35 Creep-Tastic DIY Halloween Wreaths

Prepare to turn heads this Halloween with these cute, kitschy and downright creepy wreaths. They're easy to make and will instantly transform your doorway.

By: Chelsea Faulkner, H. Camille Smith, and Katie Friedman

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Dare to Decorate Your Front Door

Now that summer is behind us and the witching season is ahead, it’s time to embrace a more mischievous aesthetic. You can carve jack-o'-lanterns for the front porch, wrap the bannisters and columns in faux cobwebs and — of course — decorate the door with a creep-tastic wreath. Here are 45 DIY designs we love, ranging from punny "Trick-or-Treat Yo Self" plaques to petrifying eyeball and skeleton bone wreaths. The best part? All of these crafts can be completed in an afternoon.

GO SHOPPING: 12 Halloween Wreaths to Haunt Your House Inside and Out

Paint a "Trick-or-Treat Yo Self" Plaque

Encourage trick-or-treaters to help themselves (to one treat apiece, of course) with this easy, upcycled DIY Halloween sign. Use our how-to, below, to create a custom plaque to display by your candy bowl on the porch, on your front door or by the mailbox.

GET THE HOW-TO: 5 Farmhouse Halloween Decorating DIYs

Or, Skip the Wreath for a Stylish Basket

For a twist, swap your front door wreath for a slim basket or straw tote you can fill with a variety of spooky silk blooms, dried seed pods and grasses. For a free finishing touch, gather dead branches from your yard and tie it all together with black-and-white striped ribbon. Get our tips for creating a front door basket that'll take you from Halloween through Christmas, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: Skip the Wreath: Try a Holiday-Spanning Front Door Basket Instead

From: H. Camille Smith

Craft a Cobweb Wreath

In a rush and on a budget? Give your existing front door wreath a very quick Halloween upgrade with some faux spider web and black plastic spiders from the dollar store.

GET THE HOW-TO: (Almost!) Free Halloween Decor That’s Spookier Than Store-Bought

Go for a Googly-Eyed Wreath

Keep an eye on trick-or-treaters with a googly-eyed wreath. To make it, pick up two to three bags of white Ping-Pong balls online or at a sports store. Use hot glue to attach them, in layers, to a foam wreath form with hot glue. Once all visible parts of the wreath form have been covered, attach small and large googly eyes. Tip: It's best to hang the wreath with a door hanger, rather than wrapping ribbon around it, so the layers of Ping-Pong balls remain undisturbed.

GET THE HOW-TO: 13 Spooky Good Halloween Hacks

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Wrap a Moody Crescent Moon Wreath

Show off your sinister side with a crescent moon crafted from black yarn. You'll use heavy-duty wire cutters to cut your wreath into the right shape and tape or velcro to cover those sharp edges. Top the moon off with silk dahlias, roses, wisteria (all in black) and a large faux crow.

GET THE HOW-TO: DIY This Crescent Moon Wreath for Halloween

Turn Spare Bones Into a Wreath

Give a plastic skeleton a fresh take on the afterlife as a minimalist wreath. Disassemble the skeleton by removing the thread, wire or string used to hold the pieces together. Next, attach bones to a wire wreath form using craft wire, overlapping and interlacing the bones. As a creepy finishing touch, wire the skull to the wreath's bottom so its sockets are approximately eye-level with trick-or-treaters.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Spin a Sticky Spider Web Wreath

Lure trick-or-treaters to your door with a spider web wreath full of candy. To get this look, all you need is a hula hoop, black spray paint, white string and some clothespins. Paint the hula hoop black, knot on the string and attach the clothespins with individually wrapped candy. And of course this piece pairs perfectly with an oversized, fuzzy spider.

See More Photos: 31 Fun Halloween Party Games for Kids and Adults

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Wrap a Monster Wreath

Hit the craft store (or shop your craft stash) for everything you need to make this cuddly-looking critter that'll welcome trick-or-treaters and other Halloween guests with a playful one-eyed wink.

Conjure Up a Spellboard

Add a heavy dose of magical charm to your Halloween front door with this ornate, framed greeting. We found this oval picture frame at an estate sale, painted over the existing picture with black chalkboard paint, then scrawled in the words "Come in for a Spell" with white chalk marker. See more of this witchy front porch, plus learn how to craft your very own witch's broom, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make a Witch's Broom or Besom

From: H. Camille Smith

Use This Wreath to Announce Safe Treats

Did you know that teal pumpkins symbolize you're giving away allergy-friendly treats? Let the neighborhood know with these easy, embroidery hoop wreaths fashioned to look like a friendly pack of pumpkins. To make, stretch teal blue and orange fabric through embroidery hoops in three different sizes. Download our free jack-o'-lantern face templates, then cut out and trace onto black felt. Cut out the felt faces and glue to the fabric. Glue the three pumpkins together in the arrangement seen here, then add some green ribbon "stems" to the top of each hoop.

See More Photos: Halloween Teal Pumpkin Jack-o-Lantern Ideas

Upcycle Hardware Store Essentials

Bright orange tow rope makes it a snap to craft a cheery orange wreath you can display from Halloween through Thanksgiving. Just swap out the saying on the mini pumpkins for an easy holiday update. Learn how to make your own with our step-by-step instructions, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: Tow Rope Halloween Wreath

Whip Up a Green-Eyed Monster Wreath

Kids + googly eyes = a match made in crafting heaven. Enlist an assist from the kiddos to craft this green-eyed monster for the front door.

GET THE HOW-TO: 3 Spook-tastic Wreaths to Haunt Your Door

Or, Take a Black + White Approach

Designer Kim Stoegbauer gave this basic grapevine wreath a Halloween-worthy makeover with some bone-white spray paint, inexpensive black rose garland and our free printable label. Get the full instructions and see the rest of this simple, spooky design at the link below.

GET THE HOW-TO: 5 DIY Decorations That Transition From Halloween to Thanksgiving

From: Kim Stoegbauer

Hang a Tarot Card Wreath

Pick a card, any card! Can’t decide which one to choose? That’s probably for the best because you’ll need the entire deck to recreate this mystical tarot card door hanger. To make, simply attach tarot cards to a flat wreath form in a circular arrangement. Tip: Use removable mounting putty or glue dots instead of glue or tape so you don't ruin the cards. When the holiday is over, simply disassemble and pack your deck away for later.

See More Photos: Say No to New: Scare Up What You Have This Halloween, Instead

Play With Faux Pumpkins

Welcome guests from Halloween to the holidays with this simple, elegant DIY wreath made from mini faux pumpkins. Get the step-by-step instructions plus more fall front porch ideas from HGTV Magazine, below.

GET THE HOW-TO: 3 Unexpected Ways to Decorate Your Porch This Fall

From: HGTV Magazine

Brandish a Black Cat Wreath

This cute, fuzzy black cat wreath couldn't possibly be bad luck, right? Craft your own from pipe cleaners, fun faux fur and a ready-made gift bag "bowtie."

GET THE HOW-TO: Kids' Craft: Witch's Hat or Black Cat Halloween Headbands

Forge an Iron Shackle Wreath

Embrace a bit of the macabre with an iron shackle wreath. Search online or at local antique/thrift stores for authentic iron or steel shackles. Pick up a twig or grapevine wreath from the craft store, then wrap and drape the chain around it. Adorn the wreath with a faux black crow or raven for an added eerie touch.

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From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Or a Crime Scene Wreath

Danger ahead! Put caution tape to decorative use as a yellow-and-black crime scene wreath. Pick up a roll of caution tape from your local hardware store and a foam wreath form at the craft store. Wrap the caution tape around the form, ensuring the letters face out. Use strong tape or straight pins to secure the end of the tape to the wreath's back. Complete the look with a caution tape bow.

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From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Build a Furry, Fanged Monster

Welcome Halloween guests with a friendly, furry monster wreath. To craft it, you'll need one yard of black faux fur, small balls in assorted colors and 8-10 sets of plastic vampire teeth. Cover a foam wreath form with the faux fur, securing the ends with strong tape or T-pins. Attach the balls and vampire teeth to the fur with hot glue. Finally, use black and white paint pens to add a slit pupil to each of the eyes.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Or, Embrace Your Inner Party Monster

Crushed beer can and bottle-top wreaths don't fit every situation, but they're right at home in a bachelor pad or man cave — especially if your home is Halloween Party Central. To create, crush the cans into interesting shapes, then use pliers or metal-cutting shears to create a hole in the back of each can. Poke picture wire through the holes, then fasten the cans tightly to a grapevine wreath form.

See More Photos: 60 Frighteningly Fun Halloween Party Ideas

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Magic Up a Witchy Bouquet

Honestly, who doesn't have a little all-powerful sorceress within them? Honor your inner witchiness with this fun take on a wreath that starts with a costume hat.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make a Witch Hat Wreath

Make a Bloodshot Eyeball Wreath

Jeepers creepers — pair ink-black plumage with a pack of disembodied peepers to craft this ultra-easy and ultra-scary front door sight.

Craft a "Mini Pumpkin" Wreath

Although the tiny orange shapes covering this wreath look like diminutive pumpkins, they're actually putka pods. A great stand-in for mini pumpkins, the dried organic seed pods don't deteriorate, so your wreath can be displayed year after year.

GET THE HOW-TO: Make a Mini Pumpkin Wreath for Fall

From: Marian Parsons

Create a Slithering Snake Wreath

Raid your kids' toy box or hit the dollar store for a bunch of rubber snakes. Attach them with hot glue to a grapevine wreath form, then spray paint the whole thing a solid color. Trick-or-treaters and Halloween guests won't be able to see the swirling mass of snakes till they come close to the wreath for an unexpected fright. Be sure to position the snakes' heads in different directions to give the wreath a sense of motion.

GET THE HOW-TO: Make a Rubber Snake Wreath

Or, Give 'Em the Creepy Crawlies

Pick up an oval grapevine wreath and a bag of assorted plastic bugs at your local craft store. Use the bugs to add color and shape to the wreath, attaching them with hot glue.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Rock a Vampire Bat Wreath

Add a little battitude to your front door with this wreath. To craft it, you'll need a foam wreath form, charcoal-gray yarn, black craft foam, black ribbon, floral wire and a hot glue gun. First, wrap the foam wreath form with yarn, ensuring that none of the foam shows through. Next, print this bat template in various sizes and trace the pattern onto black foam, cutting out the shapes with scissors. Poke a small hole through the top of each bat with floral wire then wire bats onto wreath, positioning them so they look like they're in flight. Finally, wrap black ribbon around the top of the wreath for hanging.

GET THE HOW-TO: Flying Bats

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Go for a Gauzy Wreath

Give arachnophobes the heebie-jeebies with a spider's nest wreath made with bunched gauze, ribbon and plastic spiders. First, loosely wrap a spool of pure white medical gauze (or cheesecloth) around a foam wreath form until completely covered. Next, attach a few plastic spiders to one side of the wreath with craft or hot glue. Hang the wreath with a black velvet bow looped through the top. For an added gruesome touch, glue on a pair of skeletal hands.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Upcycle a Frame Into a Wreath

Picture frames as wreaths? Sure, why not! Grab an old picture frame from a flea market or garage sale and update it with spray paint in a bold color. Next, remove the glass and artwork. Use string or yarn to create the spiraling look of a spider web then attach the web to the frame's back side with double-sided tape.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Or, Repurpose Backyard Branches

Skip the vibrant autumn blooms and set the tone for Halloween with a bare bones twig wreath and a bold, black-and-white ribbon. The minimalist twig wreath offers a subtly chic nod to the haunted holiday that lies ahead.

Flaunt a Fuchsia Wreath

Design blogger Michele Strauts proves pink is always in season with this gourd-geous DIY pumpkin wreath. The wreath forgoes fall foliage and florals to make a seasonal statement with miniature pumpkins in a punchy, bubblegum hue. Recreate the lively design with a store-bought wreath and pink spray paint or give your gourds a personal twist with your own unexpected paint color.

See More Photos: 40+ Enchanting Halloween Decorating Ideas That Aren't Black and Orange

Craft a Mitt Monster Wreath

Shop your local dollar store to craft this silly-scary wreath made from car washing mitts and ping pong balls. Get the step-by-step instructions, plus more dollar store Halloween decorating ideas below.

GET THE HOW-TO: 5 DIY Dollar Store Halloween Decor Ideas

Show Off a Scorched Leaf Wreath

Let everyone think you got a little too carried away with the candlesticks or cauldron this year, and cheekily display a "scorched" wreath. The trick is to cut and trace leaves onto felt sheets, then fuse those leaves to dark brown or black fabric for a suspiciously singed look. Follow our step-by-step tutorial down below to make it your own.

GET THE HOW-TO: How to Make a Fall Felt Leaf Wreath

Drop Some Spooky Spiders

We're crawling with excitement over this cute, creepy wreath that costs less than $10. To make your own, paint a 14-inch foam wreath form with orange craft paint. Let dry, then stick a dozen T-pins into the back of the wreath so they’re evenly spaced. Tie black twine to one pin, then wrap the twine around the wreath, looping it around the front and the pins in the back to create a web. Snip excess twine and tie the end to a pin. Paint small wood circles with black craft paint. Hot-glue eight short pieces of black twine to each circle for legs, then stick two round yellow stickers on for eyes. Hot-glue a longer piece of twine to the back of each spider, then hot-glue the other end to the web.

From: HGTV Magazine

DIY a Creepy Doll Wreath

For a look that is a little kitschy and a lot creepy, try covering a wreath with random doll parts and glitzy, orange and black Halloween garland.

GET THE HOW-TO: 3 Ways to Make Creepy Doll Head Planters for Halloween

Create a Corn Husk Wreath

What fall figure is creepy and cute? That's right, a scarecrow. Evoke thoughts of these eerie humanoids with a corn husk wreath. You can use our gallery below as a starting point, then tie on an ochre or red-checked ribbon. Fill the hole with a frowning jack-o-lantern-style face to make the wreath extra creepy.

See More Photos: Make a Harvest Corn-Husk Wreath

35 Creep-Tastic DIY Halloween Wreaths

Related To:

Shop This Look

Dare to Decorate Your Front Door

Paint a "Trick-or-Treat Yo Self" Plaque

Or, Skip the Wreath for a Stylish Basket

Craft a Cobweb Wreath

Go for a Googly-Eyed Wreath

Wrap a Moody Crescent Moon Wreath

Turn Spare Bones Into a Wreath

Spin a Sticky Spider Web Wreath

Wrap a Monster Wreath

Conjure Up a Spellboard

Use This Wreath to Announce Safe Treats

Upcycle Hardware Store Essentials

Whip Up a Green-Eyed Monster Wreath

Or, Take a Black + White Approach

Hang a Tarot Card Wreath

Play With Faux Pumpkins

Brandish a Black Cat Wreath

Forge an Iron Shackle Wreath

Or a Crime Scene Wreath

Build a Furry, Fanged Monster

Or, Embrace Your Inner Party Monster

Magic Up a Witchy Bouquet

Make a Bloodshot Eyeball Wreath

Craft a "Mini Pumpkin" Wreath

Create a Slithering Snake Wreath

Or, Give 'Em the Creepy Crawlies

Rock a Vampire Bat Wreath

Go for a Gauzy Wreath

Upcycle a Frame Into a Wreath

Or, Repurpose Backyard Branches

Flaunt a Fuchsia Wreath

Craft a Mitt Monster Wreath

Show Off a Scorched Leaf Wreath

Drop Some Spooky Spiders

DIY a Creepy Doll Wreath

Create a Corn Husk Wreath

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