.st0{fill:#FFFFFF;}

Easy Halloween Decorations 

 Originally Written: October 26, 2009

By  Hanna Trafford

You don’t have to spend lots of money to create some nice Halloween decorations – little bit of creativity and a few hours will get the job done!

Here are some ideas and instructions for you:

Fabulous Pumpkin Vase

pumpkin-centrepiece

Make natural vases from gourds and small pumpkins for the holiday table, and fill them with autumn-hued flowers and leaves. These are pretty set on the burlap table runner and you can use a scrap of the burlap to make a fringe collar.

You need:

  • 2 small pumpkins or gourds
  • Sharp paring knife or razor knife
  • Spoon
  • Aluminum foil
  • Florist foam
  • Scissors
  • Fresh and dried flowers, grasses, and seedpods
  • 3-inch green, wired picks (available at florist shops or craft stores)
  • 2 burlap strips (approximately 15 by 2 inches; optional)• Straight pins

To make:

  • Cut out the tops of the pumpkins with a sharp knife, and scoop out the pulp with a spoon.
  • Line the pumpkins with foil. (Most pumpkins and gourds will remain watertight for several days, but lining them with foil gives added protection against leakage.)
  • Cut the florist foam to flt inside each pumpkin, and add just enough water to saturate the foam.
  • Arrange the flowers, grasses, and seedpods. Any tender flower stems can be secured and strengthened, using a wired pick.

Candy Corn Treat Jar

candycornjar3

Baby food jar (or any size jar you want)
Enough candy corn to fill jar
Black and White paints- to be able to wash the jar after it is painted, use air-dry enamel paints
Clear satin glaze for air-dry enamel paints or clear gloss glaze
5-inch square of Halloween print fabric
Ribbon or raffia

  • Thoroughly wash the jar and lid in hot soapy water. When completely dry, fill with candy corn, packing tightly.
  • Put on lid and shake jar. If candies shift or settle, open jar, add more candy corn and replace lid. Repeat as needed until candies can’t move.
  • Paint glass with a basecoat of clear satin glaze. Let dry.
  • Look for candy pieces that can be seen in full view from the outside of the jar. On jar, paint faces so they appear to be on these candy pieces.
  • To paint the faces, use the tip of a paintbrush handle to dab on two white dots for each set of eyes. When dry, use a toothpick to dab a tiny black dot in each eye, changing position on each face as shown in the picture.
  • Use a No. 0 (fine) brush and black paint to paint each mouth as shown or as desired. When dry, add another coat if needed. Let dry.
  • Add topcoat of glaze. Let dry.
  • Center the fabric square on top of the lid. Tie ribbon or raffia around the rim of the jar to hold fabric in place and make a bow. To make it easier to keep the fabric in place while tying the bow, first put a rubber band around lid.

Ghost Wind Twirler:

ghost-milkc11

  • Trace ghost pattern on to side of milk carton and cut out.
  • Draw face with permanent marker on both sides of the plastic.
  • Using a hole-punch, make holes in top and bottom of ghost.
  • Thread strong string or fishing line through top hole for a hanger.
  • Thread string or fishing line through bottom hole and fasten a bell on the end for weight and a little music as the wind blows.

Spider Hat:

spiderhatbear1

This party hat is so fun—you really can’t get the idea of the bouncing legs until you put him on!!!

Materials needed:
Black and orange construction paper
Ruler, scissors and glue or tape

Cut eight strips of black paper 1-1/2″ by 9″ (these will be the legs).

Cut two strips 2″ by 11″ (these you will need to glue together to make the 2″ by 22″ hat band).

Cut two 2″ black circles, two 1-1/2″ orange circles, two 1″ black circles (these are the eyes).

Fit the 2″ wide strips, that were glued together, around the person’s head– overlap and glue ends together. Glue the eyes to the hat band with the eyes touching as shown. Fold the leg strips in half, then fold one end of each leg strip back 1″ for the foot. Glue the straight end to the inside edge of the hat band. Fold and glue remaining legs. You will have four legs on each side of your hat as shown.Put it on and have fun bouncing up and down!!!!

Hope you will have fun making these – please send in your comments and suggestions – your input is always appreciated!

scan000322


Hanna Trafford


Hanna is the mother of two grown sons Dan and Dusan Nedelko, and is also the Grandmother to Jax, Cohen and Mila. She is the lead editor of Mama Knows and is hoping to create an exchange of communications with other grandmothers, mothers and daughters - giving everyone the opportunity to learn and share about everything that is "Mama"

Your Signature

related posts:


All About New Year’s Resolutions and Why I Don’t Make Any


Auld Lang Syne Lyrics


Best New Year Quotes

  • {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

    Get in touch

    >