Fun and Easy DIY Decorations for Halloween
Add instant colour and playful accents to your next Halloween-themed gathering with these DIY projects
October is here, and it’s time to prepare (or at least think about preparing) for Halloween festivities. Whether you’re hosting the neighbourhood kids after school or want a fresh and inexpensive craft project to do at home in an afternoon, here are a three quick, kid-friendly ideas that give everyday items some spooky touches.
1. Thoroughly clean the surface of the board and let it dry.
You’ll need a total of 64 squares. Before painting, cut a piece of paper the same size as the chopping board and rough out the layout. Then transfer the rough dimensions to the board with a pencil and ruler. Keep the pencil marks light so you can easily erase any that show when you’re done.
If you’d like to make a noughts and crosses board instead (or on the back of your checkerboard), simply draw two parallel lines and two perpendicular lines to create the grid.
You’ll need a total of 64 squares. Before painting, cut a piece of paper the same size as the chopping board and rough out the layout. Then transfer the rough dimensions to the board with a pencil and ruler. Keep the pencil marks light so you can easily erase any that show when you’re done.
If you’d like to make a noughts and crosses board instead (or on the back of your checkerboard), simply draw two parallel lines and two perpendicular lines to create the grid.
2. Paint alternating squares, letting the board’s surface serve as the colour for the other squares. If you want a casual look, it won’t matter if the lines are straight or not. For a more polished look you might want to use masking tape, though it will take longer.
3. Let dry, remove any stray pencil marks and enjoy!
3. Let dry, remove any stray pencil marks and enjoy!
A checkerboard base made from a placemat can be rolled up and tucked away, which is great for limited space or for travelling. Here, creepy-crawly game pieces give the game an appropriately scary touch. If you are planning to add a noughts and crosses game to the back, look for a placemat with a non-porous surface, so the paint won’t seep through.
1. Lightly sketch a 30x30cm square centred on the placemat to indicate the edges of the pattern. Then cut a 3.75cm square from thick paper to make a stencil.
2. Starting at one edge of the square, paint every other square using the stencil as a guide. A casual and somewhat uneven square placement with uneven edges works well, especially for kids, and gives the game a more rustic feel, but you can create more precise edges with masking tape, if you prefer.
3. Once the paint has dried, gently erase any pencil marks that show. And now it’s game time!
Spooky drink vials
Adding a Halloween-inspired design to a small vial will give you an appropriately spooky way to serve beverages.
MATERIALS AND TOOLS:
Adding a Halloween-inspired design to a small vial will give you an appropriately spooky way to serve beverages.
MATERIALS AND TOOLS:
- Small vials with tops
- Paint pens (fine tip)
- Beverage of choice (think red for blood or green for lab experiments)
1. Lightly draw your chosen design on the vial, then fill it in with the paint pens. The paint dries quickly, but it’s also pretty forgiving on glass. If you slip up or aren’t happy with the final look, let the design dry completely and lightly scratch off the paint with a dull edge, such as the side of a small coin. Wipe the remaining paint off with a towel and try again.
2. Carefully pour in your choice of beverage to fill the vial. Fruit cordials are great for this as they come in a variety of colours and flavours.
2. Carefully pour in your choice of beverage to fill the vial. Fruit cordials are great for this as they come in a variety of colours and flavours.
Playful halloween balloons
Transform plain balloons into ghosts, spiders and Halloween messages with the help of some paint pens.
MATERIALS AND TOOLS:
1. Grab a few balloons and oil-based paint pens at a hobby or craft store.
You should be able to colour roughly five to six balloons per pen before running low on paint. If you want to cover the balloons completely or have a large number of balloons to decorate, have a few more pens on hand.
Transform plain balloons into ghosts, spiders and Halloween messages with the help of some paint pens.
MATERIALS AND TOOLS:
- Balloons
- Oil-based paint pens
- String (black is spookiest)
1. Grab a few balloons and oil-based paint pens at a hobby or craft store.
You should be able to colour roughly five to six balloons per pen before running low on paint. If you want to cover the balloons completely or have a large number of balloons to decorate, have a few more pens on hand.
2. Blow up the balloons, tie them off and start painting. For a fun mix, include one or two of each of the following: texts and messages, patterns such as a spider web and festive icons such a spider or a ghost face.
3. Once the paint has dried, add the string.
3. Once the paint has dried, add the string.
4. If you’re adding helium to your balloons and don’t want them to escape, or simply want to create a balloon centrepiece for a Halloween feast table, use pumpkins as base weights. Attach small screw eyes to the stems (if the stems are too tall, cut them down with a small, ridged knife), then tie the strings on your balloons to the screws.
Make these balloons the day of your party, because they will deflate quickly.
TELL US
Are you hosting a Halloween party this year with DIY decorations? Share a photo and tell us about them in the Comments below.
MORE
DIY Project: Make Your Own Macramé Plant Hanger
10 Spooky (and Simple) Decorating Ideas for Halloween
Easy Halloween Mantel DIYs From Stuff You Already Have at Home
TELL US
Are you hosting a Halloween party this year with DIY decorations? Share a photo and tell us about them in the Comments below.
MORE
DIY Project: Make Your Own Macramé Plant Hanger
10 Spooky (and Simple) Decorating Ideas for Halloween
Easy Halloween Mantel DIYs From Stuff You Already Have at Home
These two checkerboards – one made with an old chopping board, the other with a placemat – feature miniature skulls, American-style candy corn and plastic creepy-crawlies as game pieces. Alternative game pieces could be small plastic toys, wrapped lollies or coins. Repurpose an old gift bag to hold the pieces and make the game easily transportable.
MATERIALS AND TOOLS:
- Game board surface (try a pre-cut chopping board or a plain fabric placemat)
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Game pieces
NOTE: Once you’ve painted the game board surface, especially if it’s on a chopping board, don’t use it for preparing food again.