77 Easy Halloween Kids' Crafts

Kids love crafting most days of the year but Halloween crafts are that special mix of fantasy and fall fun. From classic Halloween crafts like carving a pumpkin to creating a one-of-a-kind costume or making tasty treats for a Halloween party for their friends, kids love getting creative to celebrate the scary season. Keep reading for our best Halloween craft ideas that you can do both with and for your little monsters. If pumpkin carving is first on your list of to-dos, check out our best free printable templates, below.

These playful pet pumpkins are a fun, no-carve fall craft that you and the kiddos can create from either fresh or faux pumpkins and basic craft supplies. Our step-by-step instructions include printable templates, below, to make each animal come to life.

The creative possibilities of a brown paper lunch bag are never-ending, and the fun does not stop for Halloween. Hand over a stack of colorful paper, scissors and glue sticks to your kids and let the monster madness unfurl. Use the bottom fold as a mouth. When the puppets are made you can easily convert an old box into a puppet theater or make one from our step-by-step, below.

Upcycle your way to DIY Halloween costumes your kids will both love wearing and helping you craft. Get ready to raid your recycling bin; our quick video and step-by-step instructions, below, will help you turn cardboard shipping boxes into creative and seriously cute costumes.

Have the kids decorate all your flower arrangements this Halloween. To make these witch hands, roll out air-dry clay onto a flat surface. Press a small hand-shaped cookie cutter into the clay. While the clay is still malleable, wrap the hand around a small vase or beaker and allow it to dry. If the air-dry clay does not stick to the vase when it’s dry, use a small amount of craft glue to adhere it to the jar. Air-dry clay comes in several colors, but you can also paint it after it dries adding fun touches like painted fingernails.

Entertain trick-or-treaters or Halloween partygoers of all ages with this DIY game of chance. Felt jack-o'-lantern flaps (instead of paper that would tear) and an open back make it easy to reload the game with candy and small toys to keep the fun going. Construct your own with our step-by-step instructions, below.

All cat parents and kids know that cats love empty boxes. Treat your tabby to their own haunted mansion by upcycling cardboard boxes into an epic, light-up cat house — scratch pad included.

Get an assist from your little crafters to create some googly-eyed curb appeal with a mischievous monster door. Inexpensive card stock, crepe paper, tape and an hour or two crafting together are all you need to give your front door a funky new face.

After all, who says gingerbread houses are only for Christmas? Especially when the finished result is this spooktacular (and tasty)! Watch our quick video and get the complete materials list and our tips, below.

This cute and colorful eyeball Halloween headband is easy to DIY and fun to wear. Help the kid wrap the headband in pipe cleaners then they can use craft glue to attach colorful pompoms and googly eyes.

Boo-ing friends and neighbors is a fun Halloween tradition that's part trick and all treat. Let your littles help shop for, then assemble boo baskets that are customized to each recipient. Check out our 15 creative boo-ing ideas and print out our free (and fa-boo-lous!) printable tags and signs, below.

Looking to scare away boredom this Halloween? Download and print our free neighborhood scavenger hunt that kids of all ages will enjoy. Then, head outdoors on foot to find as many of the items as possible within a set time limit. You can even offer small prizes to the child who finds most of the items — or just reward them with bragging rights. Get our free printable scavenger hunt sheets, below.

Throwing a mad scientist-themed monster mash? Send party-goers home with a slimy, glow-in-the-dark favor they can play with instead of eating. Turn up the scare factor by displaying jars of slime on a specimen tray with beakers and creepy-crawly creatures.

These friendly foam bats are a snap to craft. Made using our free printable template, below, and inexpensive foam craft sheets, they're a weatherproof decoration you can display either indoors or out.

Just the right size for satisfying a chocolate craving and so much fun to make, our easy recipe, below, shares how to cast a spell on store-bought sweets.

Made out of marshmallows and white chocolate-dipped pretzels, these gooey and crunchy characters are as fun to craft as they are to gobble up.

Our free bat template, scissors and black card stock are all you need to give your front door a batty transformation. You can keep it simple and just add a few flapping paper bats or really make Halloween magic and first cover the door in purple bulletin board paper and add a glowing city skyline.

This Halloween project is a two-for-one special — part science experiment and part craft. Your kids will want to use their handmade bag year after year to show off their craftiness, and of course to hold all their candy.

Raid your craft stash for washi or decorative duct tape, then have the kids mark off the familiar grid. Use fresh or faux mini pumpkins in two colors or let the kiddos paint the pumpkins with Xs and Os.

Homemade chocolate cookie bones plus a generous heaping of sweet and salty snacks make for a delicious snack board that's fun to assemble with a little assist from the kiddos. Perfect for parties, keep extra candy and salty treats handy so you can restock the board mid-party.

Looking for a new craft? Let kids try painting with string. Choose a simple image such as an owl and transfer it to a surface like an art canvas or wood board. Mark what color goes in each section just like a paint-by-numbers kit. Then have the kids brush on a light surface of craft glue and then fill in each section by winding yarn within that space. Repeat until the image is complete.

These adorable treat cans make upcycling look good! Kids will love making these cans as much as they'll enjoy devouring the sweet contents so start saving your empty tin cans now so you'll have plenty of raw materials for this kid-pleasing craft.

Let kids illuminate the Halloween party by making festive covers for standard string lights. The covers are crafted from paper towel or toilet paper rolls that are covered in Halloween tissue paper with decoupage medium and then topped with pom-poms. Have the kids craft the cover and you attach them to the string lights.

Who doesn't love a homemade caramel apple? To elevate these fall favorites, we rolled the freshly dipped treats in everyone's other favorite Halloween treat: candy—and lots of it!

White pipe cleaners, a toy spider and a headband come together to make this scary-cute headgear. Older kids should have no problem twisting the pipe cleaners into a web and attaching a spider or two. When they're done with their creation, let them know they can tell everyone that they're a "web" designer.

This fun and easy-to-make necklace is the perfect accessory for your next monster mash. Kids will love adding their own spooky spin to plain craft-store wooden beads. Paint markers work great for creating wee witches and pumpkins. Younger kids can enjoy making something more abstract like black, white and orange polka dots on the beads. When they are completely dry, string the beads on faux-suede cording and wear.

Halloween swings into action with this candy corn piñata. Kids of all ages will love taking a shot at this treat-filled craft, and because you and the kiddos make it yourselves, you get complete control over what goes inside.

Kids will love helping you craft these monstrous-looking tentacles that look kinda cute, but don’t be fooled. They’ve only got one thing in mind ... dinner.

Yarn pompoms are easy to make and even easier to turn petrifying for a fun Halloween spin. No pompom maker, no problem. Cut a rectangular piece of cardboard about the size of a phone. Wrap with yarn lengthwise at least 150 times. Slide the yarn bundle off of the cardboard. Use a piece of yarn to tie the bundle in the center. At the same spot where you tied the center use another piece of yarn to attach plastic vampire fangs. Trim the looped ends of the yarn bundle and fluff the pompom. Add adhesive-backed googly eyes and even a felt tongue.

Create these fun decorations with a trip to the kitchen pantry and old cardboard canisters (oatmeal, breadcrumbs, grits, etc.). Draw a simple Halloween-themed face on the cardboard canister (vampire, witch, werewolf, etc.). Then go over your drawing with a hot glue gun so you have a raised outline of the face on the cardboard. While the glue is cooling, cut a piece of foil the size of the canister. Use a paintbrush to apply craft glue to the canister taking care to get around all the edges of the canister. Place the foil onto the canister while the glue is still wet making sure the shiny side is facing out. The foil should fit snugly around all the edges of your raised glue-gun design. Have the kids use a pencil eraser to burnish the foil around the glue design. When the glue has dried, trim any extra foil and color in your creature with permanent markers.

Trick-or-treating is serious business to kids. Use one of our three free printable templates to help them turn an inexpensive canvas tote bag into a cute carryall to contain their candy haul.

Give spare wood a ghostly makeover by first painting the boards white, then have the kids add friendly (or not-so-friendly) faces. After they're done, lightly sand the boards for a timeworn look.

Although you probably treat your kids like royalty every day, help them display their regal nature with these easy-to-craft paper crowns. Just print one of our free templates, then embellish it however you'd like. Perfect as party favors, these crafty goodies also make great costume accessories or gifts for your favorite trick-or-treaters.

You may have not known this, but a green two-liter plastic bottle can easily be transformed into a Halloween witch night light. The witch’s facial features and a hat are made from craft felt, while yarn is used to give her a full head of hair. A battery-operated light illuminates the witch and to help her stand up straight, the bottle is supported by a terra cotta flowerpot.

No matter how old you are, a fun pair of deely bobbers is always a joy! You may have to help the kids wrap the pipe cleaners around the foam craft balls, but they'll have a good time adding a big set of googly eyes.

The kiddos will love helping with this party favor craft that decorates gift bags to look like individual haunted houses. To make your own, simply fold over and seal the tops of treat or toy-filled paper bags, then add fringed streamers on the "roof" and stickers to depict windows and doors.

These adorably creepy spider web cookies require no baking and are easily assembled with just three ingredients — perfect for the kids to help make.

Looking for a fun, entertaining activity for all? Set up a craft station stocked with art projects that kids big and small can enjoy. These DIY farmhouse-inspired cat and pumpkin silhouettes are easy to make and guests will love that they get to take their chic creations home. Get the step-by-step instructions at the link below.

Give your entryway a not-too-scary Halloween update with this easy-to-craft blooming beastie. The kids will love helping you select the foam colors and deciding whether to make a friendly or not-so-friendly mum-ster.

Give plain muslin bags a trendy custom touch with one of our free printable patterns, below. These little sacks are just the right size to give out as party favors, take to the kids at school or use to surprise your favorite trick-or-treaters.

Kiddos will love this fun treat that uses leftover Halloween candy to decorate dipped apple slices. Serve these handheld desserts as a Halloween party snack or whip some up with the family after the trick-or-treating is over.

Get the kids excited about the Halloween party by having them help decorate the beverage tub. You can create the tub's features — eyes, nose, wings, etc. — then have the kids help place and glue them onto the tub.

Have the kids decorate goodie bags for your trunk-or-treat or party. Start with craft- or dollar-store paper treat bags then add a playful personality with googly eyes and a bit of colorful 'hair'. To secure the treat bag, fold over the bag's top, make a hole through the folded layers with a hole punch or awl, then tie it off with a bit of rickrack or ribbon.

Kids will love raiding the produce bin (and your family members' closets) to give fresh pumpkins a personality. Add a carrot or parsnip nose, craft-foam eyelashes or mustache and a drawn-on smile, plus accessories like glasses, a tie, hat or headphones to complete the look.

Take a stroll through the garden department to get Halloween inspiration, lots of plants — especially air plants have a spooky vibe in the right setting. Use multi-surface craft paint on the inside of a glass hanging planter. When the paint is dry embellish with items like pom-pom spots, googly eyes, fun fur hair, sparkly pipe cleaner lips and of course white felt monster teeth. Depending on the type of plant you use add a small bit of soil and rocks inside the planter. Style the plant so that it looks like is blooming out of the monster’s mouth.

Jack-o'-lanterns are like snowflakes in that no two are alike. This easy flip book idea takes the same concept from pumpkin to paper, with every flip of the page, a new jack-o'-lantern is made.

In just a few minutes, kids can transform an ordinary headband into one of these cute costume accessories.

What's tastier and more seasonal than a fall apple covered in ooey-gooey caramel? And, hey, this is one Halloween sweet that actually sneaks in some fruit. Yummy, fun to make and (kinda) healthy? Win-win-win!

Who among us does not have a random assortment of broken crayons? Take that wax to the next level by making colorful Halloween-themed candles. Each candle has a terrazzo-style effect with colored wax and broken crayons. Kids ask your parents for help with this project and always be careful when lighting candles.

Get an assist from the kiddos to craft a batch of felt candy, you can then turn into a sweet Halloween banner that you can display year after year.

Kids will love this easy craft that turns a pumpkin into a gnome home that's all decked out for Halloween.

Our free printable, below, is the perfect finishing touch for these easy-to-craft broomsticks that are just as much fun for kids to craft as they are to eat.

Finally, a use for all those socks that have long since lost their mate. Help your kids make this bottle/sock bag to hold all their Halloween goodies. Start by cutting off the top of a plastic bottle and cut off the toe of the lone sock. On one end of the sock create a channel for a drawstring by folding the sock over about 1” and gluing. Cut two small slits in the folded fabric about 1” apart so you can insert a drawstring (we used ribbon). Apply craft glue to the body of the plastic bottle. Pull the sock over the bottle with the drawstring channel at the top. When all the glue has dried, attach a safety pin to the drawstring and feed it through the channel. Remove the safety pin and the Halloween bottle bag is ready for action.

Encourage creative playtime with this easy-to-craft and budget-friendly wall art that'll keep your littlest Halloween fans happily occupied while they wait for Halloween night to arrive.

Make this Halloween unforgettable with our ideas for creative play. From DIY games to crafty takes on old favorites, check out 12 ways to keep kids happily entertained, below.

Surprisingly easy to make, this candy-stuffed cake is fun to make with an assist from your little bakers and will delight Halloween party guests big and small.

Head to the craft store for foam spheres, paint and pipe cleaners, then get ready to assemble a bunch of these giant — but friendly-looking — spiders. Kids will enjoy customizing their faces and can help you make a larger-than-life web, too, by just wrapping yarn around fallen tree limbs.

Countdown calendars aren't just for Christmas — especially when kids are just as excited for Halloween. Help them count down to the spooktacular day with our step-by-step instructions, below.

Make pumpkin carving a yearly family tradition with one of our carving stencils. Just download your favorite pattern, size it to your pumpkin, print it out, and then attach it to your pumpkin and get carving. Tip: Instead of cutting off the pumpkin's top, cut off the bottom to make cleaning it out much easier and create a flat surface for the carved pumpkin to sit on.

Send the kiddos out to gather fallen twigs and small branches while you print out our free bat template. Paint branches white, cut out a bunch o' bats, then just glue them on. Get even more free Halloween printables, below.

Raid the recycling bin for empty soda bottles to give your houseplants a haunted home for Halloween. Our quick video and step-by-step instructions, below, will walk you through each step.

Sometimes the best entertainment is the kind you can make yourself. Roll a small piece of paper around a paper straw to create a tube. Make sure the paper is not too tight or too loose. Seal one end shut with tape. Cut out a bat shape from cardstock and attach the tube tape-side pointing up to the back with more tape. Inset the paper straw into the tube and blow. See who can get their bat to go the highest or furthest to turn it into a fun Halloween game.

Faux pumpkins aren't just great for decking out your front porch, they also make cute candy containers for your favorite trick-or-treaters. Just cut off the top, have your child add their name and let them help you select paint for the pumpkin's interior and ribbon to use as a handle.

Use basic craft supplies — like paint, felt and pipe cleaners — to make a whole litter of these lucky black cats. You can use fresh pumpkins, if you prefer, but these carve-free kitties are so cute that faux pumpkins are a better bet so you can display them year after year.

Add a little Halloween "spirit" to your kitchen counter. All you need is a large glass jar, basic craft supplies and a little imagination. This easy project is perfect to do with kids, they'll love coming up with ideas for spooky details.

Mix a little mischief into your Halloween decorations with these tiny winged charmers. Just add craft foam or card stock wings to diminutive pumpkins and gourds painted black and let kids give them a personality with painted-on eyes and a smile.

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. Have the kids help make the jack-o'-lantern using black felt and craft glue.

Looking for a fun Halloween project to do with the kids? Well, look no further! These candy-dipped apples look just like a jack-o’-lantern or a friendly ghost and are as much fun to decorate as they are to munch.

Dollar store supplies, like oversized plastic bugs, hot glue and a little spray paint are all you need to create oversized specimen art. Watch our video and check out our tips for recreating this creepy-crawly craft, below.

Let the kids go crazy by adhering self-adhesive googly eyes in a variety of sizes to ordinary objects around your home. Pick them up at your local craft or dollar store for a spooktastic makeover on the cheap.

All you need to make this candy-corn-colored necklace are gumballs, ribbon and a few tools. Use a skewer to puncture each gumball, one side at a time. Thread ribbon through a large needle and slide through gumballs, tying a knot between each as you go. Add a ribbon bow for an extra finishing touch.

Mini real or faux pumpkins make fantastic spiders. Just attach pipe cleaner legs to the pumpkins' bottoms and use lentils or beans to create eyes. Add a drop of black paint for a pupil and white for the highlight in each eye, then let your charming little critters crawl.

Even the littlest crafters will have fun tapping cookie cutters into hollowed-out pumpkins to create glowing patterns.

DIY terrariums are easy to make, affordable and offer endless ways to create spooky scenes. Pick up wooden bases and glass cylinders or fishbowls at your local dollar store. Fill with twigs, preserved moss and leaves topped with plastic insects, snakes or faux birds.

These carve-free pumpkins are a perfect project for the littlest crafters — school glue and colorful glitter are all you need.

A little creative thinking turns black outdoor trash bags into these dramatic decorations you can reuse year after year.