to share spooky crafts and tasty treats for the month of October. Follow along for some fall fun! 

 

1. Ghosts in a Jar

Make this super easy Halloween decoration with items you probably have around your house. Here’s how you do it:

Item List:

  • Large Jar
  • Small vase/jar
  • Ghost Peeps
  • Fairy String Lights
  • Ribbon (I used orange with white polka dots)

Instructions:

  1. Place the fairy lights into the small vase/jar.
  2. Place the small jar into the larger jar. Make sure you have enough space all the way around to line your peeps.
  3. Line the sides of the jar with the ghost peeps.
  4. Tie your ribbon around the jar in a nice bow. 

Viola! You have a magically spooky Halloween decoration that’s looks good enough to eat. 

 

2. Tomato Cage Ghost

Don’t let those tomato cages go to waste this fall. Create a friendly ghost to adorn your porch. 👻

Item List:

  • Tomato Cage
  • Twist Tie
  • White sheet
  • Styrofoam Ball
  • Black Paper
  • Scissors 
  • Tape

Instructions: 

  1. Turn the tomato cage upside down so the spikes are facing up.
  2. Tie the spikes together using the twist tie.
  3. Stick the styrofoam ball on the spikes.
  4. Drape the sheet over the top of the cage.
  5. Cut out two ovals from the black paper for the eyes.
  6. Stick the eyes on with tape. 

Tip: Fill the cage with lights for extra magic at night!

 

3. Ghost Family Painting

Have you seen the thrift store ghost painting trend floating around? Here’s our take on ghost painting that the whole family can enjoy — no painting skill required!

Items List:

  • Black canvases or cardstock (Tara found these square black canvases at All A Dollar) 
  • White paint
  • Squeegee or old gift card
  • Black & metallic permanent marker
  • Paper towels

Instructions: 

  1. Lay your canvas on top of a paper towel to avoid messes.
  2. Paint a semi circle directly from the paint tube onto the canvas. This will be the top of your ghost.
  3. Take the squeegee or gift card and firmly glide the paint down to the bottom of the canvas.
  4. Wipe off the excess paint on the squeegee onto a paper towel.
  5. Repeat steps 2, 3, & 4 until you have completed your ghost family.
  6. After your paint is dry, draw on eyes and accessories with your permanent markers. 

I added my two dogs, a spider web, and a Happy Halloween message to finish my painting off. Be creative and have fun with it! 

 

4. Peeking Plants

Add some personality to your house plants for Halloween with these adorable “floating” eyes. 

Items List:

  • Ping pong balls
  • Black marker
  • Hot glue gun
  • Metal stake

Instructions: 

  1. Glue two ping pong balls together with the hot glue.
  2. Draw a circle on both ping pong balls with the black marker for the pupils.
  3. Glue the metal stake to the middle of the two ping pong balls.
  4. Stick as many “eyes” in your plants as you’d like! 

This craft takes less than 20 minutes, and it just tickles me to walk by my peeking plants. 👀

 

5. Glass Fall Leaf Candle Holders

These clever leaf candle holders are perfect all season long. 🍂🍁🍃

Items List:

  • Mason jars
  • Dried leaves
  • Mod Podge
  • Paint brush
  • Paper towels

Instructions: 

  1. Apply Mod Podge to the back of the dried leaves. 
  2. Stick the leaves to the jar in any pattern you wish. 
  3. Brush more Mod Podge to the leaves once on the jar. 
  4. Wait for the Mod Podge to dry completely before adding candles. 

 

6. Black Cat Toilet Paper Roll

Oh, the things you can do with an empty TP and paper towel rolls! The possibilities are endless, but here are two easy favorites for Halloween. Use an empty toilet paper roll or cut an empty paper towel roll in thirds. 

Items List

  • Paper towel roll (cut in thirds), or toilet paper roll 
  • Black paint
  • Paint brush
  • Black pipe cleaner
  • Toothpick 
  • Hot glue
  • Metallic permanent markers
  • Googly eyes 

Instructions:

  1. Paint the roll completely black. 
  2. Once dry, fold the top of the roll on both sides so they meet in the middle to make the ears. 
  3. Poke a hole in the back for the tail. 
  4. Place the pipe cleaner in the hole and hot glue to secure. 
  5. Draw the nose and whiskers with the metallic markers. 
  6. Use the hot glue to stick on the googly eyes. 

7. Candy Corn Candy Holder

  • Paper towel roll (cut in thirds), or toilet paper roll 
  • Orange, yellow, & white paint
  • Paint brush
  • Stapler
  • Permanent marker
  • Favorite candy
  • Little bow (or anything else to decorate)
  • Hot glue

Instructions:

  1. Paint the roll in three sections using yellow, white, & orange paint. 
  2. Staple one end closed. 
  3. Fill with candy. 
  4. Staple the top closed (the opposite direction as the bottom staples).
  5. Decorate any way you’d like! I drew a cute face and added a bow with hot glue. 

 

8. Apple Nachos

If you love caramel apples you have to try these Caramel Apple Nachos. Add this tasty treat to your Halloween traditions, or bring to your next fall party. It’s sure to be a favorite! 

Items list:

  • Green or red apples, thinly sliced
  • Caramel sauce
  • Chocolate sauce or hot fudge
  • Toppings: M&Ms, chocolate chips, chopped nuts, pretzels, mini marshmallows, etc. 

Instructions: 

  1. Lay your apples on a plate. 
  2. Drizzle caramel and chocolate sauce on the apples. 
  3. Sprinkle as many toppings as you want. 

Enjoy! 

Special thanks to Tara for filming and producing these demos! 

 

9. Witch’s Brew

One of my family’s favorite Halloween traditions is making a batch of Witch’s Brew, also known as homemade root beer. I have included three different recipes of Witch’s Brew for you, but they all have the magic ingredient: DRY ICE!

Brew #1: 

  • 3 gal Water
  • 1 bottle Root beer Extract
  • 10 cups Sugar (follow instructions on extract bottle)
  • 4-5 lbs of dry Ice

Instructions: 

  1. Pour the water, root beer extract, and sugar into a large cauldron (or large punch bowl). 
  2. Stir. 
  3. Add dry ice (DO NOT touch with your bare hands)

Brew #2:

  • 1 container Grape Juice
  • 2 liter lemonade (sub limeade)
  • 2 liter Squirt (sub 7up or club soda)
  • 1 container sherbet ice cream
  • 1-2 limes
  • Dry ice is optional on this one because the soda is carbonated. But I like to add it for an eerie effect. 

Instructions:

  1. Pour all liquid into the cauldron. 
  2. Add spoonfuls of sherbet. 
  3. Add slices of lime
  4. (Optional) Add the dry ice. 

Brew #3:

  • 1 container grape juice
  • 1 container orange juice
  • dry ice 

Instructions: 

  1. Pour liquid into the cauldron. 
  2. Add dry ice and let the magic begin!

 

Thank you for following the Fairy Godmother this month! Wishing you all a fun and safe Halloween!