15 fun and spooky Halloween crafts for kids

Don’t get us wrong—we love perusing (and buying out) Target’s and TJ Maxx’s Halloween decor selection as much as you. But, there’s something extra special and homey about decorating a family space with Halloween crafts made by your kids. If you have a little artist on your hands, you get it. Halloween crafts engage kids’ imagination and fine motor skills, and it’s a great social activity as well. Plus, you can often make crafts at little to no cost by repurposing discarded items (like empty toilet paper rolls) around the house!

From DIY Halloween costumes for kids and DIY yard furnishings, fall is the official kick-off of DIY decor season. And we’d hate for our little ghouls to miss out, so we searched and found Halloween crafts for kids of all ages. There’s Halloween crafts that involve edible slime, makeshift blood and potions, handprint cutouts and more. Get in on all the spooky fun below!

Halloween paper crafts

1. Spider web craft for toddlers 

@kidscraftbarn Reply to @paigeperry2 so much fun 🥰 #toddlercrafts #toddleractivities #halloweencrafts #artsandcraftsforkids #toddlermom #halloween ♬ she knows – favsoundds

With a little bit of imagination (and discard toilet paper rolls) you can help your toddler turn a normal cardboard into a spider web masterpiece. All you need is paint, a golf ball, scissors (for you), black construction paper and an empty cardboard or shoe box. You’ll have easy and festive Halloween paper crafts that can double as decor in no time at all!

2. Halloween coloring pages

If your child loves coloring then these Halloween coloring pages are just what you need. Download and print these free coloring pages and once your child is done coloring you can hang them up together. Check out our list of spooky and fun Halloween coloring pages.

3. Halloween handprint wreath craft

@kidscraftbarn Reply to @joscelyn_10_art 🎃 58 days until Halloween! #halloweencraft #diyhalloweendecor #craftsforkids #halloweendiy #learnontiktok #halloweenwreath ♬ Mountain King – Halloween Sound Effects

Skip the store bought wreath this year and have your kiddo make a Halloween wreath out of orange and black paper handprints. Plus, you can reimagine this craft idea come Thanksgiving and Christmas, too! Holiday wreath photos coming up.

4. Mess-free mummy craft for toddlers

@jess_grant 👻 Simple and mess-free halloween craft for toddlers and kids! #preschoolactivities #learnontiktok #tiktokpartner #toddleractivity #halloweencrafts ♬ TRICK OR TREAT – ALP Music

This mess-free Halloween craft takes less than two minutes to set up and utilizes your toddler’s fine motor skills making it Montessori-friendly.

5. Coffee filter bat craft

@emerald_outlaw Coffee filter activities are some of our favs!🦇 #halloweencrafts #kidscrafts #kidscraftideas #halloweendiys #spookyseason ♬ Halloween ・ cute horror song – PeriTune

This fun and artsy Halloween craft doubles as spooky hanging decor as well! It is one of the more messier crafts on this list so make sure your workstation is covered. 

6. Candy corn footprint craft

@jess_grant Another Halloween footprint craft! Reply to @lioandross 🧡💛🤍#TikTokpartner #LearnOnTikTok #toddleractivity #halloweencrafts #babiesoftiktok ♬ Youth (Instrumental) – BLVKSHP

Whether your little one is in preschool, kindergarten or elementary school, they’ll get a kick out of painting their feet to look like candy corn. 

7. Spooky skeleton Q-Tip craft

@adorethemparenting Easy Halloween activity for kids 💀 #halloween #halloweencraft #toddlercrafts #kidcrafts #spookyscaryskeletons ♬ Spooky, Scary Skeletons – Andrew Gold

Is it really Halloween without a spooky, scary skeleton that sends shivers down your spine? All you need is black or orange construction paper, glue and Q-tips for this easy craft.

8. TP roll Halloween characters craft

@miunimiau TP ROLL CRAFT see IG for more @miunimiau #tprollcraft #craftsforkids #halloweencraftsforkids #halloweenforkids #reuse #recycle ♬ Halloween / Mysterious / Vampire / Witch(322056) – 相葉まこと

This TikTok demonstrates how to turn empty toilet paper rolls into your favorite Halloween characters like ghosts, pumpkins, spiders and Frankenstein.

Kids Halloween crafts

9. Edible orange slime craft

@gracemarywilliams Edible slime or fondant?🤨✨ #edibleslime #edibleslimerecipe #spooktember #spookyseason #halloweendesserts #halloweencrafts #slime #asmr #viralvideo ♬ original sound – gracemarywilliams

What kid doesn’t want to make ooey gooey orange slime…and then eat it, too? Beware: sugar rush sure to follow!

10. DIY bloody handprints craft

@kaylalarissax3 Here’s a diy I haven’t seen on here yet. #TakeTheDayOffChallenge #BenefitOfBrows #Halloweendiy #kidcrafts #spookyseason #halloweendecor #halloweenishere ♬ Teddy Bears Picnic – Henry Hall

Give your home a haunted house makeover with this DIY bloody handprints arts and craft. The TikToker recommends using red acrylic paint in addition to red food coloring for an extra bloody hue, and while the mixture won’t stain glass windows, be careful as it could stain wood and metal surfaces.

Related: 10 Montessori-inspired ways to promote your child’s fine motor skills through art

11. DIY potion bottles craft

@practicalpixiee DIY Potion Bottles🔮🧪 #diypotion #potionbottle #halloween #halloweencrafts #kidscrafts #spookyseason #spookycrafts #elixir #magick #fall ♬ Halloween – K33f

This is definitely a DIY craft for kids ages 8+. Out of precaution, opt for plastic bottles instead of glass. 

12. Puff paint spider web glasses

You can use mason jars, glass tumblers or even plastic cups to craft the ultimate spider web glasses. Just use your puff paint to design spider webs or any other festive shapes.

13. Ghostly string lights DIY

Sprinkle a little Halloween magic on your white lantern string lights. You can use a sharpie to draw a ghostly face—three opaque black circles—or, if you don’t want your child to run off with said sharpie then, encourage them to stick on the google eyes and you can finish off the mouth.

14. Pumpkin stress balls

Draw a spooky or silly face on your orange balloon and then fill it up with rice. Use a funnel to make things easier.

15. Monster rocks

Rock painting is fun on a normal day but when you add a dash of Halloween vibes, it makes it all the more fun.

Supplies for your DIY Halloween crafts

Puff Paint

$29.99

This set includes a bunch of fun colors, including some glow-in-the-dark paints that would be perfect for any Halloween crafts!

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Mini Lantern Lights

$22.94

Create your homemade ghosts with these awesome string lights. Use them as indoor or outdoor decor for your Halloween festivities. If you’ve got a lot going on (hey, it’s still back-to-school season!) add these adorable Jack Skellington-esque string lights to your cart.

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Giant Coloring Poster/Tablecloth-Halloween Crafts

$9.99

Let your child go to town with their coloring with this awesome tablecloth that doubles as a coloring poster.

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Googly Wiggle Eyes

$10.99

Use them on your pumpkins, ghost lanterns, mugs or pretty much anywhere and everything to add a touch of spooky and silly vibes.

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Orange Balloons

$11.89

Welcome fall and all things Halloween with these orange balloons. Use them as autumn decor or, get creative with a DIY stress ball.

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43 Pcs Rock Painting Kit

$18.98

Ok, I hear ya: You don’t really need to buy rocks. Go on a nature walk with your kid and search high and low for flat rocks that make it easy to paint on. BUT, the great thing about this kit (the thing that makes it totally worth it IMO) is that it comes with glow paint, sticky gems and stickers! You’re getting a whole lot more than your average kit.

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A version of this story was published July 19, 2022. It has been updated.