Crafting has never been this spine-tingling. These 17 DIY spooky crafts mix eerie details, haunting colors, and playful scares that wow both kids and adults. The kind of projects that make your Halloween unforgettable.
17 DIY Spooky Crafts That Channel Dark Cottagecore Vibes in 2025
Forget store-bought décor—Halloween is the perfect excuse to let your imagination run wild with chilling, creative DIY crafts. Picture ghostly lanterns glowing from painted mason jars, skeletal hands clawing their way out of flower pots, and eerie potion bottles that look like they came straight from a witch’s shelf. Imagine fluttering paper bats swooping across your walls, spider webs spun from black yarn stretching across doorways, or creepy candle holders dripping with faux blood. With a mix of Dollar Store finds, hot glue magic, and a pinch of spooky flair, you can conjure decorations that will send shivers down spines and wow every guest.
These 17 DIY Spooky Craft Ideas are equal parts creepy and fun—perfect for trick-or-treat nights, haunted house parties, or just turning your home into a fright-filled masterpiece. From eerie little accents to jaw-dropping centerpieces, each project proves that handmade horror is always the most unforgettable kind.
1. Monster Block Buddies
Say hello to the cutest little squad of spooky sidekicks you’ll ever meet. Frankenstein, Dracula, a cheeky jack-o’-lantern, and even a sneaky black cat — all lined up like a Halloween parade but in tiny wooden cube form. They’re colorful, whimsical, and just begging to be stacked on your mantle, shelf, or Halloween party table. Imagine guests picking their favorite “character” and immediately grinning.
To make your own, grab 2×2” unfinished wooden blocks (hello, craft store staple), and coat each one in bold acrylics: neon green for Frankie, bright orange for Jack, pitch black for the kitty. Once dry, paint faces using a fine detail brush or black paint pen — add stitches, fangs, or glowing eyes.
2. Ghost + Pumpkin Clay Cutie
This little clay ghost looks like it just waltzed out of a cozy Halloween bedtime story. With its round rosy cheeks, tiny smile, and a pumpkin buddy tucked in its arms, it’s giving wholesome Halloween vibes only. It’s the perfect desk buddy, shelf sitter, or mini gift for your pumpkin-obsessed BFF. (Because who doesn’t want a ghost friend that doubles as décor?)
To recreate: grab air-dry clay and sculpt a little draped ghost form with flared “arms.” Roll tiny orange balls, shape ridges with a toothpick, and add a little brown stem for pumpkins. You’ll end up with a Halloween trinket that feels Etsy-worthy.
3. Apple Stamp Pumpkins
Let’s be real — stamping pumpkins out of apples is straight-up genius. It’s messy, it’s fun, and it’s basically the easiest way to keep kids entertained while secretly creating your own DIY Halloween art stash. The end result? Dozens of quirky little jack-o’-lantern prints, each with a personality of its own (silly, scary, happy, or confused).
Slice an apple in half (flat side = stamp), dip in orange paint, and press onto cardstock or canvas. Once dry, add green stems with a paintbrush, then doodle spooky faces with a black marker. Cut them out to make garlands, party invitations, or table scatter.
4. Spooky Treat Pouches
Halloween treats, but make them ✨fancy✨. These little shaker-style pouches are like mini treasure boxes stuffed with sequins, spiders, and sparkle. They’re cute enough to hand out at a classroom party and stylish enough to double as chic party favors for adults. Basically: trick-or-treating just got a glow-up.
Here’s the scoop: use clear treat bags (or acetate sheets folded into envelopes), fill them with sequins, tiny Halloween confetti, or even glow-in-the-dark stars. Seal edges with festive cardstock borders — scalloped scissors or a die-cut machine makes it extra glam.
5. DIY Spooky Stencils
Flat paper suddenly looking boring? Not anymore! These DIY stencils are like the cheat code to endless Halloween magic. Bats flying across your windows, creepy spiders dangling from the ceiling, jack-o’-lantern faces galore — and you made it all with just scissors and paper. Talk about max impact for zero dollars.
Print free clipart or hand-draw silhouettes onto thick paper or cardstock. Carefully cut out with a craft knife or scissors. Tape them to your windows for haunting shadows, trace them onto kraft paper for a DIY table runner, or paint through them to create spooktacular fabric designs.
6. Creepy-Cool Wall Art
Imagine walking into a room and seeing giant spiders dangling over pumpkin heads on kraft paper — instant goosebumps! This oversized wall hanging looks like you hired a pro Halloween decorator, but it’s literally just paper, glue, and a little creative energy. It’s the perfect “wow” backdrop for your Halloween party pics.
Take your cut stencils (spiders, branches, pumpkins) from step 5, trace onto black cardstock, and glue them onto a big sheet of kraft paper. Hang it with washi tape, string lights around the edges, and suddenly your dining room is giving haunted-mansion vibes.
7. Haunted Table Setting
This table is Halloween at its absolute finest: moody black plates, glowing candles in every size, jack-o’-lanterns perched on trays, and a teeny skeleton holding court. It’s gothic, dramatic, and oh-so-sophisticated — like a Tim Burton dinner party in real life.
Here’s the plan: start with a black tablecloth as your backdrop. Add black chargers or plates, then scatter mini pumpkins and confetti bats across the surface. Cluster candles in orange, red, and black at different heights (unscented = dinner-friendly).
8. Pastel Ghosties
Not into creepy-crawly vibes? Enter cottagecore Halloween! These pastel floral ghosts look like they belong in a cozy countryside cottage rather than a haunted mansion — and honestly, it’s the aesthetic refresh Halloween didn’t know it needed. Think: soft florals, dreamy fabrics, and ghosts that say “boo,” but in a friendly whisper.
Make them by draping floral fabric scraps over jars, styrofoam balls, or small vases. Secure with glue or pins, then cut black felt circles for eyes and stick them on. Display a whole trio in different patterns for maximum charm. It’s giving Halloween meets Anthropologie.
9. Vintage Black Cat Garland
This garland is pure retro gold. Those wide-eyed, bow-tied black cats look like they came straight out of a vintage Halloween postcard — playful, a little creepy, and dripping in nostalgia. Hang them above your mantle, across a mirror, or even on a staircase for instant moody charm. Perfect for cozy nights with cider and pumpkin cookies.
Print or sketch vintage cat faces onto cardstock, color with bold markers (red mouths, green eyes, orange accents), and cut them out. Punch holes and string onto twine. Add bows or glitter for extra flair. The vibe is less “scary Halloween” and more “witchy carnival fun.”
10. Glowing Ghost Porch
Your house will officially become the Halloween stop on the block with this glowing ghost squad out front. These towering, draped figures light up like mystical guardians of the candy bowl. Kids will squeal, parents will snap pics, and you’ll feel like a Halloween décor legend.
DIY it by flipping tomato cages upside down (metal prongs = ghost head), draping with white sheets, and slipping string lights underneath. Add felt eyes for expression. For variety, make a few shorter ghosts using styrofoam heads on garden stakes.
11. Haunted Art Journal Spread
This is Halloween scrapbooking gone wild — think googly-eyed bats, glittery spiders, funky mushrooms, and a long-limbed monster lady reaching out of the page like a spooky fashion model. It’s chaotic, colorful, and has that “witch’s sketchbook” energy you can’t look away from. Basically: if Halloween and a mood board had a baby.
To DIY: crack open a spiral notebook and start layering. Cut out vintage maps, funky patterned papers, and creepy shapes (mushrooms, bats, skeletons). Add googly eyes to anything that moves (yes, even mushrooms), and go big with glitter, pipe cleaners, or neon markers.
12. Mini Haunted Dollhouse
Tiny haunted house, MASSIVE Halloween vibes. This dollhouse is decked out like a neon haunted mansion: skeletons dancing on the rooftop, Frankenstein chilling under polka-dot wallpaper, and even a “Hocus Pocus Café” downstairs for all your ghoulish lattes. Obsessed doesn’t even cover it.
DIY your own by grabbing a plain wooden dollhouse (craft store gold), then painting it black and lining the walls with funky scrapbook paper (polka dots, stripes, anything loud). Add Halloween cutouts — skeletons, pumpkins, and neon monsters — and hot glue them into scenes.
13. Mantel of the Moon
This mantel setup screams classic Halloween chic. You’ve got a giant winking moon face, pumpkin lanterns glowing bright, garlands draped in black and orange, and a sweet little ghost peeking from the floor. It’s playful, nostalgic, and so easy to recreate with a few well-placed staples.
Here’s how: start with black paper bats and stick them flying diagonally up the wall (instant drama). Add a string garland made of pom-poms and mini bats. Place jack-o’-lantern buckets or cutouts at each end of the mantel for balance, then top it off with a big statement piece — like a moon face.
14. Yarn Ghost Garland
The cutest little boo crew you ever saw. These yarn ghosts look like fluffy tassels with big round eyes — perfect for garlands, gift toppers, or even hanging from doorknobs. They’re soft, sweet, and totally kid-friendly to make. (Warning: you’ll want to make a whole army of them.)
Wrap white yarn around your hand 20–30 times, slip it off, and tie near the top to form the “head.” Snip the bottom loops into tassel-y strands. Add black felt or googly eyes with hot glue. Repeat until you have a handful, then string them together on twine for a garland. Boom — your house is suddenly ghost HQ.
15. Bubbling Witch’s Cauldron
Talk about show-stopper décor! This DIY witch’s cauldron looks like it’s actually bubbling over with a green potion — complete with a floating bottle pouring liquid into it. It’s spooky sorcery meets mad scientist vibes, and it will definitely be the star of your Halloween party.
DIY magic: use a large plastic cauldron (or make one from papier-mâché). Wrap it in black tape for texture, then stuff it with pillow stuffing or cotton to mimic foam. Hide a bowl of green-tinted water or LED lights inside for the bubbling look.
16. Creepy-Cute 3D Spiders
Spiders, but make them…adorable?! These chunky little critters — with bold colors, big eyes, and cheeky personalities — are way more “aww” than “ahh!” The purple pumpkin bucket makes the perfect spider den to store them, too. They’re perfect for Halloween table scatter, party favors, or hiding around your house for a jump-scare game.
Try air-dry clay or 3D printing for these little beasts. Shape fat round bodies and smaller heads, then attach eight stubby legs (you can roll clay or print segments). Paint in bold colors — black, red, blue, or even polka-dots — and give each one big, dramatic eyes. Seal with a glossy finish.
17. Ceramic Ghost Figurine
Okay, how sweet is this? A little ceramic ghost draped in floral patterns, clutching a smiling pumpkin. It’s giving grandmillennial Halloween, like if your grandma’s china cabinet decided to dress up for trick-or-treating. Whimsical, charming, and heirloom-worthy.
Make your own by painting a ceramic ghost blank with tiny floral motifs (use underglaze or acrylics, depending on your ceramic base). Add tiny details like a purple flower crown, blushed cheeks, or a glossy pumpkin.
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