Prices on Halloween decor can get pretty horrifying. If you don't want to be the only house that isn't haunted on your block, here are 13 DIY decorations to help you keep it classy this October 31.
1. Make ghosts out of trash bags
This may sound like the opposite of class — but these little plastic bag phantoms are actually really cute. Buy white trash bags. Create a head by stuffing newspaper inside the bag and tying it off with a twist-tie or some string. Cut off the bottom of the bag (the part with the handle). Draw a face for the ghost — make some happy faces, make some scary faces. Hang them up in your trees outside using some string, and pretty soon you'll have an entire forest full of Casper and his friends.
2. Make mummy mason jars
Mod podge medical gauze in overlapping layers onto a mason jar and add googly eyes. Stick a candle inside and put the mummies on your porch for an alternative to jack-o-lanterns.
3. Paint your own Halloween sign
Find a fun Halloween saying, like this one or this one. Get some wood and paint it all over with one color, such as black, orange or purple. Then use letter stencils to paint the saying onto your sign. You can also use stickers and Mod Podge to write out the saying.
4. Create a floating illusion
Nothing is creepier than an object floating in midair. Buy a few cheap witches' hats and hang them from the ceiling with fishing wire.
5. Buy some cheap trick-or-treating pumpkins
You know the ones. Hang them on hooks in your front yard for a cute and creepy look.
6. Make some potion jars for your inner witch
Save some old vitamin containers and spice tins. Use a hot glue gun to write descriptions on the front. Once the glue has dried, paint the jar with chalkboard paint for a creepy look.
7. Put a Victor Frankenstein on your front door
Make a monster face using tape and construction paper.
8. Save your old milk jugs...
... and use a sharpie and a string of lights to turn them into jack-o-lanterns.
9. Turn your wall into a batcave
Make bats out of black paper. Tape them to your wall or hang them from the ceiling as if they're mid-flight.
10. String together candy corn on fishing wire
Then drape it around your house like a garland.
11. Stuff a scarecrow to keep watch over your front porch
Buy a pair of jeans and a plaid shirt from the thrift store. Stuff the clothes with newspaper. You can leave it headless or use a doll's head or a mask as a head. You can even give it shoes if you want. We had a particularly fun time with this craft in one apartment complex I lived in during college. Everyone would hide the scarecrow to surprise friends and roommates. One of the most memorable spots: the dryer.
12. Go to the mystical land of Oz
Use pool noodles, striped tights, and black shoes to make legs. Stick the legs against your house and you have the Wicked Witch of the East, post-Dorothy.
13. Bedazzle your pumpkin instead of carving it
You can use paint, lace, glitter and rhinestones to make a cute centerpiece for your table.
This list of 13 DIY Halloween decorations will keep your crypt appropriately costumed for the holidays — in a creepy, classy way!