*This is a re-post from 10/2012. It has been one of the most popular posts on Pinterest lately so I thought it was worth sharing again.
There are so many fun and wonderful things about having kids. One of the things I have learned to love because of my own children is Halloween and all of the decorating that goes along with it. It is just so much fun to pretend and think outside of the box whenever this time of year rolls around. So, when I was given the mission to turn my house into a haunted house for HERSHEY’S® BOO BLVD.™, I was excited to have an excuse to decorate earlier than normal! As usual, I tried to come up with and find ideas that were simple but well done. Graham really enjoyed helping me with these as well. Here are 5 easy ideas using items you may already have on hand in order to turn your home into a haunted house.
Creepy Shadows
Materials Needed:
- several pieces of tall cardboard
- large bottle of black acrylic paint
- 1 or 2 sheets of colored tissue paper
- scissors
- clear packing tape
- large foam paint brush
Instructions:
I first saw these creepy window shadows on Pinterest last year and thought I would love to do this but never got around to it. So, this was the first project I tackled! You can see the original idea from The Lawrence Girls who created monster shadows in their windows. I decided to keep it a little more on theme with Halloween and created a witch, jack-o-lantern, and a ghost. Luckily, we had plenty of cardboard boxes hanging around that needed to be recycled as well as tissue paper that I save from birthday presents. I found that it is easiest if you paint your entire sheets of cardboard black before you start cutting (easier to paint a straight surface than a curved). If you are a pretty good artist all you need to do is freehand an outline of what you would like your shadow to look like on the back. If you are feeling less adventurous you could always try finding some great shapes online, printing them off and cutting the out for your patterns. Eye and mouths are perfect places to use the tissue paper. Using your clear packing tape attach a piece across the back. When it’s dark outside the eyes and mouths will really pop if you use colors like green or blue. Place your shadows in the window and secure with a little tape.
Mason Jar Luminaries
Materials Needed:
- mason jars with lids
- various colors of acrylic paint
- black sharpie marker
- black spray paint
- spray paint clear coat
- foam paint brushes
Instructions:
I spotted these scary but cute Halloween mason jar luminaries from Crafts by Amanda (she has so many cute Mason Jar ideas)! These were probably my favorite to create out of all of the projects just because of how they turned out. First you will need to paint the insides of your mason jars with the acrylic paint. Choose different colors in order to create fun looks. Use the black spray paint to paint the tops of the lids. Once your jars dry use a black sharpie marker to draw faces on the outside. If you will put these outdoors then you need to use a clear protectant spray on the outside of the jars as well as the lids. Once everything is dry remove the inner lid so that you have a black ring without the top and place tea lights inside. I especially like the way the green glows!
Glowing Ghost Balloons
Materials Needed:
- white balloons
- black sharpie marker
- white tissue paper
- green glow sticks
- clear packing tape
Instructions:
These were my inspiration from a photo I saw on Martha Stewart. I loved the look of the glowing faces and decided to add bodies! This was Graham’s favorite project because he was able to do just about all of it by himself. Not to mention, what little boy doesn’t like a glowing ghost head? This is a project that will need to be done about an hour ahead of your party or event. Simply blow up your balloon to the desired size. Break your glow stick and make sure it is activated. Insert the glow stick into the balloon (we used the larger glow sticks and I would recommend finding the thin glow sticks for ease of use). Add back the air that escaped while placing your glow stick and tie the end. Use your black sharpie marker to draw a spooky face on one side of the balloon. Tape your glowing ghost head to the desired location using clear packing tape. Crumple the white tissue paper into a long, flowing ghost body and tape under the head. Step back and watch your guests ooh and ah in delight!
Witch Hat Cookies
Materials Needed:
- round chocolate cookies
- orange or green icing
- HERSHEY’S® KISSES™
Instructions:
I shared this fun recipe last year! I enjoy finding recipes that Graham can help out with and this one was perfect. If you are creating a haunted house you need to make sure to serve up some scary treats as well. Squeeze your icing directly into the middle of your cookie. Place the HERSHEY’S® KISS on top and repeat. This is a great idea for kids Halloween parties!
Egg Carton Spiders
Materials Needed:
- 1 cardboard egg carton
- black acrylic paint
- whole punch
- paint brush
- black pipe cleaners
- tape or glue
Instructions:
These were our Halloween craft two years ago and they turned out great! One of my readers had the fantastic idea to use fishing line and hang them from her ceiling. Cut the cups out of your egg carton and paint them black. Let them dry completely. Use your hole punch to punch out two small holes for eyes near the top and four holes along each side (8 total). Fold two pipe cleaners in half and cut. Place the pipe cleaners through each corresponding leg hole. Use the tape or glue to secure the legs on the inside (I placed tape across the middle and on each side to keep the legs from slipping). Bend the legs so that they look like a spider.
So there you have it! Haunted house transformation simplified. Not to mention, you have also included your kids and recycled many household items! Make sure to check out HERSHEY’S® BOO BLVD™. for more tasty treats and ghoulishly fun ideas.
I am participating in the HERSHEY’S BOO BLVD. campaign via Mom Bloggers Club. This post was sponsored by HERSHEY’S. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.
We have this awesome shrunken head decoration that goes on our doornob every year. Its got a sensor and when you pass by it it says things.
My daughter has the webbing she put on the shrubs and has all kinds of Halloween decorations, RIP tombstones, etc in front yard
I haven’t decorated this year yet, but, last year we had a party and the house was completely decorated w/ razor blade(fake) curtains, dungeon walls, chains, creepy talking ghouls hanging all over, gummy mice in the punch and all types of creepy Halloween food.
We hang decorations up on the walls in our house and window clings on our doors. We mostly decorate outside with inflatables, yard signs, spider webs, etc.
I have not decorated this year, I live in an apt. building and no kids, unless related, can roam the halls.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com
we turn out most lights and use candles
Awesome ideas for Halloween decoration!
Lots of pumpkins. We do happy not scary Halloween.
We added tombstones and skeletons.
we just have a few pumpkins around the house
Pumpkins..
tarter95 at hotmail dot com
We try to make (not-so-scary) jack-o-lanterns and hang paper bats up inside.
We don’t. We put a couple of pumpkins on the porch, that’s it. We don’t get any trick or treaters because of our location, so we don’t go all out for it…
We put up some spider webs, pumpkins and fall leaf garland.
We put up fall garland inside and cornstalks outside….not very haunted but it works for us
We like carving pumpkins and we a big skeleton that has glowing eyes for the front door. Thanks for the chance to win!
mrsmchappell at gmail dot com
We carve a pumpkin.
spider webs and eery sounds
shopannies@yahoo.com
looks of spooky webs and darkness
debbie jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
We hang spider webs and darken the lights.
Jack O Lanterns, and lots of glowing orange pumpkin lights!
hang spider webs!!
button: http://akronugurl.blogspot.com/
spider webs, pumpkins, leaves and clings on window. scary music playing. lighting.
Fun Spooky Music !:)
We put out a few pumpkins and ‘spooky’ window clings!
just decorate
how do you decorate?
We like to go all out in the front yard with tomb stones and bats. Thanks for the chance.
Don’t do much anymore since the kids are gone, but when they were little, we put up every scary decoration imaginable!
We decorate with a light-up pumpkin and dress up to pass out candy
We have creepy pumpkins. Nothing too exciting.
put up halloween lights, silhouettes in the windows, decorate the bathroom w/some mad scientist lab items
i decorate a lot for halloween but i don’t make it look like a haunted house
I hang skeleton decorations and make Blair Witch stick figures from wood to hang around the house. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
We do spiderwebs around the front door, along with our carved pumpkins and we replace our front porch lights with black lights. That’s about it!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
We use a lot of cobwebs.
Thanks!
We use a Ouija board, some dead relatives and a lack of common sense!!!! We actually just put out a few pumpkins and dress up for the trick or treaters.
A few pumpkins (poorly carved) is about all the decoration we do.
I usually don’t decorate for Halloween. I may put a Fall wreath on my front door, but that’s probably it.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m not much into the spooky part of Halloween. We do have a couple of creepy decorations, on the front door and front window but most everything else is friendly