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Home » Holidays » Halloween

Published: Sep 13, 2026 This post may contain affiliate links

by Bob Thomas Founder & editor · interior decorator and house painter, 10+ years Published 13 September 2026
About Bob Editorial standards


    Halloween · decorations kids can make

    8 Halloween Decorations Kids Can Make and Proudly Display

    These eight projects finish as real decorations—not craft-table leftovers. Choose a lantern, hanging bat, wreath, window piece, luminary or keepsake, then open the exact tutorial behind the finished result.

    A source-independent Hearth & Petals overview of child-made Halloween decorations displayed at believable scale in a warm family craft room.
    Original source-independent AI-assisted H&P scene.
    by Bob Thomashow we check thingsupdated September 13, 2026
    choose what fits ↓

    Image note. A source-independent H&P visualization of the article theme, not a photograph of a display built or tested by Hearth & Petals.

    A good children's decoration has two satisfying moments: making it and choosing where it belongs. Every idea here leads to an exact external tutorial for the finished object shown, so you can check the materials, method and age-appropriate adult jobs before setting out supplies.

    Let the child-led marks stay visible. Uneven faces, mixed tissue colours and hand-painted details are part of the charm; adults can quietly take over cutting, hot glue, oven work and high hanging while children make the choices that give each piece its character.


    choose by where the finished decoration will live

    Start with one place children can transform

    Pick a route by display spot first, then match the mess, drying time and adult help to the day you actually have.

    01For a shelf or party tableMake the paper lantern trio or glowing luminaries into a small character display.02For a doorChoose a flat spider wreath or a soft monster wreath that reads from across the room.03For a windowUse translucent tissue suncatchers or a glitter web where daylight can do part of the work.04For a keepsakeTurn a child's handprint into a salt-dough ornament that can return next Halloween.

    Chapter01

    Stand a bat, ghost and pumpkin lantern together

    Three exact child-made paper lantern characters—a black bat, white ghost and orange pumpkin—displayed together on a warm oak console in a new H&P scene.
    Halloween Paper Lanterns Kid Craft by Jamie / The Crafting Chicks. AI-assisted H&P scene preserving the exact three finished lantern characters in a materially different setting and composition.

    Jamie at The Crafting Chicks turns three paper cylinders into a black bat, white ghost and orange jack-o'-lantern. Their tall handles and cut-paper faces make the trio feel like a small cast rather than three repeated tubes.

    Make the exact paper lantern trio↗Halloween Paper Lanterns Kid CraftJamie / The Crafting Chicks · bat, ghost and pumpkin paper lanternsComplete tutorial→

    Give each character a little breathing room on a deep shelf or supervised party table. The bat's wide wings need the most space, while the quieter ghost works well in the centre and stops the black and orange pieces becoming one dark block.

    Open the exact tutorial for the cutting, folding and assembly sequence. An adult should manage craft-knife work and tricky cuts; keep the finished paper lanterns dry and use them as unlit decorations unless the maker explicitly specifies a cool, enclosed battery light.

    Chapter02

    Hang cardboard-tube bats upside down

    Two exact cardboard-tube bats with paper wings and pipe-cleaner feet hanging upside down beneath a pale wood shelf in a new H&P scene.
    Hanging Bat Craft for Kids with Bat Wing Template by Chelsey / Buggy and Buddy. AI-assisted H&P scene retaining the exact finished tube-bat construction in a new room, viewpoint and display.

    Chelsey at Buggy and Buddy gives these bats painted cardboard-tube bodies, large paper wings, googly eyes and pipe-cleaner legs that curl over a perch. The upside-down pose is the whole idea, so the finished pair looks lively even before anyone nudges the branch.

    Use the exact bat-wing template↗Hanging Bat Craft for Kids with Bat Wing TemplateChelsey / Buggy and Buddy · upside-down cardboard-tube batsTemplate and complete tutorial→

    Use a secure indoor branch, peg rail or shelf edge where the bats can hang without crossing a doorway or brushing a lamp. Two different body colours and wing shapes are enough to make a small scene; adding a large flock would hide the handmade details.

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    The linked tutorial includes the bat-wing template and exact assembly. Adults can pierce holes and supervise scissors and glue, then test every pipe-cleaner hook before the bats are displayed above child height.

    Chapter03

    Give a paper plate eight long spider legs

    One exact black paper-plate spider wreath with an open centre, eight bent legs and two large eyes hanging on a sage interior door.
    How To Make A Kid-Made Paper Plate Spider Wreath by Raising Little Superheroes. AI-assisted H&P scene keeping the exact finished spider-wreath form in a materially different doorway composition.

    Raising Little Superheroes uses the rim of a black-painted paper plate as a spider body, then adds eight bent pipe-cleaner legs and a pair of large eyes. The empty middle keeps it light enough to hang and makes the silhouette readable from across a room.

    Make the exact spider wreath↗How To Make A Kid-Made Paper Plate Spider WreathRaising Little Superheroes · black plate ring, eight legs and large eyesComplete tutorial→

    A pale interior door gives the black ring and narrow legs enough contrast. Keep the leg bends irregular but make sure all eight remain visible; if they overlap too heavily, the spider starts to look like a generic fuzzy wreath.

    Follow the exact tutorial for cutting out the centre, painting and attaching the legs. An adult should cut the plate and handle any hot glue, then secure the finished wreath with a lightweight removable hanger that cannot fall into the walking route.

    Chapter04

    Peel and hang a glitter-glue spiderweb

    One exact handmade black glitter-glue web with a small pompom spider suspended in the corner of a timber-framed window.
    Halloween Crafts for Kids: Glitter Spider Web and Spider by Chelsey / Buggy and Buddy. AI-assisted H&P scene preserving the exact finished web-and-spider construction in a new window setting.

    Buggy and Buddy's web is drawn in black glitter glue, dried flat and peeled away as one flexible decoration. A tiny pompom-and-pipe-cleaner spider gives the open web a focal point without covering the handmade lines.

    Follow the exact glitter-web method↗Halloween Crafts for Kids: Glitter Spider Web and SpiderChelsey / Buggy and Buddy · peelable glitter web with pompom spiderComplete tutorial→

    Let daylight or a pale curtain sit behind the web so every glittery strand remains visible. One clean window corner is more effective than surrounding it with unrelated stickers, and a short clear thread helps the finished piece look suspended rather than pasted down.

    Use Chelsey's exact tutorial for the drawing surface, drying time and peeling method. Glitter glue needs to cure completely before lifting; adults should supervise small parts and keep the hanging loop short and out of reach.

    Chapter05

    Turn bright pompoms into a monster wreath

    One exact twig wreath decorated with bright fuzzy pompom monsters and mismatched googly eyes on a cream cupboard door.
    Easy and Quirky Monster Halloween Wreath Craft for Kids by Chelsey / Buggy and Buddy. AI-assisted H&P scene retaining the exact twig-and-pompom wreath identity in a materially different display.

    This Buggy and Buddy wreath starts with a small twig ring, then mixes giant fuzzy pompoms, tiny coloured pompoms and googly eyes into a family of odd little monsters. The natural vine base keeps all that colour from feeling like loose craft supplies.

    Make the exact monster wreath↗Easy and Quirky Monster Halloween Wreath Craft for KidsChelsey / Buggy and Buddy · twig wreath with fuzzy pompom monstersComplete tutorial→

    Hang it low enough for children to recognise their individual monsters but away from a door edge that will crush them. Rotate the large pompoms around the circle and leave part of the twig visible so the wreath still has a clear shape.

    Open the original tutorial for the exact pompom and eye assembly. Hot glue and small pieces need adult handling and supervision; tug-test every monster before display and keep the wreath away from toddlers who may pull off the eyes.

    Chapter06

    Build four tissue-paper shapes for the window

    Four exact tissue-paper Halloween suncatchers—a pumpkin, purple bat, white ghost and candy corn—glowing in a real sash window.
    Make Your Own Halloween Suncatchers by Melissa Lennig / Fireflies and Mud Pies. AI-assisted H&P scene preserving the exact four finished motifs in a different window and arrangement.

    Melissa Lennig's set turns layered tissue and contact paper into a pumpkin, purple bat, white ghost and candy corn, each held by a bold black outline. The translucent scraps catch unevenly, which is exactly what makes the shapes glow.

    Make the exact four suncatchers↗Make Your Own Halloween SuncatchersMelissa Lennig / Fireflies and Mud Pies · pumpkin, bat, ghost and candy cornTemplates and complete tutorial→

    Group the four pieces as a loose window constellation rather than a rigid grid. Put the larger pumpkin and ghost lower, lift the smaller bat into open glass and leave enough clear space between outlines for each silhouette to read.

    The exact templates, supply list and construction are on the linked Fireflies and Mud Pies tutorial. Adults should handle precision cutting, while children can overlap tissue pieces; use child-safe window fixings and keep cords, blinds and opening hardware unobstructed.

    Chapter07

    Draw a different face on every paper luminary

    Four exact hand-drawn paper Halloween luminaries glowing safely from cool enclosed battery lights on a dining-table tray.
    Paper Halloween Luminaries by Amanda Davis / Crafts by Amanda. AI-assisted H&P scene retaining the exact varied cylinder style in a new safe display with cool battery lights only.

    Amanda Davis makes a deliberately mismatched group of paper cylinders: wide eyes, jagged teeth, bats, a crowned monster and a dripping jack-o'-lantern. Their hand-drawn differences become much more visible once a cool battery light glows inside.

    Make the exact paper luminaries↗Paper Halloween LuminariesAmanda Davis / Crafts by Amanda · hand-drawn paper cylinders for battery lightsPrintables and complete tutorial→

    Mix two heights and turn each cylinder until its strongest face points toward the room. A supervised dining-table or deep console display works better than the floor, where thin paper can be kicked or crushed, and the group needs no extra plastic props around it.

    Use Crafts by Amanda's exact printable or drawing route and assembly instructions. These are paper decorations: use only cool, enclosed battery-operated lights, never candles, and keep them well away from heat, moisture and hanging fabric.

    Chapter08

    Keep this Halloween in four salt-dough handprints

    Four exact Halloween salt-dough handprint ornaments—Frankenstein, pumpkin, ghost and vampire—hanging from brass wall hooks.
    Halloween Salt Dough by Kimberly McLeod / The Best Ideas for Kids. AI-assisted H&P scene retaining the exact four finished handprint characters in a materially different keepsake display.

    Kimberly McLeod's salt-dough set preserves one hand shape four ways: green Frankenstein, orange pumpkin, white ghost and a pale vampire with black hair and a red bow tie. Twine loops turn the painted impressions into decorations that can come back each year.

    Make the exact handprint ornament set↗Halloween Salt DoughKimberly McLeod / The Best Ideas for Kids · four painted handprint charactersRecipe and complete tutorial→

    Display all four against a quiet wall or peg rail so the fingers remain recognisable as handprints. Keep their spacing loose and their heights slightly different; the point is the child's mark, not a perfectly symmetrical gallery row.

    Open the exact recipe and character instructions before mixing. Adults must manage the oven, cutting and sealing, and the finished ornaments need a secure hanger. Salt dough can be dangerous to pets if eaten, so store and display every piece well beyond their reach.

    before the making starts

    Before children choose the display spot

    Read the complete linked tutorial before promising a same-day finish. Glitter glue, paint and salt dough each need genuine drying or baking time, while cutting, hot glue, piercing and oven work belong to an adult.

    Decide how the decoration will be supported before making it. Keep paper away from heat and moisture, use cool enclosed battery lights only, avoid long loops or cords and test every hook on the real surface before hanging above child height.

    Check small-piece risks for the children and pets in the home. Googly eyes, pompoms and pipe-cleaner ends need supervision, and salt-dough ornaments must never be left where a dog can chew them.

    Source credit identifies the original tutorial or product and does not imply affiliation or endorsement.

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    quick answers

    Halloween decoration questions for families

    Are these decorations or just Halloween craft activities?

    Every idea finishes as a specific displayable decoration: a lantern, hanging bat, wreath, window piece, luminary or keepsake ornament. Each green source card opens the exact tutorial for that finished result.

    Which project can be finished without waiting overnight?

    Drying time depends on the exact materials, paint and glue used. The paper lantern or cardboard-tube bat may be the simplest starting points, but read the linked tutorial first and allow more time than its active-making estimate.

    Can children make these without an adult?

    No single age rule fits every child or project. Adults should take over craft knives, hot glue, piercing, oven work, high hanging and any step the original tutorial marks for supervision.

    Can real candles go inside the paper luminaries?

    No. Use only cool, enclosed battery-operated lights and keep every paper decoration away from flames, hot bulbs and other heat sources.



    keep making through Halloween

    the Halloween craft collection.

    What would you like to make next? Open the closest finished project guide, or save a coming guide for the next part of your Halloween making list.

    • Paper web splatter bat pastel house suncatcher paper pumpkin roll bat skeleton and ghost in the H and P illustrated collection stylelet them make the part they will rememberThe Kids Halloween Making TableEight child-led crafts with honest adult setup and finished results worth displaying.open the guide →
    • Orange pumpkin and cream ghost door hangers with purple ribbon in the H and P illustrated collection stylelet the child make the piece that hangs6 DIY Halloween Door Hangers for KidsSix child-friendly hangers with exact tutorials, adult-only setup and a finished result worth displaying.open the guide →
    • Hand-drawn black paper bat, orange folded pumpkin and cream scissors isolated on a true transparent background.keep making through the Halloween collection9 Paper Halloween Decorations You Can Make Without Special ToolsMake nine paper Halloween decorations with ordinary card, tissue and kraft paper, including bats, ghost garlands, pumpkins, a village and a mantel cemetery.open the guide →
    • Clay ghost paper pumpkin felt bat cardboard house yarn pumpkin cat jar and painted rocks in the H and P illustrated collection stylemake the piece you savedThe Makeable Halloween Craft EditEight finished projects across clay, paper, felt, cardboard, yarn, glass and paint.open the guide →
    • Cheesecloth spirits macrame ghost dark wreath velvet pumpkins book witch bottles and planter in the H and P illustrated collection stylemake one piece worth keepingThe Grown-Up Halloween Craft RoomEight satisfying textile, paper, floral, paint and sculptural projects.open the guide →
    • Friendly pumpkin stamp crayon paper ghost and leaves in the H and P illustrated collection stylekeep little hands doing the satisfying partHalloween Crafts for ToddlersFriendly low-mess makes with short adult setup and clear toddler jobs.open the guide →
    • Paper plate spider web smiling pom pom spider glue stick and leaves in the H and P illustrated collection stylemake the classroom table feel manageableHalloween Crafts for PreschoolSimple repeatable projects built for preschool skills, timing and cleanup.open the guide →
    • Hand-drawn cardboard haunted house, ribbed pumpkin and small ghost cutouts on a true transparent background.turn the recycling pile into Halloween8 Halloween Cardboard Decorations That Look Better Than the BoxTurn spare boxes, tubes and egg cartons into eight convincing Halloween decorations, with exact tutorials, display advice and realistic drying times.open the guide →


    Bob Thomas, founder and editor of Hearth & Petals

    written by

    Bob Thomas

    Bob Thomas founded Hearth & Petals to turn visual inspiration into useful next steps. Every material idea in this guide was checked against an exact external tutorial, then presented as a separate H&P scene for planning and display context.

    as seen in Homes & Gardens · Bob Vila · Yahoo

    more about Bob →follow on Pinterest

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