20 Easy DIY Halloween Props You Can Make at Home

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Indoor tables, shelves or a sheltered entryway

Storage: Small; hats can be nested

Main materials: Black cardstock, scissors, tape or glue, ribbon or twine, optional tissue paper

1. Roll black cardstock into a cone and secure the overlapping edge. Bend the tip slightly instead of trying to make it perfectly straight.
2. Cut a wide ring of cardstock for the brim, make a small opening in the center and slide the cone through it. Secure the cone to the brim from underneath.
3. Wrap ribbon or twine around the base. Add a torn strip of tissue paper, a paper buckle or a few irregular folds if you want a more worn-in witchy look.

Make it better: Make several hats in slightly different heights and angles. Repetition creates more impact than adding lots of tiny embellishments.

Honestly, this jack-o’-lantern paper plate could be way simplified for a beginner to draw. I’d start with just a basic orange circle – no need to fuss with the plate ridges. Then sketch out those big triangle eyes and the zigzag mouth. Honestly though, the nose is kinda tricky. Is that supposed to be a triangle or more of a diamond shape? I can’t quite tell. Maybe just go with a simple triangle nose to keep it easy.

For materials, looks like they used orange and black construction paper here. But y’know what? I tried something similar last Halloween and ended up using markers instead. Way less messy, especially for kids. Plus you don’t have to deal with glue drying and paper curling up. Although come to think of it, the texture of torn paper edges can look pretty cool… Anyway, where was I? Oh right, simplifying it.

So yeah, stick to the basic shapes for a beginner version. Circle for the pumpkin, triangles for eyes and nose, jagged mouth. Skip all the little details like those cobweb-looking strings and paint splatters. Those are neat but definitely advanced level stuff. Focus on getting the main Jack-o’-lantern face recognizable first. Once you’ve got that down, then you can start playing around with adding extra spooky touches. Man, now I kinda want to go make one myself again. Maybe I’ll dig out my craft supplies this weekend and give it another go. You ever notice how making Halloween stuff always puts you in a festive mood?

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Walls, stair rails, mantels and windows

Storage: Flat and very easy to store

Main materials: Black felt or heavy black cardstock, paper template, scissors, removable adhesive or clear line

1. Draw one simple bat shape on paper and cut it out as a template. Keep the wing outline bold so it is easy to recognize from across the room.
2. Trace the template onto black felt in several sizes and cut out the bats.
3. Place them in a loose upward sweep rather than an even row. Use removable adhesive on suitable surfaces or suspend a few with clear line for depth.

Make it better: Fold a few wings slightly along the body before hanging them. The shadows make flat cutouts feel more dimensional without adding extra materials.

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Tabletops, shelves, party tables and window ledges

Storage: Small and reusable

Main materials: Clean mason jar, gauze, craft glue, paper or adhesive eyes, battery-operated tea light

1. Wrap the jar loosely with overlapping strips of gauze. Leave small gaps instead of covering the glass in one solid layer.
2. Secure the ends with a small amount of glue and add two eyes near the upper third of the jar.
3. Place a battery-operated tea light inside the jar so the glow comes through the uneven gauze.

Make it better: Let a few gauze edges stay ragged. A mummy looks better when the wrapping is irregular rather than perfectly parallel.

Difficulty: Easy

Best for: Hallway, mantel, entry table or party backdrop

Storage: Moderate; depends on frame size

Main materials: Old picture frame or mirror frame, removable translucent sheet or vellum, black cardstock silhouette, tape, optional battery light

1. Use an old frame you already own or a thrifted frame. If you do not want to alter a real mirror, place a translucent sheet or vellum inside the frame instead.
2. Cut a dark silhouette of a face, branches, hands or a figure and position it behind the translucent layer.
3. Add a soft battery light behind the frame if you want the silhouette to appear gradually in a dim room. Keep the light source cool and follow its product instructions.

Make it better: Do not over-detail the silhouette. A partly hidden face or hand is usually more unsettling because the eye has to finish the image.

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Potion shelf, bathroom shelf, buffet or small-space display

Storage: Small and easy to box

Main materials: Clear jar, plastic insects, shredded paper or cotton webbing, printed or handwritten label, twine

1. Add shredded paper, cotton webbing or another dry filler to the bottom of a clean clear jar.
2. Layer in plastic spiders, beetles or snakes at different heights so the jar does not look flat.
3. Finish with a simple label such as “Venomous Creatures” or “Specimen Jar” and wrap twine loosely around the lid.

Make it better: Use two or three sizes of insects and leave some empty space inside the jar. The gaps make the contents easier to see and create more believable depth.

Difficulty: Easy

Best for: Dining table, fireplace mantel or haunted-house-style vignette

Storage: Moderate

Main materials: Mismatched candleholders, tray or narrow base, black or dark craft paint if needed, battery taper candles

1. Collect candleholders in different heights rather than trying to build one complicated frame. Arrange them close together on a narrow tray or base.

2. If the finishes clash, paint the holders in one dark color that is compatible with their surface and let them dry fully according to the paint instructions.

3. Add battery-operated taper candles, then stagger the heights and angles so the arrangement feels old and slightly imperfect.

Make it better: A tight group of mismatched holders often looks more convincing than a perfectly symmetrical candelabra. Add one taller candle at the back to break the outline.

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Indoor floor display or sheltered porch

Storage: Small; lightweight

Main materials: Clean empty milk jug, black marker or black adhesive shapes, battery-operated light

1. Wash and dry the jug completely, then draw or apply a simple ghost face on the side opposite the handle.
2. Place a battery-operated light inside through the opening. Keep the opening accessible so you can turn the light on and off easily.
3. Group two or three jugs at different heights for a stronger display instead of relying on one small ghost.

Make it better: Simple faces read best when the jug is glowing. Use large eyes and a mouth rather than tiny details that disappear from a distance.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Best for: Large indoor display, garage opening or sheltered yard/porch setup

Storage: Bulky, but lightweight parts can be separated

Main materials: Black bags or dark fabric for body shapes, crumpled paper or lightweight packing material, foam pipe insulation for legs, strong tape or ties, paper/felt eyes

1. Create two lightweight body shapes, one smaller for the head and one larger for the abdomen. Stuff only enough to hold the shape.

2. Attach lengths of foam pipe insulation around the body for legs. Bend each leg in two places so the spider sits low instead of looking like a starburst.

3. Add simple eyes, then place the spider where its full silhouette can be seen. For any outdoor placement, secure the lightweight parts against wind and use materials suitable for the expected exposure.

Make it better: Scale is the special effect here. Keep the body simple and spend your effort on the leg angles; a wide, low stance makes even inexpensive materials look much more dramatic.

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Indoor hallway, party room or ceiling display

Storage: Very small after disassembly

Main materials: White balloon, lightweight white tissue or gauze, black paper or marker, clear line, suitable removable ceiling hook

1. Inflate a white balloon and add a simple ghost face with a marker or black paper shapes.
2. Tape or tie lightweight tissue or gauze around the lower half so it hangs in loose strips.
3. Suspend the balloon with clear line from a suitable removable hook, keeping it well away from light fixtures, sprinklers and doorways.

Make it better: Hang several ghosts at slightly different heights. The uneven spacing gives the group movement even though every prop is completely sta

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Indoor ceiling, stairwell or sheltered porch

Storage: Small; stackable

Main materials: Lightweight witch hats, clear line, removable hooks, optional battery lights

1. Choose lightweight hats so they are easy to suspend and do not require heavy hardware.
2. Tie clear line to each hat and hang them at different heights rather than in a straight row.
3. For a glowing version, place only a lightweight battery light designed for the location inside the hat and keep all fabric or paper away from hot light sources.

Make it better: Use an odd number of hats and vary the height enough that the group feels like it is drifting rather than hanging from a grid.

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Bowls, garlands, stair rails and tabletop displays

Storage: Tiny

Main materials: White ping-pong balls, paint markers or craft paint, black thread or clear line if hanging

1. Draw a colored iris on each ping-pong ball, then add a black pupil. Leave some white showing so the eyeball still reads clearly.
2. Add a few thin red lines around the iris if you want a creepier look, but keep the marks uneven.
3. Display the eyeballs in a bowl, attach them to a wreath, or hang a few with clear line around a stair rail or shelf.

Make it better: Change the iris size and direction from ball to ball. When every eye looks in the same direction, the result feels too neat.

Difficulty: Easy

Best for: Doorway, corner vignette or covered porch

Storage: Tall but narrow

Main materials: Straight branch or wooden dowel, bundle of twigs or raffia, strong twine, optional dark ribbon

1. Gather the twigs or raffia into a compact bundle and trim the ends only enough to remove very long pieces; a slightly uneven edge looks better.
2. Place the branch or dowel into the center of the bundle and wrap the top tightly with twine several times.
3. Lean the broom in a corner or hang it securely as decoration. Keep it out of walkways where the handle or bristles could become a trip hazard.

Make it better: A weathered branch usually looks more convincing than a perfectly smooth handle. Add one dark ribbon or tag rather than covering the broom in decorations.

Difficulty: Easy

Best for: Entry table, fireplace, party buffet or covered porch

Storage: Moderate

Main materials: Black plastic bowl or planter, green tissue/cellophane or shredded paper, lightweight decorative balls or bubbles, battery lights, optional faux moss

1. Start with a black bowl, planter or pot wide enough to create a strong cauldron silhouette.
2. Fill the top with crumpled green tissue, cellophane or shredded paper so the “potion” rises above the rim instead of sitting flat inside.
3. Tuck battery lights underneath the translucent material and add a few lightweight balls, faux moss or paper bubbles on top.

Make it better: Use two or three shades of green plus a little black or brown around the rim. The contrast makes a simple plastic container feel more like an old prop.

Difficulty: Easy

Best for: Tabletop, mantel, shelf or sheltered display

Storage: Small; very easy once dried

Main materials: Cheesecloth, balloon or rounded form, jar/cup for support, fabric stiffener used according to its label, black felt/paper eyes

1. Set a balloon or rounded form on top of a jar or cup so you have a head and a little height for the body.
2. Drape cheesecloth over the form and apply fabric stiffener according to the product directions. Shape a few folds so the cloth spreads at the bottom.
3. Let it dry completely, remove the form and add simple dark eyes. Use only cool battery lighting around the finished ghost and keep it away from open flames.

Make it better: Let the lower edge stay irregular and slightly lifted in places. That uneven base is what makes a small tabletop ghost feel like it is floating.

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Wall, window, large empty frame or covered porch

Storage: Flat; almost no storage space

Main materials: Yarn or cotton cord, tape/removable hooks appropriate for the surface, scissors

1. Run several straight lengths of yarn from a central point outward like spokes on a wheel.
2. Starting near the center, weave a long piece of yarn around the spokes in a loose spiral. Leave the spacing imperfect.
3. Add one or two thicker sections, a hanging spider or a few broken-looking strands so the web feels less geometric.

Make it better: Put the web where there is negative space behind it. A plain wall, dark window or open frame lets the shape read much better than a busy background. Never block stairs, exits or doorways.

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Indoor ceiling, shelf edge, doorway corner or wreath

Storage: Tiny

Main materials: Black pom-pom or felt ball, black chenille stems/pipe cleaners, googly eyes or paper eyes, clear line

1. Use a black pom-pom or felt ball for the body and push or glue four leg pieces on each side.
2. Bend each leg twice so the spider has a recognizable jointed shape.
3. Add eyes, then suspend the spider with clear line from a suitable point. Keep it static; movement is not necessary to make the prop noticeable.

Make it better: Make two or three spiders at different sizes and hang them at different heights. A small cluster looks intentional without needing any motorized parts.

Difficulty: Easy

Best for: Front door, interior door or party wall

Storage: Moderate

Main materials: Wreath base, plastic eyeballs or painted ping-pong balls, black ribbon, faux moss or dark yarn, suitable craft adhesive

1. Wrap the wreath base with black ribbon, yarn or another dark material so gaps between the eyeballs are less noticeable.
2. Attach eyeballs in small clusters instead of spacing them perfectly around the ring.
3. Fill a few remaining gaps with faux moss, shredded dark paper or short pieces of yarn and add a hanging loop at the top.

Make it better: Mix large and small eyes and angle a few sideways. The variation creates a more unsettling effect than a neat ring of identical eyeballs.

Difficulty: Very easy

Best for: Tabletop, bookshelf, kitchen corner or party display

Storage: Small to moderate

Main materials: Empty bottles and jars, paper labels, twine, colored tissue/cellophane, beads or dry craft filler, tray or small freestanding shelf

1. Collect bottles in several shapes and heights. Remove modern labels and wash the containers before decorating them.
2. Add handmade labels with simple names such as “Nightshade,” “Moon Dust” or “Spider Venom.” Use colored tissue, cellophane, beads or other dry filler inside the bottles instead of relying on liquid effects.
3. Arrange the tallest bottles toward the back and group smaller containers in front on a tray or freestanding shelf.

Make it better: Limit the color palette to two or three tones. A shelf full of every bright color can look like a craft display; a tighter palette feels more like one old apothecary collection.