Halloween Ideas

By Betsy Fein, Clutterbusters!!

Is Halloween creeping up on you but you simply don’t have time or money for decorations, pumpkin carving or party planning? Here are several quick-fix ideas that are spooktacular!

Decorating with Branches Halloween Style

I just love branches and the natural look…and I love how perfectly spooky they can be this time of year…Go through your neighborhood or yard and start collecting branches that are lying on the ground…. add a couple crows that are 2/$1 at the dollar store and then that’s it. If you want to go a step further than hide a spot light (or even a big flashlight) in the bushes and aim it towards the branches—cover the light with an orange cellophane bag and even better!!

Pumpkin Light Cover

So easy and a good way to recycle old pails you may have. Use an old pumpkin pail or just buy one for $1 and cut the back out…use the pail handle to help it stay in place. Turn on light!

Glowing Eyes Hiding in the Bushes

These spooky eyes are reminiscent of every Scooby Doo episode ever made, and they’re so easy to make. Cut the eye shapes out of toilet paper cardboard tubes then place a plastic glow stick inside the tube. Tuck a few sets of eyes in bushes around your front walkway to give the trick-or-treaters a little fright.

Creepy Crawlers

This non-carving pumpkin project takes minutes to do and all you need is a black sharpie and some plastic spiders. Use a black marker to make a spider web design and add a couple plastic spiders.

Crayon Pumpkin

Want a fun project to do with your kids and get rid of those crayons at the bottom of the box? Take any of those old crayons that you can’t use anymore and take off the wrapper ……Glue them to the pumpkin and then use a hairdryer to melt the crayons to create a funky design.

Creepy Pumpkin Creatures

Create an outdoor decoration with your older kids. Gather some branches and align/secure the pumpkins in the shape of an ant or even a spider.

It’s a Creepy Cool Floating Hand Ice Cube!!

I’ve done this many times for a school class party. The night before the party turn a rubber glove inside-out (so you don’t get the powder from the inside of gloves in your ice cube) and fill with water and put it in the freezer. When you’re ready then just cut the glove so the ice hand come out…pop it into the punch and watch everyone wonder how you did it.

Mountain Dew Glow Stick

Take a bottle of Mountain Dew and only keep ¼ amount of Mountain Dew in the bottle….add some baking soda…3 caps of Peroxide…shake!! I did this and it didn’t work but some say it does—in any case it was a fun experiment to do with my kids. If you do it and it works…let me know!

Reusing and Costume Swapping

People do buy the expensive costumes; otherwise, they wouldn’t be so expensive. Most people keep their old Halloween costumes from previous years. Reusing old costumes is a great way to save money on Halloween. Coordinate with friends to swap old Halloween costumes. Even with a small group of friends you can easily go several years before having to purchase a brand new costume.

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About this Experts Contributor: Betsy Fein is a recognized expert in professional organizing and President of Clutterbusters!!, which provides professional organization services in Rockville, Maryland. You can follow this contributor on Twitter @clutterbusters. As of September 3, 2014, this service provider was highly rated on Angie’s List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check Angie’s List for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie’s List.