Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31 this year, which means there’s still one good weekend left to get the house looking spooky. You don’t need a cart full of store-bought inflatables to do it. With a few everyday supplies, some cardboard and a little imagination, you can create decorations that look great, cost very little and make a fun afternoon project.

Here are seven ideas, from five-minute wins to weekend projects.

1. Paper bat swarm

Few decorations deliver more impact for less money. Cut bat shapes from black construction paper or cardstock (fold the paper in half and cut both wings at once for symmetry). Fold the wings slightly upward so they look like they’re mid-flight, then attach them to a wall with removable mounting putty or painter’s tape in a swooping trail.

Tip: vary the sizes, with bigger bats in front and smaller ones trailing off, for a sense of depth.

2. Glowing jar lanterns

Save empty glass jars from pasta sauce or jam. Wrap them in gauze or strips of white cloth, leaving small gaps for “eyes,” and glue on two googly eyes or draw them with a black marker. Pop a battery-operated tea light inside. You’ve got a row of friendly mummies for a windowsill or porch step.

For a different look, paint jars orange and add a jack-o’-lantern face with black paint.

3. Cheesecloth ghosts

Drape cheesecloth over a balloon or upside-down cup, then brush it with a mixture of white school glue and water. Let it dry completely (overnight is best), pop the balloon or remove the cup, and you’ll have a free-standing ghost. Add black felt eyes and hang it from a tree branch or stand it on a mantel.

4. Toilet-paper-roll critters

Don’t throw out those cardboard tubes. Paint them black, orange, white or green and turn them into bats, cats, owls, monsters or pumpkins. A few pipe cleaners, googly eyes and paper scraps go a long way. This is an especially good project for kids, and a group of them lined up on a shelf looks surprisingly charming.

5. Spooky silhouette windows

Cut shapes like witches on brooms, black cats, tombstones or a haunted house skyline from black paper and tape them to the inside of your windows. At night, with the lights on inside, they create a striking silhouette visible from the street. It’s an inexpensive way to make the whole house feel festive.

6. Upcycled tombstones

Large cardboard boxes make excellent tombstones. Cut them into classic rounded or cross shapes, paint them gray, and dab on darker gray or black paint with a sponge for a weathered stone effect. Add funny epitaphs with a marker. Prop them up in the yard with a wooden stake or garden stake taped to the back. If rain is in the forecast, bring them indoors overnight or seal them with clear packing tape.

7. Natural fall centerpiece

For something more elegant than spooky, gather pinecones, small gourds, mini pumpkins, acorns and colorful leaves on your next walk. Arrange them on a tray or in a shallow bowl with a few candles (battery-operated is safest). A light spritz of black or metallic spray paint on a few pinecones adds a dramatic touch.

Safety notes

  • Choose battery-operated lights over real candles, especially near paper, fabric or cheesecloth decorations.
  • Keep walkways clear. Trick-or-treaters will be walking in the dark, so keep cords, props and tombstones away from paths and steps.
  • Supervise kids with scissors, glue guns and spray paint, and use spray paint outdoors in a well-ventilated space.

Make it a tradition

Many of these projects can be stored flat or in a box and reused year after year. Adding one or two new handmade decorations each season builds a collection with personal meaning that no store-bought set can match.

The bottom line

A spooky, festive home doesn’t need a big budget. Paper, jars, cardboard and a free afternoon are enough to transform your space. Pick two or three projects, put on some Halloween music, and get crafting this weekend.

Image: Orange pumpkin and owl Halloween Decorations by joncutrer via Flickr, CC0 1.0