DIY Halloween Decorations

Ever since I was a kid, I've been a big fan of Halloween.  It's one of my favorite holidays.  As such, I like to get into the spirit with some spooky decorations.  I've decorated my house, my office, and even myself on an occasion or two.

Halloween remains one of those holidays that can require only a little creativity and a couple of things from Goodwill.  Unlike other seasons, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to make your place festive.  Why?  Because fear and fun are simple to evoke, and often, we want to be scared (it's all part of the season).

Here are a few of my favorite ways to celebrate on a budget:

Old Clothes
Scarecrows
I love a good evil scarecrow.  Take some old clothes (flannel shirts are great), stuff them with leaves, newspaper, or plastic bags.  Prop it all up into a vaguely human form (wire hangers are a good approximation for shoulders).  You'll also need a head of some sort, which you can make with a pumpkin (if you have the support), old mask, or piece of burlap.  For a little more work, check this one out.

Victims
Stuff some clothes and spatter red paint over parts of them. Leave them strewn around the house or yard.  For extra fun, you can even buy a latex limb, and poke it out of the legs or sleeves appropriately.

If you want to get really gross, I found a great tutorial on how to make fake organs/intestines with foam sealant.  Shape these, let them harden, then paint.  Voila!  And blech.


Cardboard & Styrofoam
Old Boards
A few old boxes and a little paint can transform into something eerily wonderful.  Check out this tutorial on painting these materials to look like old boards.  With this technique, you can make doors, walls, or nearly anything exude that special vibe.

Tombstones

So easy, yet effective.

You can also shape them into tombstones.  It's easy to find a flat rectangle of styrofoam and paint it.  Really, it needs little more.

Silhouettes
Window silhouettes are also easily made with these items.  Create the outline that you want (a witch or werewolf shadow, for example), prop it in the window, and light from behind.  Spoooooky!

Plants
Pumpkins
The official gourd of the season.  Jack o'Lanterns are synonymous with Halloween, and a lot of fun to carve (work, too).  If you don't want to get your hands slimy, you can paint the outside instead for an effective display.

Corn Shocks
Take some corn stalks, and tie them together in the center.  Now you've got a good-sized, harvest decoration.  They're not for everyone, but simple and cost efficient.  Add a pumpkin or two, and your display is done.

More Links and Ideas
Here are some more pages of tutorials to get your creative juices flowing.  Happy Halloween.  Mu-hahahaha!

Monster List of Halloween Projects
My Ghoul Friday
Pumpkinbrain
DIY Network Halloween