Halloween is just around the corner and we’re ready for a candy-eating night of fun and frights. If you’re looking for some killer decoration idea, we’ve put together a list of our favourite DIY Halloween projects.

1. Homemade glow-in-the-dark slime

Make your own glow in the dark slime this Halloween with our quick and easy tutorial. This is a fun and exciting project for children to create with parents, teachers and loved ones. We’ve used Mont Marte PVA Craft Glue for the base and contact lens solution as a thickener, giving it the perfect texture.

Materials:

• PVA Craft Glue 1 Litre
• Watercolour Travel Set 18 Piece
• Broad Tip Waterbrush
• Water
• Paper towels
• Glow in the dark powder
• Contact lens solution
• Baking soda
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring jug
• Teaspoon
• Tablespoon

Handy tip: Use contact lens solution as a thickener instead of Borax powder to create a safe slime recipe.

2. Pumpkin mask

 

Create a classic Halloween costume this year with our Pumpkin Mask tutorial. It’s a fun and easy costume idea for kids and adults alike. To learn how to create this timeless Halloween classic, watch our video tutorial.

Materials:

• Plaster cloth wrap
• Orange paint
• Black paint
• Green paint
• Sticky tape
• Garbage bag
• Newspaper
• Bowl with warm water

Handy tip: Use the newspaper as your pumpkin mold filling and to protect your work surface.

3. Bloody handprint window cling

Image source: Felt Magnet

Get spooky with this great DIY halloween decoration for your window. A bloody handprint window cling is a simple yet effective way to get your house into the spirit of Halloween. Learn how to make your own on the Felt Magnet website.

Materials:

• Craft glue
• Red food coloring
• Blue food coloring
• Plastic wrap
• Baking paper
• A large cutting board, clipboard, or piece of foam core board
• Tape

Handy tip: If you don’t want to get your hands messy, you can use a paintbrush to create the hand shape. Make sure you don’t forget to wash the glue off the bristles before it dries though!

4. Sugar skull face paint

Still deciding what to wear for your Halloween costume this year? Learn how to paint a sugar skull in this quick Mont Marte lesson. It’s a fun, colourful and easy way to express yourself and explore your creative side this Halloween.

Materials:

• Face n Body Paint
• Face n Body Glitter Brushes
• Face n Body Brush Kit
• Face n Body Sponges

Handy tip: Keep the body paint away from the eyes, lips and nostrils.

5. Pebble monsters

Image source: Morning Creativity

Halloween doesn’t have to be terrifying. Create some cute DIY Halloween decorations to your home by creating some pebble monsters with the littlies. This is a great project for those who have smaller children. For inspiration, have a look at these designs by Morning Creativity.

Materials:

• Pebbles
• Acrylic paint
• Googly eyes
• Craft glue
• Paint brush
• Foam brush
• Permanent marker
• Stencil knife (to create stencil for the teeth)
• Sticker (to create stencil for the teeth)

Handy tip: To simplify, you can paint the teeth on yourself instead of using a stencil.

6. Spell book

Image credit: Fumbleweeds

Put your old books to good use by turning them into spell books for your Halloween decor or as part of your costume if you happen to be a wizard or witch. For ideas on how to create your own, have a look at Better After’s Tutorial.

Materials:

• Old book
• Paper towels
• Small plastic Halloween paraphernalia (spiders, skeletons, etc)
• Letters
• Hot glue gun or craft glue
• Black acrylic paint
• Metallic paint
• Paint brushes
• Sponge brushes

Handy tip: Glue isn’t just for sticking items down, you can also use it to create textures such as spider webs, words or snakes.

7. Air dry clay halloween planters

Image source: DIY Network

Fancy a little bit of gardening this Halloween? Make some spooky planters for your home. You can either use real plants (succulents to minimise water damage) or pick up some fake plants to make it simple. You can even paint your fake plants so they fit in with the Halloween theme.

Materials:

• Air Hardening Clay
• Acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Fake plant or succulent
• Small plastic starter pot
• Polyurethane sealant

Handy tip: Protect your creation and give it a little extra shine with a coat of polyurethane sealant.

8. Artist costume

Image credit: Babble

If you or your little one are struggling to come up with ideas for your Halloween costume, why not dress up as an artist. Simply grab a cheap apron or white shirt, paint it up a little and carry some paint brushes or a pallet around. You could even top off the outfit with a beret.

Materials:

• White shirt or apron
• Paint brushes
• Paint
• Palette
• Beret

Handy tip: Re-use the shirt or apron for future art and craft activities.

9. Fake plaster hand

Image source: Kid Craft

Create a Halloween classic with a rubber glove, plaster and paint. Simply mix up some Plaster of Paris, fill the rubber glove and wait for it to set. Once it’s dry, all you need to do is cut the glove off and paint on some fake blood.

Materials:

• Plaster of Paris
• Red acrylic paint
• Rubber glove

Handy tip: Use a jug to make it easier to pour your plaster into the glove.

10. Plaster cloth mask

Make a creative and affordable mask this Halloween using Plaster Cloth. If you need some points on how to cast your mask, have a look at By Claudia’s guide on creating a plaster cloth mask.

Materials:

• Plaster cloth
• Acrylic paints
• Petroleum jelly
• Headband
• Bowl with warm water

Handy tip: Make sure you cover the face (particularly eyebrows) with petroleum jelly to prevent the plaster from sticking. You should also avoid placing the plaster cloth over eyelashes.