October Reuse-It Item - Favourite DIY Halloween Decorations

With Halloween just under a week away, we thought that it's only fitting for this month's Reuse-it item to be our favourite DIY Halloween decorations. 

These DIY projects are easy to make and are great for all ages. Check out our favourite ideas and try some of these on your own, or with friends and family!

Vanessa

Pine cone bats are simple to make and are a great way to use up pine cones laying around your yard before winter starts. All you need is some felt, glue, paper, and googly eyes. Instructions can be found at Fireflies + Mud Pies.

Creating a monster door is a fun way to add lots of character to the exterior of your house, when you're short on time or have limited supplies. These doors use coloured paper, paper plates, tape, and party streamers. Find out more details on how to create a monster door at GoodtoKnow.

Sarah

These DIY jar lanterns from Adventure in a Box are gorgeous, and you don't need to be a great artist to make them! Crafters have the option of making their own designs, or using the printable ones from the website. This is a great all-ages craft that looks classy!

Tamara & Lana

Ghost jugs are a simple Halloween decoration that both adults and kids can create. Grab a few 4L empty milk jugs, draw faces on them using permanent markers, and then cut a hole in the back to insert a light. You can find the tutorial at eighteen 25.

A fun variation of this project is to print large letters on each jug to spell out a message or spooky phrase. Another alternative is to add a bit of colour by using coloured permanent markers or a string of coloured lights.

What's your favourite DIY Halloween decoration? Share your favourites in the comments section. Happy crafting!

Goblins and Ghosts and Picture Frames, Oh My!

I love the idea of holiday decorating, but I don't have a pinterest-perfect home. Cute knickknacks on tables and ornaments on shelves tend to get shoved aside in favour of functionality.

This is why I've decided to focus on seasonal decorating with picture frames! My walls are never littered with the empty coffee mugs, books, and cat toys that seem to plague all of the horizontal surfaces in my apartment. 

There are so many ways to use picture frames in your decor. Here are a few of my favourites for Halloween!

Halloween Floating Frames

I love how simple and easy these are! Any frame would be great for this project, with the help of a little bit of paint. The best part is that they'd be really easy to repaint and switch out with each season. 

This tutorial from g*rated uses window clings, but if you have frames that could take two pieces of glass, you could easily design and cut out your own shapes from black or patterned paper. 

DIY Ghost Face Picture Frames

These spooky ghost faces would be perfect for a Halloween party or haunted house! They're a bit more complicated than the window-cling frames above, but this turorial from eHow actually looks pretty easy. 

Boo Frames

These cute frames are easy to make, and a great way to use up bits and pieces of scrapbook or wrapping paper! See the tutorial at A Diamond in the Stuff.

DIY Framed Spiderwebs

Low on time and decorating energy? These quick, easy spiderwebs can be made in a frame of any shape, size, or colour. The tutorial from Twelve on Main uses wooden frames and a staple gun to attach the yarn, but hot glue (or regular glue and a bit of patience) would also do the trick on a metal or plastic frame. 

Halloween Wreath

I love the detail of this funky Halloween picture frame wreath from My Humble Home and Garden. With a little bit of hunting for the right materials, it would be very easy to create something similar.

If you like the idea, but want something with a bit more of a seasonal autumn theme, there are also lots of great picture frame wreath tutorials online!

-Sarah (Volunteer)