DIY crafts can be a fun activity for you and your family to participate in this Halloween season. This list includes iconic DIY Halloween yard decor that you and your loved ones will enjoy.
8 DIY Halloween Yard Decor Ideas
Customize your Halloween yard decorations with these at-home crafts.
1. Make Your Own Jack O’Lantern
The Jack O’Lantern is the quintessential Halloween DIY craft. Even better, once you pull out all of the seeds, you can roast them and make a delicious snack (recipe here).
While you may be fine with just a kitchen knife and some sharpies, there are a few kits on the market that can help you create a spectacular Jack O’Lantern.
This set is kid-friendly, with no blade.
Create precise cuts and adorable faces using the stencils with this kit.
Tips for Carving a Jack O’Lantern:
Pick the right pumpkin. Find one that has a hardy stem, because softer stems mean that the pumpkin could be more prone to rotting.
Greenish stems mean that the pumpkins have been recently picked. Also, avoid pumpkins that have soft spots.
See if the pumpkin balances and stays level. Also, be aware that the jack o’ lantern will last about a week after being carved.
If you think the goop is gross, then use gloves when you are working with the pumpkin. Cut around the stem a space large enough to put your hand through. Then, scoop out absolutely everything. Any remaining goop will turn moldy.
To light the jack o’ lantern, try using electric lights instead of flame candles. They are safer and not a fire hazard. Also, you will want the pumpkin to be as cold as possible in order to help it stay preserved for longer.
2. Ghost Gourds
These spooky ghost gourds take five to ten minutes to make. Spray gourds with white spray paint for a ghoulish base.
When the paint dries, draw on faces with a permanent marker. Cover it in cheesecloth for a ghostly finish.
3. Dead Witch Doormat
Ding, dong, the witch is dead! Make visitors laugh with this tongue-in-cheek DIY Halloween decoration.
Use pool noodles, striped green and black tight socks, and black shoes (in your closet or any thrift store) to pull this off.
4. Halloween Scarecrow
Give your Halloween yard decoration theme its very own mascot with a DIY scarecrow. Making your own scarecrow is a straightforward process.
First, you will need clothes. One shirt and one pair of pants can form the body for the scarecrow.
You will also need a hat. Pillowcases are a good source of scrap fabric. Another item you will need is old plastic shopping bags or newspapers.
Safety pins will do a good job of holding everything together. You will also want to use string or narrow rope. Small amounts of hay, dried grass, or similar material will also help. To make the face, use permanent markers or felt scraps.
The first step is to zip or button the shirt closed. Tie the ends of the shirt or the pants closed with the rope. Stuff it full with newspaper or newspaper. Attach the shirt to the pants with safety pins.
To make the face, stuff the pillowcase with newspapers to make a face shape. Either draw on a face or glue on the felt shapes.
Stuff in the grass in the openings around the neck, arms, and legs. Do the same with the arm and the leg openings.
5. Halloween Wreath
This spooky eyeball wreath is the right combination of scary and classy.
The first step is to paint the wreath foam with black acrylic paint.
Next, draw pupil shapes with permanent markers on ping pong balls. Color around the pupil to make irises. Add red vein details.
Attach the “eye” with a hot glue gun to a floral pin.
Now, wrap the wreath with a black feather boa. Secure the wreath with floral pins.
Now, attach the eyeballs to the wreath. Hang it on your door to welcome trick or treaters.
6. Pumpkin Entrance
The trick to this DIY Halloween yard decor is using foam pumpkins, which are readily available at many craft stores.
Put LED candles inside them to light them up. Secure them to a DIY gazebo.
7. Stair Skulls
If your home has stairs, then line them with skulls for a low key DIY Halloween decor project. To make them less scary, paint them like sugar skulls.
8. Door Silhouette
This door silhouette is simple and easy to do. It requires a few supplies to make. Read here for a complete step by step instruction on how to do it.
You’ll need black matte vinyl, scissors, double-sided mounting tape, scotch tape, silver glitter, white craft glue, white craft brush, witch’s broom, silver shiny fabric, gold ribbon, gold spray paint, sticky back velcro strips, 1/2″ thick styrofoam.
Ready to Try Out These DIY Halloween Decor Ideas?
There are limitless options for DIY Halloween decor ideas. This list only skims the surface. Try them out and be sure to take pictures to share with your family and friends.