6 Fun Upcycled Halloween Crafts for Kids

These DIY projects start with items you’ll probably find conveniently around the house or in the recycling bin. With just a few simple steps, you can transform them into festive Halloween crafts for kids.

Egg Carton Bats

Suspend a few of these creepy carton creations from the ceiling or a light fixture to create a creepy indoor bat cave.

What You’ll Need:

• Scissors, utility knife or paring knife*
• Cardboard or styrofoam egg carton
• Black craft paint and paintbrush
• Glue or tape
• Googly eyes
• White paper
• String

*Utility knife and paring knife for adult use only.

What You’ll Do:

1. Carefully cut apart the egg carton to separate individual “cups.” Working on a covered surface, paint the inside and outside of a cup with black craft paint (you may need two coats). Allow to dry completely.
2. In the meantime, download this template. Cut out the shapes with scissors. Fold each wing along the two dotted lines.
3. With opening of painted cup at the bottom, attach one wing to each side using glue or tape (black electrical tape works especially well). Glue two eyes to the front. Cut two small triangles of white paper and attach to inside of bottom opening so they stick out like fangs.
4. To hang, cut string to desired length and tie a knot on one end. Poke a small hole in the top of the bat body and thread the string through the hole with the knot on the inside.

Ghoulish Glass, Three Ways

Empty glass jars of all shapes and sizes can find new life as bandage-wrapped mummies, jack-o’-lanterns and even candy corn look-alikes.

1. Jack-O’-Lantern Jar Instructions

What You’ll Need:

• Orange and green craft paint
• Assorted clean glass jars and lids
• Scissors
• Black electrical or duct tape, or black construction paper and adhesive of choice
• Hammer and nail (optional, for stem)*
• Paintbrush
• Green pipe cleaner (optional, for stem)
• Pencil

*For adult use only.

What You’ll Do:

1. Pour a generous amount of orange paint inside the jar, then twist and turn until well-coated. Pour out excess paint and place upside down on a well-protected surface to dry.
2. Cut pumpkin face shapes out of the black tape or paper and adhere to the outside of the jar.
3. If creating a stem, use a hammer and nail to make a hole in the top of the lid (make sure to work over a safe surface, like a piece of scrap wood). Cover the lid with green craft paint and allow to dry. Wrap a green pipe cleaner around a pencil several times to create a spiral; remove and carefully thread the end through the hole in the lid. Attach lid to jar.

2. Mummy Jar Instructions

What You’ll Need:

• White gauze bandages or white medical tape
• Assorted clean glass jars and lids
• Tape or glue
• Scissors
• Googly eyes
• Flameless LED tea lights

What You’ll Do:

1. Attach the end of a roll of gauze to the jar with glue or tape, then wind it around the glass in a random pattern. When the jar is completely covered, cut the gauze and secure the loose end.
2. Glue on googly eyes, place tea light inside and display lit up in groups.

3. Candy Corn Jar Instructions

What You’ll Need:

• Epsom salt
• Medium to large plastic zip-top bags
• Orange and yellow food coloring
• Assorted clean glass jars and lids

What You’ll Do:

1. Add the desired amount of salt to a plastic zip-top bag, using one bag for orange and one for yellow.
2. Add several drops of food coloring to each bag and seal well. Squish the bags to mix the color into the salt. When the color is fully incorporated, open the bags and allow the salt to dry.
3. Pour alternating layers of yellow, orange and white salt into the jar until full and close with lid.

Milk Jug Luminaries

Save the containers following all those milk mustaches for this bright idea to light up October nights.

What You’ll Need:

• Plastic gallon milk jug
• Scissors, utility knife or paring knife*
• Black permanent marker or black craft paint and paintbrush
• Sand (optional)
• Light Source Options:
• Small, flameless LED candles
• Battery-operated string lights or “fairy lights”
• Large glow sticks

*Utility knife and paring knife for adult use only.

What You’ll Do:

1. If possible, remove any labels and rinse the milk jug well. Allow to dry completely.
2. On the least desirable side of the container, cut an opening large enough to place your hand and light source inside. On the opposite side, use a marker or paint to create a scary or silly face using this template. If the luminary will be used outside, add some sand to the bottom of the jug for stability.
3. Finally, place a light source inside and enjoy the glow. The luminaries are especially fun when displayed in multiples, or lining a walkway or steps.

Paper Bag Luminaries

These eerie and cute paper bag luminaries will help set the tone for a fun Halloween night.

What You’ll Need:

• Scissors
• Paper lunch bags
• Pencil
• Sand (optional)
• Flameless candles or glow sticks

What You’ll Do:

1. Choose a face using this template and cut it out along the dotted line. Place the template inside a paper bag, then trace the design on the outside of the bag with a pencil.
2. Cut out the design by carefully sticking scissors through the center of each shape and cutting along the traced lines. If the luminary will be used outside, add some sand to the bottom of the bag for stability.
3. Finally, place a flameless candle or glow stick inside.

Irish Roots

Jack-o’-lanterns originated in Ireland where people would carve faces into potatoes and turnips.

A Silly Law

The use of silly string is banned in Hollywood, California on Halloween.

Oh My Gourd, How Cute

According to the National Retail Federation, the most popular pet costume in 2022 was a pumpkin, making this the fifth straight year for gourd-geous pets!