Halloween is almost here and with so many spooky activities on the calendar, you and the kids just might need a few minutes of sit-down time to help catch your breath.
What better way to spend it than by creating a fang-tastic masterpiece just in time for October 31?
From DIY costumes to Halloween crafts, there are tons of fun ways for young and old to make spirited keepsakes, most of which can made using household items you probably already have at home.
Need some inspiration to help get your little witches and vampires started?
Browse through this list of easy DIYS, including paper plate monsters and handprint ghosts, both of which are just right for little hands — and limited patience.
You'll be happy to learn that most of these crafts are of the not-so-scary variety, but we made sure to include a few ideas geared toward older kids, who might prefer something a bit more challenging.
Even better? Kids can tackle most of these DIY Halloween projects and crafts on their own, with the exception of a few that may require assistance with cutting or gluing. Which means you can sit back and relax for a few.
When all is said and done, you'll be back in action and ready for trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins and all the other gourd, er, we mean good things that Halloween brings.
Egg carton Halloween craft
Bring your favorite monster to life when you make one of these cute egg-carton Halloween crafts. Feel free to make a miniature jack-o'-lantern or ghost if that's your preference. Either way, you'll end up with a Halloween keepsake to treasure for years to come.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids.
Cotton swab skeleton
Grab a handful of cotton swabs, cut some in half and arrange 'em to look like a skeleton. Download the printable and print out the skeleton head, then decorate to your heart's content.
Get the tutorial at Thriving Home.
Coffee filter monsters
A fresh cup of coffee for you, a coffee filter (or two) for them.
Get the tutorial at One Little Project.
Rainbow spider pumpkin
Coat plastic spiders in neon hues to give a white pumpkin a dose of cheery color.
Get the tutorial at The Crafted Life.
Pipe cleaner spiders
See? Here's even more proof that not all spiders are scary. Challenge your kids to face their fears by making a cluster of itsy bitsy spiders with pompoms, pipe cleaners and googly eyes.
Get the tutorial at Thriving Home.
Frankenstein paper plate
Frankenstein is terrifying to most, but this paper plate version is absolutely adorable.
Get the tutorial at A Night Owl Blog.
Pipe cleaner pumpkins
Neon pipe cleaners will bring color to your front stoop. Kids can mold them to their liking to decorate their pumpkin (real or fake) without breaking out the carving tools.
Get the tutorial at Design Improvised.
Toilet paper roll monsters
Don’t throw away those toilet paper rolls! With some paint, craft paper and googly eyes, you can turn basic cardboard rounds into cute little monsters.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids.
Sand art pumpkins
Colorful craft sand may be messier than washable paint, but it’s all in the name of fun!
Get the tutorial at Design Improvised.
Scarecrow craft
Flat Stanley has met his match! Make cardstock come to life by turning it into mini scarecrows, complete with limbs made out of clothespins.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids.
Yarn pumpkins
A craft with a purpose: Hang the final product over the fireplace, on the wall or around your front door.
Get the tutorial at Design Improvised.
Halloween handprints
Hand turkeys are a hit during Thanksgiving, so why not do something similar for Halloween? Let their imagination run wild as they create vampires, monsters and ghosts out of their handprints, big or small.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids.
Noodle candy corn art
If your kids love painting and decorating, they’ll get a kick out of this craft. A bonus: They can turn their painted pasta into just about anything, everything from ghosts to pumpkins.
Get the tutorial at ABCDeeLearning.
Pompom popper ghosts
Prep these poppers ahead of time, so your kids can focus on the fun: decorating the paper cups with markers.
Get the tutorial at The Craft Train.
Yarn ghosts
We can’t get enough of these cute ghosts. Turn 'em into finger puppets or use them as decoration.
Get the tutorial at The Craft Train.
Monster lanterns
See? Not all monsters are scary! Not only are these ones quite cute, but they're sustainable since they’re made entirely from recycled materials.
Get the tutorial at The Craft Train.
Spider pumpkins
Mini pumpkins are just the right size to become creepy crawlers. Just paint them black, add eyes and attach eight legs.
Get the tutorial at Buggy and Buddy.
Glowing jack-o'-lanterns
If your kids are too young to be carving pumpkins, these battery-powered lanterns will do the trick. They can customize their "pumpkins" with hand-drawn faces — cute, creepy or somewhere in between.
Get the tutorial at Buggy and Buddy.
Vampire with moving eyes
This fang-tastic craft is easy to make and fun to play with afterward! All you need is some cardstock, glue and something to color with.
Get the tutorial at Arty Crafty Kids.
3D paper spiders
Craft a bunch of not-so-scary spiders with colorful construction paper, pipe cleaners and pony beads. No black widows here!
Get the tutorial at Arty Crafty Kids.
Spooky twilight handprint tree
Let their handprint set the scene, then mix in ghosts, bats and other nighttime creatures to really bring the picture to life.
Get the tutorial at Arty Crafty Kids.
Mummy paper plate
Test their hand-eye coordination with this craft. Poke a bunch of wholes around a paper plate, then have kids weave white string to create a mummified effect.
Get the tutorial at Our Kid Things.
Paper straw spiders
Here's further proof that googly eyes can make even the creepiest crawlies really cute.
Get the tutorial at Our Kid Things.
Monster handprint craft
Their handprints are looking, ugh, a little different. Turn their little hands into monster paws — or let them trace yours for a bigger scare.
Get the tutorial at Our Kid Things.
Popsicle stick witch magnet
These popsicle stick witches may look nothing like the Sanderson sisters from "Hocus Pocus," but they’re wickedly cool all the same! Once the glue is dry, stick them on the fridge so the whole family can bask in their beauty.
Get the tutorial at Today’s Creative Ideas.
Paper straw monsters
Forget the frights: Lean into the silliness of the holiday with these paper straw monsters in a variety of colors, patterns and personalities.
Get the tutorial at Crafts by Ria.
Popsicle stick haunted window
There’s so much you can do with popsicle sticks! If witches still give your kids the spooks, then opt for this haunted window craft instead.
Get the tutorial at Today’s Creative Ideas.
Haunted house
Turn leftover cardboard boxes into a spooktacular haunted house. Remind your kids to leave the top open, so they can use it to store all the tricks they get from trick-or-treating.
