How to Have a Handmade Halloween

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Becky Striepe in DIY

Halloween is almost here! If you’re like me, you’re planning some sort of zombie-themed costume and thinking about decorations! Here are some ecofriendly DIY ideas to get your house ready for the spookiest of holidays!

I am in love with the Bat Mobile project from The Long Thread made out of salvaged cardboard and a found stick. She includes directions and a handy bat template. But wait! That template is good for more than the mobile! You can trace and cut out even more bats for this awesome spooky lampshade project from Martha Stewart.

In fact, let’s face it: Martha has got Halloween covered, and there are a ton of projects on her site that you can make with thrifted or salvaged materials. This bat garland would work great made from painted, thin cardboard like from beer or cereal boxes. You could do other spooky shapes, too, like black cats or witch’s hats! If you have some tin cans handy, she suggests turning them into Jack-o-Lanterns.

You could also adapt her Halloween ornaments project to use scrap cardboard. Rather than stickers, why not paint or stamp spooky images onto salvaged cardboard or even scrap paper? Just hand the finished ornaments from another found stick from the yard and display it in a vase full of sand or rocks. Voila!

My very favorite part of Halloween decor, though, is gourds. I love digging through those bins of funny-shaped, tiny squash at the grocery store. These are great placed around the house or arranged on the table for a Fall-themed centerpiece.

And, of course, you’ve got to love carving pumpkins! Instead of a conventional candle, maybe you can make your own recycled candle. If you don’t go that route, you might consider a soy or beeswax candle rather than paraffin. Paraffin candles are made from petroleum products and contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Do you have any DIY Halloween projects planned? Do tell!

decorations, DIY, Fall, Halloween, holiday