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12 Not-Too-Spooky Halloween Movies for the Whole Family

Halloween is always a night of creative costumes, delicious candy and fun frights. Of course, kids love the opportunity to challenge their courage by entering haunted houses, swapping spine-chilling stories and watching scary movies . That’s a lot of spookiness for one day, though, and with the wrong film, they may be too frightened to fall asleep at bedtime. (And of course, getting them to bed in time for you to enjoy a proper horror film , like a Stephen King adaptation or classic vampire flick might be an important part of your grown-up Halloween experience!)

Fortunately, there are lots of wonderfully fun — and only slightly creepy — movies out there that kids will enjoy this year. From oldies like Hocus Pocus  to newer films like a stellar remake of The Witches , this list has plenty of options that’ll delight much more than they’ll scare. Check out 12 of the best kid-friendly Halloween flicks that make not-too-spooky treats for the entire family!

Goosebumps (2015)

The Goosebumps  book series by R.L. Stine has thrilled kids across the world since the 1990s. The series has been adapted for both TV and film, including a newer franchise for younger generations who aren’t familiar with these classics.

The 2015 flick, aptly titled Goosebumps , stars Jack Black as a fictionalized version of Stine alongside Dylan Minnette, who plays his teenage neighbor. The two team up to take down monsters from the Goosebumps  series that have managed to escape from the books and cause chaos in the real world. The film is frightening fun for kids, and there’s enough action to keep parents entertained — especially if they’re former fans of the series.

Hocus Pocus (1993)

A trio of 300-year-old witches (Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker) conjures up a little bit of hocus pocus in this Halloween classic. The 1993 film centers on what happens when the Sanderson sisters are accidentally brought back from the dead on All Hallow’s Eve.

Attempting to recapture their youth, the witches plan to steal the souls of the children of Salem, Massachusetts, so they can live for eternity. Three kids, a talking black cat and, eventually, a friendly zombie have to work together to stop the sinister sisters before it’s too late. Hocus Pocus  is certain to put a spell on you  this Halloween.  

Spirited Away (2001)

If you’re new to the world of Miyazaki , Spirited Away is a great place to start. This classic film from Studio Ghibli follows our protagonist Chihiro, just as she and her parents move to a new town. As they explore, they find what appears to be an abandoned theme park, but Chihiro quickly realizes that she has somehow crossed into the realm of spirits. Oh, and her parents have been turned into pigs. As she learns to navigate the spirit world, and ultimately free herself and her parents, she meets many memorable characters along the way.

The film won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film and became the top-grossing film in Japanese history. Don’t let the strange plot deter you. This film has won the hearts of many, and is a perfect addition to a Halloween lineup for the whole family.

Ghostbusters (1984)

These guys ain’t afraid of no ghosts, probably because the ghosts in this film aren’t too scary. This family-friendly comedy-horror was a smash at the box office in the 80s and has retained its appeal in the decades to follow. Sequels and remakes have attempted to capitalize on the success of the original, but have repeatedly fallen short.

Pop some popcorn and prepare to be entertained as a trio of paranormal exterminators face off against a gluttonous ghost, a pack of demonic dogs, and the iconic Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Monsters, Inc . is a fun comedy about — what else? — two monsters, Mike (Billy Crystal) and Sulley (John Goodman), who are the number-one scare team at the scream-processing factory in the town of Monstropolis. The film, released in 2001, follows their misadventures after a human girl named Boo makes her way into their world.

Together, the two have to figure out a way to get Boo home before anyone discovers this unimaginable mistake. Despite their best efforts, which include dressing Boo up as a baby monster, they run into plenty of roadblocks along the way. Kids will probably fall in love with the cuddly Sulley before they feel an ounce of fear during this film!

The Witches (2020)

The Witches  (2020) is a fantasy-comedy film based on Roald Dahl’s novel of the same name. This reimagining of the original 1990 film follows an orphaned boy who goes to live with his grandmother in Alabama. After coming across a witch, the boy and his grandmother flee to a hotel to escape her evil clutches. However, the world’s Grand High Witch happens to be staying there — along with disguised, diabolical witches from all over the world who are helping her turn children into mice.

This remake of The Witches  is an HBO Max  original starring Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer and Stanley Tucci — and it’s certainly a top choice for your family’s Halloween movie marathon.

Coraline (2009)

The 2009 animated film Coraline  is based on a dark fantasy novella of the same name. With Dakota Fanning voicing the titular character, the movie follows a young girl who discovers an alternate world that closely mirrors her own — but seemingly much happier. It’s complete with a parallel family that appears, at first sight, to be much better than the one she has.

However, when Coraline’s Other Mother (Teri Hatcher) and the rest of this parallel family try to keep her in their new world forever, she has to fight to make it back home. Kids are sure to find the stop-motion animation and colorful sets of Coraline  enchanting.

Beetlejuice (1988)

In the 1988 film, Beetlejuice , a couple dies in a car accident and finds themselves stuck in their former country home instead of a pleasant afterlife. When a new family moves in to the farmhouse, the dead couple tries to scare them away, but to no avail. They enlist the help of the troublemaking poltergeist Beetlejuice, who turns out to be a hazard to everyone involved.

The classic film has an all-star cast that includes Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin and Winona Ryder. Directed by Tim Burton, the movie offers a comedic twist on a supernatural tale that families will enjoy. Just don’t be surprised if the film’s soundtrack sparks an impromptu dance party.

Halloweentown (1998)

Starring Kimberly J. Brown and the late, great Debbie Reynolds, Halloweentown  is a Disney Channel original movie that premiered in 1998. Today, it’s revered as a classic Halloween film among the now-adults who grew up watching it every year decades ago.

On her 13th birthday, Marnie Cromwell discovers that she’s a witch, as is everyone else in her family. She and her younger siblings sneak off to Halloweentown, where her grandmother lives, to learn more about their family’s history and so Marnie can begin her witch training before it’s too late. The visit goes awry when they discover that an evil force is attempting to take over the town — but with a little magic, Marnie and her siblings can save the day.

The Addams Family (2019)

There have been several reimaginings of the original Addams Family  over the years — did you know the first cartoons were created in 1938? — but this animated film from 2019 is an especially fun version for kids. In the movie, Gomez, Morticia and the rest of the Addams clan prepare to welcome relatives for a visit. But when a TV personality attempts to get rid of them, the family has to prove that their creepy and kooky ways are no threat to their idyllic neighborhood.

The Addams Family  features the voiceover talents of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Alison Janney, Chloë Grace Moretz and others. If your family can’t get enough of this endearingly macabre group, you’ll be happy to know a sequel was just released — and it’s available to rent on streaming .

Labyrinth (1986)

It’s time to pass this cornerstone of Halloween weirdness to a new generation! The 1986 film Labyrinth  is a cult classic for so many reasons, from its fantastical setting to its magical plot to the fact that it stars the one and only David Bowie — and includes danceworthy original songs from the Starman himself.

The story follows teenager Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) as she travels through an otherworldly maze, solving riddles to rescue her baby brother from Bowie’s Jareth the Goblin King. Most of the film’s main characters are played by puppets from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, which is sure to delight kids (and deliver you an enjoyable dose of nostalgia).

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

You can’t have a kid-approved Halloween movie fest without watching 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas . The story follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, who’s grown bored with the same old scare routine of Halloween each year. When he stumbles upon a door to Christmas Town, he decides to put his own twist on the holiday, causing complete havoc in the process.

The spooky-but-fun Tim Burton film stars Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara and Ken Page. What’s even better about this classic is that it doubles as a Halloween and  Christmas movie — and there’s no better time of year to get into the holiday spirit!

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25 of the creepiest haunted house ideas for Halloween

Want to create an eerie experience to give your friends and family goosebumps? Make this Halloween the spookiest yet with these spine-chilling haunted house ideas

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Transform your home this Halloween and turn it into the haunted house of your dreams (or should that be nightmares?).

If you’ve decided to go all-out for Halloween this year, creating your own haunted house can be an enchanting adventure for the whole family to get involved in.

Fill the house with cobwebs, make pumpkin displays or board up your windows to set the tone for a month of ghoulishly good fun.

Whether your goal is to frighten trick-or-treaters or set the scene for a playful Halloween party, we’ve got lots of DIY haunted house ideas to inspire you.

Now all you need is a good thunderstorm to create the right atmosphere!

25 Halloween haunted house ideas

1. bloodstained candle holders.

What haunted house is complete without a bit of gore? These bloody candle holders and vases from Brit+Co are an easy way to bring horror into your home.

All you need is red paint, red spray paint, bandages and a few jars and vases to decorate.

2. Floating candles

Bewitch Harry Potter fans with these enchanting floating candles by The SITS Girls.

We’ve always loved the levitating candles in the Great Hall at Hogwarts and recreating that iconic effect is simpler than you might think.

The candles are made from cardboard tubes with glue dribbled down the sides so they look as though they’re melting. They’re painted white and an LED candle is added to make them glow.

Finally, they’re suspended from the ceiling using fine fishing wire so they look as though they’re hovering by themselves.

Short of time? Luckily there are ready-made Harry Potter floating candles available online.

3. Specimen jars

These freakish specimen jars are the perfect Halloween prop! They take minutes to make and all you need is a jar, food colouring and a scary specimen to display inside (plastic toys are ideal for this).

Find out how to make your own Halloween specimen jars with Dave Lowe Design.

4. Cheesecloth ghosts

Every haunted house needs a few spectres! Cheesecloth ghosts have become increasingly popular in the last few years and it’s easy to see why: they’re cheap, quick to make and look truly spooktacular.

While there are more frightening tutorials out there, we can’t get enough of these little cheesecloth ghosts from firstdayofhome.com. They’re adorable!

Why not make a whole family of them to haunt your home?

5. Bat-filled hallway

Don’t overlook your hallways when planning your haunted house, eerie corridors can really complete the experience.

This atmospheric hallway decorated by canadianhometrends.com shows what you can achieve with sprawling spider webs, suspended bats and some clever lighting.

6. Skeleton scenes

Invest in a few skeletons this Halloween and use them to add a fun element to your haunted house.

A Beautiful Mess has come up with five ways to decorate with skeletons , but you can make any scene you choose once you have a few in the house!

If you have kids, you can prank them by moving around the skeletons to make them do different chores around the home. Remember to keep it lighthearted and mischievous so you don’t give them nightmares.

7. Skull string art

If you want to bring handmade style into your decorations, this DIY skull string art project will add a contemporary creepy vibe to any room.

Learn how to make your own skull string art with A Beautiful Mess.

8. Dead bodies

Dead body props are really cheap to make, as you probably already have all the materials you need in your home.

Just be careful not to make them too realistic or your neighbours will call the cops!

Discover how to make bagged dead body props with The Navage Patch.

9. Glitter skulls

Add some bling to any room this October by crafting your own sparkling glitter skulls. Martha Stewart has created a brilliant glitter skull DIY project to help you make your own.

10. Halloween wreath

Wreaths are traditionally associated with Christmas, but they make fabulous Halloween decorations too.

There are so many different styles to experiment with, from black feather wreaths to spider web wreaths made using twine.

Investigate Gathered’s Halloween wreath ideas to find one you’ll love.

Make ghoulish DIY Halloween decorations

11. paper mache arms.

These dismembered hands are reaching out from beyond the grave! They’re made using good old-fashioned paper mache, but they look surprisingly realistic when attached to your wall.

Create your own paper mache arms with Martha Stewart’s easy tutorial.

12. Bat mantel

Haunted house decorations don’t have to be complicated – sometimes the simplest ideas are the most effective.

Ella Claire & Co has created a free printable bat template to allow you to make this show-stopping Halloween mantel look.

13. Illuminated haunted house

Make a haunted house within a haunted house with this DIY decoration from The Crafty Gentleman’s blog.

It’s made of black card that’s been cut out and attached to a block of wood, then illuminated using tealights.

We recommend using LED candles for this project so you don’t burn your house down.

14. Bloody handprint window clings

Give visitors the impression that they’ll never escape your house of horrors by sticking bloody handprints on your windows.

If you’ve never made window clings before then you’re in for a treat! You can whip them up in no time using glue, food colouring and a few common household supplies.

Get the look with Felt Magnet’s bloody handprint window clings tutorial .

15. Ghost face picture frames

Craft a gallery of haunting faces with this cursed DIY ghost picture frame tutorial from Ehow.

Take down your usual family portraits for the season and replace them with an assortment of ghostly pictures. They’re shaped using doll heads, so you can make them in a variety of shapes and sizes.

16. DIY ghost lights

Got some Christmas lights in the attic? Dig them out and turn them into these cute DIY ghost lights from Say Yes.

They’re a great way to brighten up a gloomy room this spooky season!

17. Boarded-up windows

Create an air of neglect and decay by boarding up the windows so it looks like an abandoned house.

You’ll need some woodworking skills to make this Halloween boarded-up windows project from Noting Grace.

If you’re looking for an easier option, you can paint strips of cardboard to look like wooden planks and stick them across your windows instead.

18. Mason jar luminaries

Give your haunted house a gothic feel with these lacy mason jar luminaries from justagirlandherblog.com.

These wouldn’t look out of place in an Addams Family-themed haunted house. They’re giving us a definite Wednesday vibe!

They’ll look spectacular when the sun starts to set and the light shines through the intricate lace patterns.

Make sure to check out the best Halloween door decorations to finish off the look!

19. Ghost mirror

Fill your home with phantoms and make a host of uncanny ghost mirrors with this tutorial from nobiggie.net.

You can use old pictures or newspaper photos to make your ghost mirrors, but we love the fact that they’ve chosen beloved author Jane Austen for theirs! Why not copy them and make ghost mirrors with a literary theme?

20. Pet ghost

Adopt a little spook this Halloween using this spellbinding pet ghost tutorial from Relatable Kate. It comes complete with its own mossy graveyard scene!

This would be the sweetest decoration for your home or it would make a charming homemade gift for anyone you know who has a Halloween birthday.

21. Black and white Halloween mantel

If you have a fireplace in your home, you can give it a spectral makeover for Halloween using this black and white Halloween mantel idea from notjustahousewife.net.

You can style your mantel using a few simple props and make your own terrifying portraits to hang above it.

22. Climbing skeletons

Cover your house with invading climbing skeletons! Skeletons aren’t just for indoor scenes, they can be used to make a dramatic display outside your haunted house too.

Find out everything you need to know with these climbing Halloween skeleton tips from Instructables.

23. Crystal ball candlesticks

Cast a spell to predict ominous images of the future with these crystal ball candlesticks from flamingtoes.com. They’ll make your haunted house feel like a witch’s lair!

These magical decorations can be filled with your choice of menacing pictures – the stranger the better.

24. Black light Halloween decorations

Illuminate your haunted house with glow in the dark decorations! To get the sinister black light effect you’ll need to invest in a UV bar, but it’s worth it to be able to get this theatrical effect.

Head over to entertainingdiva.com to learn how to make glow in the dark Halloween decorations .

25. DIY Halloween mummy

Reenact the classic 90s movie The Mummy with your own DIY creation.

Wicked Makers used a willing volunteer to make the head of their mummy, but if the thought of being wrapped in tape makes you feel claustrophobic then you could use a mannequin instead.

While this isn’t the quickest project on our list, the finished mummy looks very impressive! It’ll take your haunted house to the next level.

Try our haunted house ideas to make this Halloween the scariest yet

Embrace Halloween by transforming your house or apartment into a horrifying haunted house this Halloween.

You can go all-out and make your home into a bloodcurdling spectacle worthy of a horror movie, or go for a cuter style that’s family-friendly.

Exploring our Halloween haunted house ideas will help you raise your decor game this October.

Dress up your yard with chilling outdoor Halloween decorations

Make a frightening first impression by filling your yard with gravestones, giant spider webs or haunting scenes.

Discover the best DIY outdoor Halloween decorations with Gathered.

Sarah Orme is a UK-based linocut printmaker, digital editor, feature writer and award-winning podcaster. She's been editing the sewing and art sections of Gathered.how – and before that our sister website calmmoment.com – for over 3 years. She’s the host of Gathered’s We’ve Made It podcast and A Calmer Life podcast. She’s a keen crafter and artist and loves creating DIY tutorials for Gathered. Sarah has previously written features for The Guardian, In The Moment Magazine, Project Calm Magazine, countryfile.com, radiotimes.com and yourhomestyle.uk. She enjoys designing her own unique lino prints and dreams of opening her own online shop. She shares her work @sarahormeprints

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20+ Awesome Haunted House Crafts for Kids

INSIDE: Here is another Halloween roundup for you! Awesome Haunted House crafts for kids! Make yur own haunted house in tons of different and creative ways. You can make them as spooky or as friendly as your child would like!

Haunted House Crafts

I simply can’t believe Halloween is almost here again! It feels like the school year is just flying by. I love this time of year for doing crafts and activities. There are so many fun options like ghosts , witches , pumpkins and spiders to name a few! And now we can add Haunted House crafts to the mix!

There are so many fun ideas to choose from in this list from turning a wooden bird house into a spooky abode for ghosts or turning a simple paper bag into a residence for ghouls!  Such fun crafts for kids of all ages!

STEAM Activity Book

Looking for a fun activity book for your preschooler this summer? Check out my new book  Super STEAM Activity Book: Launch Learning with Fun Mazes, Dot-to-Dots, Search-the-Page Puzzles, and More!  ! Click  here  to learn more or order it  now !

Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids . Or grab your copy at Amazon .

Ok, are you ready see all the cool ideas? Let’s get started!

Haunted House Crafts for Kids

• The Best Cardboard Box Haunted House
• Paper Bag Haunted House Craft – The Crafting Chicks
• Shape Haunted House Craft
• Haunted House Halloween Kids Craft – A Little Pinch of Perfect
• Popsicle Stick Haunted House Craft – The Best Ideas for Kids
• Make Halloween Haunted Houses Out of Toilet Paper Rolls – Woo! Jr.
• Milk Carton Haunted House Craft – Happy Hooligans
• Haunted House Handprint Craft for Kids – Mom Brite
• Haunted House Luminary for Kids – Easy Crafts for Kids
• Paper Plate Haunted House – Kid Craft – Glued to My Craft Blog
• Oil Pastel Haunted House Craft For Kids – Simple Everyday Mom
• Water Bottle Haunted House Craft – Our Kid Things
• Halloween Craft: Shoebox Haunted House – Scribble Press
• Paper Plate Haunted Pumpkin House – Glued to My Craft Blog
• Haunted House Craft – I Heart Crafty Things
• Cardboard Tube Haunted House – The Pinterested Parent
• Halloween Paper Craft in 3D – Little Bin for Little Hands
• Interactive Paper Haunted House Craft – Our Kid Things
• Haunted House Cut Out Craft – Sugar, Spice and Glitter
• Haunted House and Ghost Paper Weaving – Pink Stripey Socks
• Halloween Craft: Super Cute and Spooky Mini Haunted House – Kids Activities Blog
• Magnetic Tile Haunted House – Connetix Tiles

View this post on Instagram A post shared by CONNETIX® (@connetix_tiles)

Age Suitability

This activity is good for kids 3 years and up. My kids are 3.5, 3.5, and 7 year old.

Looking for more Halloween Activities? Check out these fun ideas:

• 50+ Halloween Activities for Kids
• 40+ Halloween Sensory Bins
• 20+ Halloween Sticky Walls
• 30 Adorable Pumpkin Activities & Crafts
• 25+ Pumpkin Painting Ideas for Kids
• 31 Adorable Toddler Halloween Costumes
• 19 Halloween Sticker Activities
• 20 Cool Ghost Activities & Crafts
• 20 Witch Crafts & Activities for Kids

WILL YOU TRY ANY OF THESE AWESOME HAUNTED HOUSE CRAFTS WITH YOUR KIDS THIS HALLOWEEN? PIN IT FOR LATER!

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25 Haunted House Ideas That Are Insanely Scary and Easy to DIY

These indoor and outdoor decorations are creative ways to gives kids and adults a scare.

These eerie ideas are ones your neighbors will appreciate — especially if they're lovers of the boogeyman's holiday. We've rounded up these mysterious, frightening and silly spine-chilling decorations and home decor crafts to make your haunted house the spookiest one on the block — and maybe even in the whole community. Think easy-to-make (or buy) skull lanterns, ghostly figures with pumpkin heads, eyeball balloons that float down the halls, and rotting fruit and candy urns full of delicious yet blood-inspired drinks.

And if you want even more ideas for October 31, watch one of these popular Halloween movies or wear one of these family, group, couples or Disney-inspired costumes.

Hanging Paper Lanterns

DIY these paper lanterns to hang on the ceiling as trick-or-treaters enter the house. Use LED bulbs to keep everything from overheating.

Get the tutorial »

Tissue Ghosts

Create mini ghosts using paper honeycombs. DIY the faces with a black Sharpie and place your mini creatures on the floor throughout the space.

SHOP HONEYCOMB BALLS

Batty Staircase

As guests walk past the staircase or climb up the stairs, have them admire the paper bats scattered throughout the banister.

'Hey Boo' Punny Sign

Create your own wooden sign with your favorite Halloween pun. You'll need a wood plank background and wood letters to complete the look.

SHOP WOOD LETTERS

Get the tutorial at Club Crafted »

Pom-Pom Spiders

It's common for people to find spiders scary, so why not make your own that float and tickle your visitors?

SHOP BALLOONS

Get the tutorial at Design Imrpovised »

Creepy Crawler Candles

Scoop the contents out of your mini pumpkins to add tealights inside. Use pipe cleaners as bug legs before sprinkling the spider-like creations around the house.

SHOP PIPE CLEANERS

Ghostly Figure

After carving your jack-o'-lantern, attach it to the top of a dressmaker's dummy. Place your specter at the entrance to give everyone a fright before they walk through the rest of the blood-curling decorations that await them further inside.

SHOP DRESSMAKER DUMMY

Add a bunch of treats to individual bags, then wrap them up and place them in candy urns for trick-or-treaters to grab on the way to your haunted house or when they leave.

'Keep Out' Entryway

There's something about a red door and a sign that reads, "Keep Out," that makes people want to enter. Cover the door with cobwebs and secure them with masking tape . Paint words of warning on two slats of cardboard before taping them to the door.

Witch Broom Door Decorations

Gather "witch" brooms to adorn your front door, then place a Ouija board doormat at the entrance to increase the spooky factor.

SHOP BROOMS

Spooky Cauldron

Prepare kid-friendly party punch even adults will enjoy. Pour it into a cauldron and dress the sides with paper flames. To get a smokey effect, throw in some dry ice.

SHOP CAULDRONS

Paper Bat Garland

After downloading this bat stencil and tracing the shapes, cut them out and place them atop each critter made. Use a bone folder to create creases along the stencil's dotted lines. Make the wings 3D by folding the creases opposite ways before attaching the bats to a long string using tiny black clothespins .

Creepy Dinner

Have your friends DIY their own creepy costumes and place them as one of the main attractions for the night. They'll drink from bubbly witch cauldrons and eat delectable yet bloody-themed pastries.

Eyeball Balloons

This is a cute yet equally as weird Halloween decor idea that'll make a great addition to your house or next All Hallows' Eve party.

Jack O' Lantern Display

You don't have to be an expert in pumpkin carving to DIY this display. Pencil your letters onto hollowed pumpkins, then use a drill to create holes that form each letter. Christmas-tree lights will illuminate each pumpkin.

SHOP CHRISTMAS-TREE LIGHTS

Skeletons are essential when it comes to this holiday. Place them out front, in the backyard and inside to give everyone who walks through a ribtastic time (get it?).

SHOP SKELETONS

While you can have full skeletons featured throughout the space, include some skulls in different areas as well. If you want to give them a more gruesome look, paint them in red or black for an eerie twist.

SHOP SKULLS

Monster Entryway

Make the eyes of this funny-faced monster by painting black circles on two 8-inch foam half balls . Use black construction paper for the eyelashes and eyebrows, then cut two 16-inch squares of faux fur and hot-glue each around a 12-inch foam wreath . Glue the eyeballs in the center and frame the door with strips of fur using tacks of hem tape . Hang the eyes and tack or hem the eyebrows in place. Foam cones can be used for the teeth.

Portrait Luminaries

Grab all of those old family portraits or get fake ones to adhere to old paper bag lanterns. Use them to decorate your front walkway to leave shivers down everyone's spines as they enter.

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built »

DIY Tombstone

Instead of putting your warning on the front door, frighten them with an array of tombstones scattered throughout the lawn.

SHOP TOMBSTONES

Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping , where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine . She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions , in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community , a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work. 

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Fun Haunted House Crafts for Halloween

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Before you know it, October will be here. That means it’s time for pumpkins, candy, pumpkin spice, and haunted houses. But maybe your kids aren’t ready for the real haunted house yet. Don’t fret—these haunted house crafts are just as fun! Kids will have a blast making and playing with these haunted house crafts, and they make for wonderfully spooky party decor.

Making haunted house crafts encourages kids to use a variety of different art mediums in their projects. With some of the haunted houses, they’ll even learn a bit about building. STEM and art in a single activity? That’s a winner!

Paper Haunted House Crafts for Kids

Interactive Printable Haunted House from Artsy Momma : If you’re looking for an easy, engaging haunted house craft, we have one right here! We’ve provided a printable template for our interactive haunted house with lift-the-flap windows featuring some not-so-spooky characters inside. Our haunted house is made with simple shapes, so they’re easy for little hands to cut. Kids can either color in the pieces, or you can print the template on colored paper to make things even simpler.

Haunted House and Ghost Paper Weaving from Pink Stripey Socks : Work a little weaving into your Halloween festivities. This super simple paper weaving project is perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners. Cut slits into the black paper house, and simply weave the ghosts into the slits. This craft can be done in just a few minutes, which is great when kids are wiggly from all that candy!

Haunted House with Movable Ghost from Our Kid Things : For this craft, you’ll draw your own haunted house using a Sharpie on colored cardstock. It’s easier than it sounds—wonky lines are okay, and symmetry doesn’t matter when it comes to a haunted house. Once your house is done with the two layers of cardstock, you’ll make a craft stick ghost to slide back and forth and up and down inside the house. Make that ghost boo-gie! Get it?

3D Spooky Paper Haunted House from Hello Wonderful : Learn how to fold paper into a haunted house shape, and then embellish it with the printable accessories, which include spooky doors, windows, and more.

Spooky Circuits Haunted House from Science Sparks : This haunted house is made with cardboard on a wooden frame. Colored cellophane covers the windows to give it a beautiful glowy look once the light is on. Set up your simple circuit with a switch, and your light-up haunted house is ready to go. Put it in the windowsill as a spooky display for the season.

Spook-tacular Haunted House Craft Ideas

Popsicle Stick Haunted House from The Best Ideas for Kids: What a terrific craft for a Halloween party for the kids! You can either let the kids assemble the houses themselves or assemble the houses beforehand and just let the kids paint and decorate them. Once you’re finished, add a magnet to the back to decorate the fridge. Alternatively, you could add an extra craft stick to the back at an angle (kind of like a photo frame) to display this upright on a table or mantle.

Paper Bag Haunted House from The Crafting Chicks: Here’s a super simple haunted house for little ones. The bottom of a paper bag makes the perfect rooftop, and the rest of the bag can be embellished with construction paper cutouts and stickers.

Water Bottle Haunted House Craft from Our Kid Things: Recycle a water bottle to make this fun craft with the kids. Wrap tissue paper and construction paper around the house, making windows and doors as you go. Of course, you’ll need some ghosts peeking out from behind the doors and windows to spook-ify it. Add a battery-powered tealight to turn this into a night light or glowing table decoration.

Cardboard Box Haunted House from Crafts by Ria: Turning a cardboard box into something imaginative is a classic way to craft with kids. Here, you’ll use a box and paper roll tubes to make a haunted castle. Kids can use their dolls and action figures inside the haunted castle, or you can use it to store candy for a Halloween party.

Haunted Houses Carton Craft from Sugar Spice and Glitter: Turn milk and juice cartons into haunted houses that kids can draw on over and over again thanks to the chalkboard paint. Once they’re painted with black chalkboard paint, it’s super simple to use chalkboard markers to draw the designs on. When you’re tired of that design, wipe it off to create a fresh, new design.

Birdhouse Haunted Houses from Kids Activities Blog: If you want a simple start on a haunted house, begin with a mini birdhouse. Then, it’s as simple as painting it black and adding a few extra touches, like spider webs or ghosts, to make it look haunted. You could make several of these and put them against a dark blue or orange backdrop to create a fun, spooky scene for a Halloween party.

Halloween Haunted House Art Projects

Haunted House with Pastel Smear Background from Craft Play Learn: The haunted house portion of this craft comes with a printable template, but the real fun is in creating the pastel smear backdrop for the house. Use shades of yellow and orange to create a huge shining moon, and then fill in the page with dark and light blues. Smear the colors together using your fingertips to smooth and soften. Kids will love creating their very own piece of Halloween art!

Oil Pastel Haunted House Craft from Simple Everyday Mom: Here’s another project to try using oil pastels, this time creating either a purple or orange backdrop for your printable haunted house. This spooky scene features bats, spiders, jack-o-lanterns, and a friendly ghost. For this project, kids can either use baby oil and a paintbrush to blend the oil pastels together or use their fingers.

3D Halloween Paper Craft from Little Bins for Little Hands: This 3D craft is a more free-form project. There’s no template; you simply use your eye to cut out shapes and build up the materials (paper and foam frames) until you achieve the 3D effect pictured. This is a terrific STEAM activity to try together as a family since the little ones will need help with the shapes. Tweens and teens will enjoy this project, too.

Shape Haunted House from Happy Toddler Playtime: Cut foam sheets into rectangles, squares, circles, and triangles, to let your little one assemble a house. Then, decorate that haunted house with foam Halloween stickers. This craft couldn’t be easier; preschoolers and kindergarteners will love seeing how simple shapes come together to make houses.

Be sure to pin this list of haunted house crafts so you’ll be ready for a spooktacular October!

More Fun Halloween Ideas for Kids

• Over 15 Freakishly Fun Frankenstein Crafts
• Toilet Paper Tube Halloween Characters
• 50 Halloween Printables for Kids
• 15 Adorable Black Cat Crafts for Kids
• Easy Paper Chain Halloween Characters
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