25 Easy Halloween Crafts for Kids (Simple Supplies, Big Smiles!)
Looking for Halloween crafts for kids that are fun without requiring a special shopping trip? These 25 easy Halloween crafts use familiar supplies such as paper plates, cardboard tubes, construction paper, yarn, paint, glue, and recycled boxes. They are playful enough for a Halloween party and simple enough for an ordinary afternoon at home.
The best Halloween crafts leave room for children to make choices. A friendly ghost can have three eyes, a pumpkin can be pink, and a bat can have glittery wings. Set out a washable work surface, choose one or two projects, and let your child decide how spooky, silly, or sweet the finished craft should be.
Quick answer: The easiest Halloween crafts for kids are projects with a short supply list, a visible result within one sitting, and simple steps that can be adapted for different ages. This list includes paper crafts, recycled crafts, Halloween decorations, pretend-play projects, and quiet activities for preschoolers and elementary-age children.
What supplies do you need for easy Halloween crafts?
You do not need a large craft closet. Start with construction paper, white paper, paper plates, cardboard tubes, paper bags, cardboard from a clean shipping box, washable paint, crayons or markers, glue, child-safe scissors, yarn, cotton balls, and tape. Optional supplies include googly eyes, tissue paper, craft sticks, stickers, and fall leaves.
If you already enjoy making simple projects with recycled materials, browse 15 crafty fun crafts for kids to make at home. The same basic supplies work for many of these Halloween ideas.
Halloween crafting safety tips
Adult supervision should match the child’s age, motor skills, and the materials being used. Stay nearby when children use scissors, small decorations, paint, or anything that could become a choking hazard. Use large pieces for babies and toddlers, and keep small craft items away from children who still mouth objects.
An adult should handle hot glue, craft knives, and any difficult cutting. Use washable, child-appropriate art materials and follow the age guidance on the product label. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission art-materials guidance explains why age labeling and safety information matter. Cover the table before painting, and let projects dry in a place where curious hands will not move them too soon. For costume and decoration safety ideas to share alongside these crafts, review the Consumer Product Safety Commission Halloween safety guidance.
1. Paper Plate Pumpkin
Paper plate pumpkin craft for kids.
A paper plate pumpkin is an easy first Halloween craft because children can paint, color, glue, and add a funny face without needing perfect cutting skills.
You will need: A paper plate, orange paint or crayons, green and brown paper, glue, and a black marker.
How to make it: Color or paint the plate orange. Cut a small stem and leaf from paper, then glue them to the top. Add triangle eyes, a silly smile, or a friendly face. Older children can create a repeating pattern around the edge of the plate.
2. Friendly Paper Ghost
Friendly paper ghost craft for kids.
This simple paper ghost becomes a decoration, a puppet, or a character in a Halloween story.
You will need: White paper, a pencil, child-safe scissors, crayons or markers, and a craft stick or paper straw.
How to make it: Draw a ghost shape with a wide bottom. Cut it out and add eyes, a mouth, and a name. Attach it to a craft stick for pretend play, or tape several ghosts to a string for a garland.
Make it educational: Ask your child to tell you where the ghost is going and what it hopes to find there.
3. Cardboard-Tube Bat
Cardboard tube bat craft for kids.
Turn a clean cardboard tube into a small bat with foldable wings. This recycled craft is sturdy enough for play after the glue dries.
You will need: A cardboard tube, black or dark-colored paper, glue, crayons or markers, and optional paper eyes.
How to make it: Cover the tube with paper or color it. Cut two bat wings and glue them to the back. Add eyes, ears, and a tiny paper mouth. Children can give the bat a name and invent a nighttime home.
4. Paper-Bag Monster Puppet
Paper bag monster puppet Halloween craft.
Paper-bag puppets are ideal for children who prefer silly Halloween characters to scary ones. The folded flap becomes the monster’s mouth.
You will need: A paper lunch bag, paper scraps, glue, crayons, and yarn or paper strips.
How to make it: Place the bag with the flap facing you. Add eyes, teeth, ears, horns, spots, or hair. Make one friendly monster, one sleepy monster, and one monster who is afraid of the dark. Use the puppets for a short family show.
5. Pumpkin Patch Collage
Paper pumpkin patch collage craft.
A collage lets children create a whole pumpkin patch with different shapes and textures.
You will need: Blue or white paper, orange paper, green paper, glue, and crayons.
How to make it: Tear or cut orange paper into pumpkins. Add green vines and leaves, then draw a field, a moon, a wagon, or a family visiting the patch. Preschoolers can glue large shapes. Older children can add a background and write a caption.
6. Spider Web Plate
Paper plate spider web craft.
This craft combines cutting, threading, and fine-motor practice in a way that feels like Halloween play.
You will need: A paper plate, yarn, a hole punch, scissors, and a paper or pom-pom spider.
How to make it: An adult can punch holes around the inside edge of the plate. Let your child thread yarn from hole to hole to make a web. Add a paper spider or a large pom-pom spider. Use only age-appropriate pieces for young children.
7. Halloween Shape Pictures
Halloween shape pictures craft.
Make Halloween characters from circles, triangles, rectangles, and ovals. A circle can become a pumpkin, a triangle can become a witch hat, and an oval can become a ghost.
You will need: Construction paper, glue, and a sheet of paper.
How to make it: Cut or prepare basic shapes. Invite your child to arrange them into a cat, bat, monster, or pumpkin. Talk about the shapes before gluing them down.
8. Egg-Carton Bats
Recycled egg carton bat crafts.
An empty cardboard egg carton can become a row of tiny bats for a shelf or pretend-play scene.
You will need: A clean cardboard egg carton, dark paint or crayons, paper, glue, and string.
How to make it: An adult can separate the egg cups if needed. Color each cup dark gray, black, or purple. Add paper wings and eyes. Tape the bats to a string or let children use them as characters in a Halloween story.
9. Tissue-Paper Ghost Garland
Tissue paper ghost garland.
This soft-looking garland is quick to assemble and makes a cheerful Halloween decoration.
You will need: White tissue paper, yarn or string, tape, and a marker.
How to make it: Cut or tear tissue paper into small squares. Gather each square around a small piece of crumpled paper to form a head, then twist the bottom. Draw a face and tape the ghosts to the string. Hang the garland where it will stay dry.
10. Painted Monster Rocks
Painted monster rocks for Halloween.
Smooth rocks become tiny characters with different personalities. Use rocks collected from a safe place or purchased craft stones.
You will need: Clean, dry rocks, washable or outdoor paint, and markers.
How to make it: Paint each rock a base color. Add eyes, teeth, spots, stripes, or hair. Name the monsters and place them together in a small “monster town.” Do not collect rocks in places where removing them is prohibited.
11. Paper Cup Witch Hat
Paper cup witch hat craft.
A paper cup and a paper circle can become a tiny witch hat for a stuffed animal or Halloween display.
You will need: A paper cup, black paper, glue, scissors, and optional stickers or ribbon.
How to make it: Trace a circle larger than the cup and cut it out. Glue the cup upside down in the center. Add a paper band, stars, dots, or a buckle. For younger children, prepare the circle ahead of time.
12. Halloween Sensory Bottle
Halloween sensory bottle.
A sealed sensory bottle offers a calm activity for children who enjoy watching colors move.
You will need: A clear plastic bottle with a secure lid, water, a small amount of washable paint or glitter, and strong tape.
How to make it: An adult should fill the bottle, leave space for movement, and seal the lid tightly. Add a strip of strong tape around the lid. Let children gently shake the bottle and describe what they see. This is a supervised activity and is not suitable as an unattended toy for babies.
13. Toilet-Paper Roll Mummy
Toilet paper roll mummy craft.
Wrap a cardboard tube to make a silly mummy with a big personality.
You will need: A cardboard tube, white paper or gauze, glue, and paper eyes.
How to make it: Wrap the tube with narrow strips of white paper. Leave small gaps so the mummy looks layered. Add eyes and a speech bubble such as “I need a nap!”
14. Paper Plate Black Cat
Paper plate black cat craft.
A paper plate cat works well as a Halloween decoration or a simple animal craft.
You will need: A paper plate, black paint or paper, white paper, glue, and yarn.
How to make it: Color the plate black. Add triangle ears, eyes, a nose, whiskers, and a curved tail. Invite your child to choose a cat name and describe its favorite nighttime activity.
15. Handprint Monster
Handprint monster Halloween craft.
Handprint art creates a keepsake that changes as children grow.
You will need: Washable paint, paper, a paintbrush, and markers.
How to make it: Paint one hand and press it onto paper. After it dries, turn the handprint into a monster by adding eyes, feet, hair, and a funny name. Write the date on the back.
16. Halloween Story Stones
Halloween story stones.
Story stones turn a small craft into an open-ended language activity.
You will need: Flat stones or thick paper circles, paint or markers, and a small cloth bag.
How to make it: Draw a pumpkin, ghost, cat, moon, broom, candy, or haunted house on each stone. Pick three stones and create a beginning, middle, and ending for a story.
17. Coffee-Filter Candy Corn
Coffee filter candy corn craft.
This craft uses simple color sections to create a candy-corn-inspired decoration without using real candy.
You will need: Coffee filters, washable markers, a small amount of water, and tape.
How to make it: Divide the filter into three sections. Color the center yellow, the outer section orange, and leave the tip white. Lightly mist the filter or dab it with a damp brush to blend the colors. Let it dry before displaying it.
18. Cardboard Haunted House
Cardboard haunted house craft.
A recycled box becomes a stage for pretend play.
You will need: A clean cardboard box, paper, glue, crayons, and child-safe scissors.
How to make it: Cover the box or decorate the cardboard directly. Add windows, a door, a moon, and paper characters. An adult can cut larger openings before children decorate the house.
19. Popsicle-Stick Door
Popsicle stick Halloween door craft.
A small stick door can become the entrance to a fairy house, monster house, or pretend haunted house.
You will need: Craft sticks, glue, cardboard, and paint or markers.
How to make it: Arrange the sticks side by side on cardboard. Add a crossbar, doorknob, and sign. Use school glue and allow extra drying time, or have an adult handle hot glue.
20. Halloween Counting Pumpkin
Halloween counting pumpkin activity.
Add a little early math practice to craft time with a pumpkin that has numbered seeds.
You will need: Orange paper, black marker, paper circles or stickers, and glue.
How to make it: Draw or cut out a pumpkin. Write a number on each pumpkin, then add the matching number of paper seeds. Start with numbers one through five for preschoolers and use larger numbers for older children.
21. Paper-Bag Trick-or-Treat Basket
Paper bag trick-or-treat basket craft.
A paper bag can become a lightweight pretend-play basket.
You will need: A paper lunch bag, crayons or paint, paper, glue, and yarn.
How to make it: Decorate the bag with pumpkins, stars, or a monster face. Punch two holes and add yarn for a handle, with adult help. Use it for pretend grocery play or a toy scavenger hunt rather than carrying heavy items.
22. Yarn Spider
Yarn spider craft for kids.
A small yarn spider is a fun project for children who enjoy wrapping and threading.
You will need: A pom-pom or a small ball of yarn, pipe cleaners or paper strips, glue, and large paper eyes.
How to make it: Wrap yarn around your fingers or a piece of cardboard to make a small bundle. Tie it in the middle, trim the loops, and add legs. Use large, securely attached features for younger children.
23. Leaf Ghosts
Leaf ghost Halloween craft.
Turn dry leaves into gentle Halloween characters while talking about seasonal changes.
You will need: Dry leaves, white paint, black marker, and paper.
How to make it: Paint a leaf white and let it dry. Add eyes and a mouth, then glue it to paper with a drawn night scene. Use leaves that are dry and clean, and avoid unknown plants.
24. Halloween Coloring Station
Halloween coloring station.
A coloring station is useful when children want a quieter activity between energetic games. Provide black, orange, purple, green, and white crayons along with plain paper. Children can draw pumpkins, bats, costumes, or their own imaginary Halloween characters.
For more screen-free options, browse the Coloring & Printables collection from Oh Simply Mom. You can also pair coloring with a simple story prompt: “My character went to the pumpkin patch and then…”
25. Make-Your-Own Halloween Decoration
Make your own Halloween decoration craft.
For the final project, let your child choose the materials and design a decoration without a model to copy. They might make a door sign, a pumpkin banner, a monster mobile, or a paper centerpiece.
Ask three planning questions before starting: What are you making? Where will it go? What supplies will help you build it? This turns a craft into a small design challenge while keeping the finished result completely your child’s own.
Easy ways to adapt Halloween crafts by age
Toddlers: Choose large paper shapes, washable crayons, stickers, and simple gluing. Prepare all cutting ahead of time and focus on naming colors and shapes.
Preschoolers: Offer two or three choices and let children practice tearing, gluing, painting, and adding faces. Keep the steps short and pause before the activity becomes frustrating.
Early elementary children: Let kids measure, plan a design, write labels, and cut basic shapes. Invite them to make a character and write three sentences about it.
Older children: Add a construction challenge, such as designing a recycled haunted house or making a decoration that can stand on its own. They can also help younger siblings prepare safe materials.
Frequently asked questions
What are the easiest Halloween crafts for kids?
Paper plate pumpkins, paper ghosts, shape pictures, paper-bag monsters, and handprint monsters are some of the easiest options. They use familiar supplies and do not require exact measurements.
What Halloween crafts are good for preschoolers?
Choose large, simple projects such as paper plate pumpkins, leaf ghosts, coffee-filter candy corn, and paper shape pictures. An adult should prepare difficult cutting and supervise glue, paint, and small pieces.
How can I make Halloween crafts less messy?
Cover the table, offer only the supplies needed for one project, and use washable paint. A small tray or baking sheet can keep paper scraps and decorations in one place.
How do I make Halloween crafts less scary?
Use friendly faces, bright colors, silly names, and playful stories. Children can make pumpkins smile, ghosts hold flowers, and monsters ask for bedtime stories.
Final thoughts
Halloween crafts do not need to be complicated to feel special. A paper plate, a cardboard tube, or a few scraps of construction paper can become a pumpkin patch, a family of monsters, or the beginning of a new story. Choose one project, make space for your child’s ideas, and enjoy the process more than the finished picture.
References
[1] 15 Crafty Fun Crafts for Kids to Make at Home With Simple Supplies
[2] Oh Simply Mom Coloring & Printables
[3] U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Art Materials Guidance
