Here are a few  “How-To’s” for some simple Halloween decor ideas that I featured on First Coast Living, WTLV-TV/NBC 12 (Jacksonville, FL).  I’ve tried to include ideas that were inexpensive and fun to make with the kids! Enjoy!

Spooky Eyes In The Bushes (or Trees, or really anywhere dark!)

Items Needed For Project:

• Empty Toilet Paper Rolls
• Scissors or Exacto Knife (if doing project with children, an adult should be in charge of work with Exacto knife)
• LED/Battery Operated Tea Lights (Or you can use a string of colored or clear twinkle lights)
• Duct Tape – Dark works best, so it will blend into the bushes.

Take empty toilet paper rolls and cut out spooky (or silly) eye holes. Then make a small slit in the back of the toilet paper roll.

Insert an LED/Battery Operated Tea Light into the slit in the back of the roll, and secure it with duct tape, leaving on/off switch exposed. (If using twinkle lights, insert bulb into slit, then secure cord/bulb to back of roll using duct tape)

Duct tape over the the open ends of the toilet rolls so no light escapes either side.

Place in bushes along walkway, or in dark corners of the house. Turn on tea lights (or plug in twinkle light cord) and you have spooky eyes twinkling in the bushes on Halloween night!

Table Top Ghost Decoration

Items Needed For Project:

• Empty 2-litre soda bottle, or other tall empty bottle/jug.
• One wire hanger, unraveled
• One large styrofoam ball
• Duct Tape
• Cheese Cloth (Available in supermarkets and craft stores)
• Spray Starch – Extra crisp spray, if possible.
• washable towel (to protect surface)
• Black felt circle (for eyes and mouth)

Create the “form” for ghost – Lay towel down to protect your work surface. Wrap wire hanger around neck of empty soda bottle, creating arms that extend out from the bottle.  Secure wire hanger in place with duct tape. Press styrofoam ball onto top of soda bottle to create the shape of the ghost’s head.

Drape cheesecloth over the ghost “form” to create illusion of a ghost. Arrange the “skirt” of the ghost at the bottom of the figure.

Spray heavily with spray starch. Let dry completely. Gently remove the ghost from the mold, being careful to retain the shape of the ghost.  Using black felt cut outs, glue eyes to the ghost. Set up on your table for a ghostly guardian of your Halloween table!

 Ghost Pathway Markers

Items Needed For Project:

• Multiple clear,empty plastic milk jugs (washed and dried)
• Scissors or Exacto Knife
• LED/Battery Operated Tea Lights or Glow Sticks (do not use real candles)
• Black Permanent Markers (or black felt cut outs for eyes, nose and mouth)

Cut off top of milk jug. 

Using black permanent marker, draw ghostly eyes and mouth on front of milk jug.  Place LED/Battery Operated Tea Light or activated glow stick into milk jug and place along walkway or driveway.

Pumpkin Planters

Items Needed For Project:

• Artificial pumpkin
• Pumpkin carving tool or small, serrated knife
• Screwdriver, or other pointy tool
• Potting Soil
• Pea Stone for drainage (available from hardware stores)
• One Fall Plant of equal (or slightly smaller) size  to the artificial pumpkin. I love using mums because they are a hearty plant and can take a little abuse!
• Optional – Garden gloves, gardening trowel.

Cut off the top of the artificial pumpkin, cutting at approximately the pumpkin starts to become wider. (usually about 1-2 inches from the top).  Using a screwdriver or other pointy tool, poke drainage holes in the bottom of your pumpkin. Pour about an 1-2 inches of pea stone into bottom of pumpkin to provide drainage AND heaviness to keep the pot upright.

Arrange potting soil in bottom of pumpkin, allowing enough room to place the plant.  Arrange until plant looks right to you in the pumpkin, then fill remainder with potting soil. Place outside and water thoroughly. For a more visual explanation, Click Here for video!

Glowing Ghosts – The Great Pumpkin

Items Needed For Project:

• Black or White cheese cloth/gauze
• Large plastic pumpkin bucket
• Glow sticks
• Fishing wire or string

Set up paper wedding bells. Drape cheese cloth over pumpkin bucket in ghostly fashion, being sure to create a hole to attach a string on handle.

When ready to display at night, activate glow stick and place in bottom of bucket. Use fishing wire or string to hang the “Great Pumpkin ghost from trees outside.