Homemade Halloween Decorations: Best Ideas for the Yard

Halloween is probably the most fun to prepare for. Just think of all the creative things that you can do or put together to make your home the spookiest on the block. Of course, you can go out and spend tons of money at the party store buying decorations. A more fun idea is to get supplies and make your own.

This article gives you some ideas of fashioning your own yard decorations from home. These are fun craft projects that the entire family will enjoy doing together. Plus, they are completely reusable, so storing and pulling them out again next year is as easy as just finding a box.

Fake Graves

For this project, you will need large cardboard boxes, permanent markers, gray spray paint, red finger paint, popsicle sticks, craft glue, potting soil (optional) and fake hands (optional). It is a good idea to do this project outside because of the paint.

Start by cutting the sides of the cardboard boxes in the shape of tombstones. Lay down some newspaper as to not damage ground underneath. Lay the cardboard cutouts on the newspaper and spray paint them gray all over. When they are finish drying, use the permanent marker to write messages on the front of them. You can choose whatever you please, but I listed some below to give you some ideas:

"Here lies Freddy Kruger. He lived. He slashed. He died. And, slashed some more."
"R.I.P. Michael Myers. "
"Unknown Victim. Young and blond. She ran for her life."
"Jason Voorhees rests here. I think."

Now, pour the red finger paint on an area of the newspaper. Lightly dip you whole palm into the finger paint then touch a few of the tombstones, giving the illusion of a bloody handprint. Use the rest of the red paint to for putting splatters of blood on the tombstone. Of course, if you want a more realistic look, try fake blood instead of red finger paint. Next, use the craft glue to glue two popsicle sticks to the bottom of the tombstones. Using a small tool, put small holes strategically over the yard. Finally, stick the ends of the popsicle sticks that is connected to the tombstones into the holes.

For an added touch, place the potting soil around the tombstones to make it look like fresh graves. If you have any leftover red paint (or blood), dip the fake hands in it. Stand the blood-dripped hand in the potting soil to make it look as if the hand is coming out of the grave.

Spider-webs

I think everyone knows how to make fake spider-webs. In case you don't know, I will give you a brief tutorial. All you need is some cotton and fake spiders. Pull the cotton apart and hang it on bushes, on several items on your porch, over the top of the front door, and on some of the tombstones. Now, place some of the spiders inside of the fake webs.

Bloody, Dirty Ghosts

For this project, you will need some old plain sheets. If you don't have any at home that you don't want to part with, go to your local Goodwill or any thrift store. Also, get some red paint or fake blood, balloons, invisible string, and permanent markers.

The first step is to take the sheets out in the back yard and get it as dirty as possible. Blow up the balloons but not tight; you don't want them to spontaneously bust. Then take a blown-up balloon and place the sheet around it, making the head of the ghost. Secure the balloon in place with some invisible string, leaving an adequate amount loose for hanging. Using the permanent marker, draw scary faces on the ghosts. Now for the finish touch, pour some of the red paint or fake blood on the ghosts. Or, you can drip the bottoms of the sheets in the fake blood or paint to give it a dripping effect. Using the rest of invisible string that is hanging around the neck, hang the ghosts from trees on your front porch.

Finishing Touches

Get some fake blood and leave droplets on the sidewalk leading to your house. Add some to the porch and the railings leading to the house. Don't go overboard with spreading the blood all over the front yard. You don't want someone to slip on it.