Get ready for Halloween with these fun and easy kid-friendly fall crafts! From painted pumpkin rocks to paper bag luminaries, these DIY projects will keep your kids entertained and help you decorate your home.
Halloween Crafts for Kids
It’s almost Halloween, which means it’s the perfect time to create some fun, festive, and kid-friendly crafts!
Whether your little ones are excited about spooky decor or they just love any excuse to get creative, these craft ideas will keep them entertained and help you decorate your home for the upcoming holiday.
Best of all, these projects are simple, budget-friendly, and most can be made with items you likely already have around the house!
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Easy Fall Crafts for Kids
1. Spooky Painted Pumpkin Rocks
If you’re not ready to carve pumpkins yet but want to start bringing some Halloween vibes into your home, painted pumpkin rocks are a great alternative.
This kid-friendly craft lets your little ones get creative while avoiding the mess of pumpkin carving.
What You’ll Need:
- Smooth rocks (gathered from outside or bought from a craft store)
- Orange acrylic paint
- Green acrylic paint
- Paintbrushes
- Black Sharpie or paint pen
SHOP
How to Make It:
1. Wash and dry the rocks to remove any dirt or dust.
2. Paint the rocks orange to look like mini pumpkins. Let them dry completely.
3. Once the base is dry, use black sharpie and green paint to add details like faces and stems.
4. Use a Sharpie or paint pen for any finer details like outlines or small designs.
Tip: Set up a small “rock pumpkin patch” in your entryway or around the house to display these cute creations. Kids will love seeing their artwork showcased!
2. Paper Plate Jack-O’-Lanterns
A classic Halloween craft that’s perfect for younger kids, paper plate jack-o’-lanterns let them create their very own silly or spooky pumpkin faces without the carving tools.
What You’ll Need:
- Paper plates
- Orange paint
- Paintbrushes
- Black construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Brown construction paper (for the stem)
- Green construction paper (for the leaf)
SHOP
How to Make It:
1. Paint or color the paper plate orange to resemble a pumpkin. Let it dry.
2. While the plate is drying, cut out triangle shapes for the eyes, a nose, and different mouth shapes from the black construction paper.
3. Once the plate is dry, let your kids use a glue stick to attach the eyes, nose, and mouth.
4. Cut out a small stem from brown construction paper and glue it to the top of the plate.
5. Cut out a leaf shape from green construction paper and glue it to the side of the stem.
Tip: Hang these cute jack-o’-lanterns in your windows or on the fridge for a fun and festive display!
3. DIY Monster Jars
Turn old jars into spooky, glowing monsters with this easy and fun craft.
These monster jars can be used as Halloween decor or as fun nightlights leading up to the big day.
What You’ll Need:
- Empty glass jars (mason jars, pickle jars, etc.)
- Tissue paper in Halloween colors
- Mod Podge (or a DIY mix of glue and water)
- Scissors
- Black construction paper
- Battery-operated tea lights
SHOP
How to Make It:
1. Brush Mod Podge all over the outside of the jar.
2. Tear pieces of tissue paper and stick them to the jar, layering until it’s fully covered. Let it dry.
3. While it’s drying, cut out monster face shapes (like eyes, mouths, and scars) from black construction paper.
4. Once the jar is dry, use Mod Podge to glue on the monster face pieces.
5. Drop in a battery-operated tea light to make the monster glow.
Tip: Create different monsters (Frankenstein, mummies, or spooky ghosts) and line them up along the porch or inside your home for a fun Halloween-themed display.
4. Fall Leaf Ghost Garland
This craft is a great way to bring a little bit of nature indoors while adding a spooky Halloween twist.
Your kids will love hunting for leaves and turning them into little ghosts!
What You’ll Need:
- Fall leaves (dried and pressed between books for a day or two)
- White paint
- Paintbrushes
- Black markers
- String or twine
- Hole punch
SHOP
How to Make It:
1. Collect a variety of fall leaves during a walk or from your yard. Make sure they’re flat by pressing them between heavy books for a day or two.
2. Paint the leaves white using acrylic paint. Let them dry completely.
3. Once the leaves are dry, use a black marker to draw ghost faces on each leaf.
4. Punch a hole in the stem of each leaf and thread them through string or twine to create a garland.
5. Hang your ghost leaf garland over the mantel, along a window, or in the entryway.
Tip: You can also create a mix of leaf ghosts and regular fall leaves for a spooky yet natural autumn vibe.
5. Toilet Paper Roll Bats
This is a super simple and fun craft for younger kids that uses upcycled materials.
Toilet paper roll bats are a great way to add a little spook to your Halloween decor without spending any money!
What You’ll Need:
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Black paint or black construction paper
- Paintbrushes
- Googly eyes
- Glue Stick
- Scissors
SHOP
How to Make It:
1. Paint the toilet paper rolls black or wrap them in black construction paper.
2. Once dry, fold in the top edges of the roll to create pointy bat ears. Or cut out bat ears using black construction paper and glue them to the top.
3. Cut out bat wings from black construction paper and glue them to the sides of the roll.
4. Glue on googly eyes to create eyes on the front of the bat.
Tip: Hang the bats from the ceiling or in a doorway using string to create a spooky flying bat effect!
6. Paper Bag Halloween Luminaries
These paper bag luminaries are perfect for adding a spooky glow to your porch or walkway on Halloween night.
Kids will love designing their own spooky luminaries!
What You’ll Need:
SHOP
How to Make It:
1. Use the Black Sharpie to create stencil-like Halloween shapes on the front of the paper bag.
2. Place a battery-operated tea light inside the bag.
3. Line up your Halloween luminaries along your porch or walkway to create a fun, spooky atmosphere.
Tip: If you’re looking for extra glow, double up the luminaries by placing two or three tea lights in each bag.
Final Thoughts: Get Crafty This Halloween!
Fall is a wonderful time to get creative with your kids and bring some Halloween vibes into your home.
Whether you’re looking for a fun afternoon activity or trying to create some DIY decor, these kid-friendly crafts will help your family get into the Halloween mood without too much effort or expense.
Plus, it’s a great opportunity to let your kids take the lead in creating the decorations they’ll proudly display for all to see.
Happy crafting, and have a spooktacular Halloween!
