Halloween is a fun time of the year for kids AND adults. When you think of Halloween decor, probably one of the first things that come to mind is a creepy jack-o-lantern. Here are Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas to make.
Did you know that jack-o-lanterns used to be cut out of potatoes and turnips? Here’s the reason why (and the origin story of jack-o’-lantern) from Huffington Post:
The jack-o’-lantern comes from an old Irish tale about a man named Stingy Jack. According to folklore, Stingy Jack was out getting sloshed with the Devil when Jack convinced his drinking partner to turn himself into a coin to pay for the drinks without spending money. Jack then put the Devil, shaped like a coin, into his pocket, which also contained a silver cross that kept the Devil from transforming back. Jack promised to free the Devil as long as the Devil wouldn’t bother him for a year, and if he died, the Devil could never claim his soul. Jack tricked the Devil again later, getting him to pick a piece of fruit out of a tree and then carving a cross into the bark when the Devil was in the branches. This trick bought Jack another 10 years of devil-free living.
When Jack finally died, God decided he wasn’t fit for heaven, but the Devil had promised never to claim his soul for hell. So Jack was sent off to roam Earth with only a burning coal for light. He put the coal into a turnip as a lantern, and Stingy Jack became “Jack of the Lantern” or “Jack o’ Lantern.” Based on this myth, the Irish carved scary faces into turnips, beets and potatoes to scare away Stingy Jack or any other spirits of the night.
How interesting is that!?
This Halloween, don’t go to the store to buy expensive decorations. If you’re looking for some DIY Halloween decor beyond carving pumpkins (or turnips!) read on for our top list of DIYs:
Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Spooky Thrift Store Teddy Bears
Contents
- Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Spooky Thrift Store Teddy Bears
- Doily And Spider Covered Glass Candles
- Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Wall Of Bats
- Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Creepy Monster Plant
- Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Head In A Jar
- Hanging Cage Halloween Prop
- Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – DIY Skull Candle Holder
- Halloween Spider Light Centerpiece
- Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Halloween Apothecary Jars
- DIY Skull Bottle
- Ghosts In A Mason Jar
- Eyeball Orb Wreath
- Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Enchanting Halloween Lanterns
- Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Cheesecloth Spirits
Keep an eye out at Goodwill or other thrift and second-hand stores for cute ceramic figurines like teddy bears and dolls. A simple layer of black spray paint and red paint pen for the eyes will turn cute into terrifying in mere minutes!
This post has some great info on using a Spray Shelter to keep your home and yard free of paint while doing spray paint project. We’ve always just used newspaper, but this was such a great read!
Doily And Spider Covered Glass Candles
If you’re looking for something a little wicked and little pretty, these lace inspired spider candles are for you. It’s a step above beginners as a DIY, but if you’re up for the challenge, the results are gorgeous.
You’ll need tall, skinny prayer candles, rubbing alcohol, blakc glass paint, doily glass silkscreens, a spider glass stencil, painter’s tape, sponge daubers, and toothpicks and cotton swabs. Marth Stewart’s site sells great black paint, silk screens, and stencils for this project (follow the affiliate links from the linked post to help support the lovely author!)
Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Wall Of Bats
Sometimes a cool DIY decor is something simple but repeated in great numbers to cover a wall or empty space. These bats are a perfect example. They’re made out of cardstock and using a bat template and a Cameo cutting machine (you can cut these by hand if you have a lot of helping hands, otherwise you’re in for a world of hurt and curse words!)
Make at least 2 dozen and then use double-sided tape to stick them in a formation to a wall to make a jaw-droppingly awesome Halloween display!
Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Creepy Monster Plant
How awesome are these “man eating” plants? The authors spent $30 dollars for materials and were able to make at least three of these plants, so they’re also economical!
To make this project, you’ll need a tree branch, planter, spray insulation foam, spray paint, glue gun, silk or fake plant leaves, moss, and some decorative materials like bones, skeletons, spiders, small pumpkins. A dollar store is a great place to pick some up!
Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Head In A Jar
This project gives us the willies just looking at it. Place it in the fridge as a Halloween prank only if you dare!
The trick to this is actually using a laminated photo. Not just any photo, you need to use some photo editing tricks to make the curved photo look “3D” and realistic. If you’re not up to the digital challenge, the original instructable how-to has a downloadable photo of the “head” used above.
How much funnier (and creepier) would it be if it were YOUR head?
Hanging Cage Halloween Prop
These cages are so fancy and realistic, you’ll never guess they were…
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Laundry baskets!
It takes some time to spray paint them and some zip ties, cut down the edges, and then zip tie them together. You’ll end up with one of the coolest Halloween decors on the block if you give this a try!
Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – DIY Skull Candle Holder
I know we’ve all been DYING for a skull candle holder, right? Why pay thousands of dollars (ok, $19.99) when you can quickly make your own?
Just keep an eye out for cheap skulls which are ubiquitous pre-Halloween, and terra cotta planter saucers. Spray paint it all a ghoulish, macabre black, and hot glue it all together. SPOOKY!
Halloween Spider Light Centerpiece
If you’re the kind of DIYer who has hundreds of mason jars lying around (what, you don’t?) then you’ll have scrolled down to find a mason jar Halloween decor DIY. We could never disappoint you, mason jar fans!
To make this awesome DIY, have multiple sizes of wide mouth mason jars, battery operated white lights, spider web and spiders (usually sold in packs just about everywhere).
Spread out a piece of spider webbing and place the lights on top. Wrap the webbing loosely around the lights. Then follow the directions to make your very own spookey, scary Spider Lights!
Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Halloween Apothecary Jars
Did you know…? An apothecary was a medical professional who formulated and dispensed “materia medica” to physicians, surgeons, and patients. The modern-day pharmacist has taken over this role.
The term apothecary jar harkens back to a time when powders and potions were kept in glass bottles and jars with handwritten labels. This is a super fun DIY to make a Halloween decor version that would be great to make with a group that you could display afterwards.
DIY Skull Bottle
The foundation of this really fancy looking bottle is just a whiskey bottle, paper towel, and a styrofoam skull. The aging effect is done with mod podge, black spray paint and something called Rub ‘n Buff which sounds like a joke product, but is for real. Check out this review:
“This stuff is the best product I have ever used for a REAL metal look. It requires NO priming and no topcoat. I have used it on wooden furniture, brass hardware, metal tray, black painted hardware, and picture frames. All of this was done with one tube. a little goes a long way. I will never buy another can of “Silver” spray paint thanks to rub n’ buff!”
Wow! Bet you can’t wait to get your own tube of rub n buff! Doesn’t the finished product look just like the real thing?
Ghosts In A Mason Jar
Obsessed? With mason jars? Us?
(maybe a little)
This Halloween DIY is DEAD easy. With just a few supplies – mason jars, styrofoam disks and balls, moss, twigs, and gauze – you can make ghosts in a mason jar so terrifying, so chilling…
Ok, these are more cute than terrifying (though the creative among you could probably come up with some truly MURDEROUS versions!) It’s a sweet and fun Halloween decor for the young and faint-hearted.
Eyeball Orb Wreath
Never have Pinterest-y DIY craft magic and late night heart attack come together as they do in this wonderfully disturbing eyeball orb wreath. It’s a truly technical craft, not for the beginners. You’ll need wire and wire cutters, glue gun, spray paint, and lots of patience. Put this together right and no burglar will dare to approach this floating eye wreath that won’t stop watching, not even for a moment…
Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Enchanting Halloween Lanterns
How many DIYs can you make with mason jars and Krylon paint? Probably thousands, possibly millions. Spray paint the inside of a mason jar with Krylon purple, although this post says Rust-Oleum grape paint is even better (GASP!)
This post is a veritable choose your own adventure of design. Paint, draw, cut and glue, or use cut vinyl to make your very own Halloween Lanterns!
Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas – Cheesecloth Spirits
Have you been looking for some Halloween decor that you’ll forget you put up late at night on the way to the bathroom, then spot out the corner of your eye only to spend several long seconds awash in the paralyzing terror? Well, then, these cheesecloth spirits are for you.
If you’ve got a true commitment to the utterly disturbing, just pick up some styrofoam mannequin heads. Cover the head with cheesecloth, then generously brush over the head and face with glue (water it down a bit if its too thick and gloppy.) Use your hands to smooth the cloth into the facial features (and shudder repeatedly.) Don’t brush down the neck; stop at chin level so the fabric is loose below that.
Once you finish, attach a screw eye to the top of the head and thread it with monofilament to hang silently in your living room in the middle of the night.
Phew, that got real spooky, real fast! Whether you’re sticking to mason jars and some cute plastic spiders or you want to go all out with heads in jars and lifelike ghosts, we have you covered. Just don’t call us in the middle of the night if your own DIY is just to TERRIFYING!
Last update on 2024-10-06 at 12:59 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Melanie, thank you so much for including the ‘spooky baby head jars’ from my HOMEWARDfound Decor blog post! They were even creepier in person at the store I saw them at (Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar, California)!!!
Hi, How did you stick the spiders on the outside of your home?
I have mine tied with yarn the color of the house paint (happens to be tan). I tie it around where the body joins the head so it can hide under the hair. Then I knot it, create a loop and hook that to a tack or nail. I use the spiderweb and create a BIG nest. As the leaves blow around they get caught in it for an even better look!
I have mine tied with yarn the color of the house paint (happens to be tan). I tie it around where the body joins the head so it can hide under the hair. Then I knot it, create a loop and hook that to a tack or nail. I use the spiderweb and create a BIG nest. As the leaves blow around they get caught in it for an even better look!
awesome!
Hi, What kind of tacks do you use to pin the spiders to the outside of the home without harming the house?
I use those little command hooks so I can take them off when the holiday is done.
My children and I make a grave site. With home made crosses, and tombstones which I carved myself. And also have a blow up pumpkin, and a ghost that blows up as well.
So so cool! Thank you for sharing!
Love these ideas tell where a good place to get these these are all awesome since I’m moving into a new house this be great
I’m a teenager and I am the only one in my family who is obsessed with both decorating, and Halloween. Halloween has been my favorite holiday since I was a kid. When I was little we never decorated for Halloween at all. But when I was about 11 years old I took over the Halloween decorating. At first it was just outside and with the help of my dad we went all out, bubbling cauldrons, giant trash bag spiders, you name it we had it. Then I moved on to decorating inside too. My birthday is in September and every year “Halloween Stuff” gets put on my wish list. Its crazy, I’ve got 4 huge boxes worth of decorations at this point.
that’s so cool Olivia! Thank you for stopping by!
Love it
love this! Thanks for sharing!
I like these halloween decorations.. May I know where can I buy them?
Where can I find these???? The Grudge girl and the girl on the front porch.
Aren’t they super creepy? Each of the ideas are linked to their original source below the picture!
The Grudge girl is one of my creations, I have posted it on Pinterest and on Flicker under my tag Talon Warlok. I have many other creations on these sites as well.
Thank you for sharing the image, I appreciate the attention she gets.
she is seriously so dang creepy! Love the job you did!
Talon Warloc, where can I find the instructions for the Grudge Girl. I made her last year but she got stolen. Can’t remember how I made her. I have slept since then. I would greatly appreciate your DIY instructions.
Hi what are the props did you use and how did you get the skeleton to squat like that.
Oh that’s VERY spooky 😀
Having a costume party this year …so we are kicking it up a notch this year!!!… Have used some of your ideas.. JUST FABULOUS TY ♡
About hanging items: I have a spool of fishing line that I keep with my Halloween decorations. Use it every year to hang items in, on, and around the house. It works great, especially at night, because you cannot see it.
Ah, so so smart Texmom!
that’s GREAT Nick! Thanks for sharing!
These ideas are awesome! Halloween is, without a doubt, my all-time favorite holiday of the year!! I usually go all out! These are great, keep up the good work!!!
I completely agree with you! I love when Fall hits!
I love Halloween, though not into the blood, gore, zombies. More like skeletons, grave yard, witch, ghosts and such. So far I made a 30×25 foot spider web and a large pvc spider.
I love your decro!!! I’m a Halloween nut!!!! So into the creepy decro!!! AWESOME
Me too! Glad you love it all!
Lovely ideas and decorations! I love the tin can idea – very practical as we all have tons of the at house and we don’t know what to do them.
Cold Cut Head.How can you have any pudding if you don t eat your meat? Now this is how you display quality meats for a Halloween party. If you re not aware of the sensational styling of Stefanie Schiada over at Brooklyn Limestone, familiarize yourself because her decoration work is the beginning and end of all things awesome pertaining to Halloween decorations. This is where this fantastic idea for a skin-ripping face came from, and there are just many, many more fabulous ideas over at Brooklyn Limestone.