Easy DIY Halloween crafts for kids

After looking around the house at all the Halloween decorations (aka a whole lot of nothing), I decided to get the kids involved in some art projects. These easy DIY crafts can be saved (or duplicated) each year and make great gifts for family or teachers.

Here are some fun and easy crafts to do with your kids to get in the Halloween spirit.

1. GHOST FEET

I found the inspiration for this one thanks to Pinterest. I tweaked it a little to make it easier for me and also to match our style.

What you need

• black 9′ x 12″ canvas
• non-toxic (washable) white and black craft paint
• wide paintbrush
• black and white ribbon
• wet washcloth

How to make it

• Take the kids outside and, with a paintbrush, paint one foot white while the kids sit on the ground. (I did one kid at a time).
• Take the black canvas and bring it to each child’s foot. Do it this way because if they step down on the canvas, they can break it or cause the paint to spread outward more than it should.
• Let the footprints dry then take a plastic chopstick (it works better than a thin paintbrush for writing with paint) and write the year on the bottom corner.
• Use the black paint and make two circle eyes and an oval mouth on each footprint.

2. PUMPKIN PLATES

This is a super easy craft for kids. It’s fun and they can let their imagination run wild when painting their Jack O’ Lantern face.

What you need

• 2 paper plated per pumpkin
• non-toxic (washable) orange and black craft paint
• green pipe cleaner
• (optional) green construction paper or green felt
• scissors
• hot glue gun (for parents only)

How to make it

• Let your little ones go to town painting two paper plates with orange paint (we did this before lunch and nap so that they could dry).
• After the plates are dry, use the black paint and make the face (that was my pumpkin but my 3-year-old’s kinda looks better than mine).
• Let the faces dry (this is a good time to start another craft).
• Cut out a leaf from green felt and twist some green pipe cleaner around your pinky finger.
• Use a hot glue gun to attach the felt leaf and pipe cleaners to the top inside of one plate… then glue the two plates together.

3. TREAT JARS

These are amazing. I have a love for decorative candy and a huge love for mason jars so this is a win-win situation all around. These make awesome Halloween treat jars, decoration or even teacher gifts.

What you need

• mason jars with lids
• decorative cupcake liners (or paper cut in 4.5″ diameter circles)
• ribbon
• festive candy

How to make it

• Fill each jar with Halloween candy (eye gumballs and candy corn)
• Separated the lid and place the flat circle on the jar, put the screw top of the lid aside
• Cover the lid (and top of the mason jar) with a cupcake liner (you can hot iron there between two washcloths to make them completely flat if you wish)
• Screw on the screw top part of the lid
• Tie some ribbon around the top just below the lid

4. BOO BAGS

Boo Bags are great as a decoration, perfect for party bags and easy for a small child to do.

What you need

• white lunch sack paper bags
• black (washable) marker
• ribbon

How to make it

• Draw ghost eyes and mouth on the lower part of the bag. For younger kids, draw an outline and let them color it in.
• Fill it with scrap paper (if using it for decoration) or treats (if using it as a gift or for a party)
• Tie the top with ribbon

5. BOO CHALK ART

I bought this super cool chalkboard frame at Queen Bee Market earlier this year. I’ve used it as a reminder board and as a decoration… like now.

What you need

• chalkboard frame from Funky Vintage Lovely (or you can get crafty and make your own with chalkboard paint, a thin piece of wood and a frame)
• colored chalk

How to make it

• Let your child draw or write something related to Halloween. This is a good one cause they can change it every day or every week and work on their spelling or drawing.

6. PUMPKIN PAINTING

I love my little canvas pumpkins. We did these last year and I proudly display them from September to December.

What you need

• small white canvas squares
• non-toxic craft paint (waterproof if you’re doing it with younger children or inside) in orange, brown, blue and green.

How to make it

• For a younger child, draw an outline of a pumpkin and let them paint it the way the want to.
• For a preschooler to around age six, show them a picture of a pumpkin and let them replicate it the way they see it.
• For an older child (six and up), ask them to draw a pumpkin with no visual aid.

Don’t forget to check out the DIY hanging ghost tutorial (a fun DIY activity for older kids)!