There’s still a good two weeks before Halloween, so if you haven’t decorated yet,
YOU STILL HAVE TIME!
It seems like I’m always strapped for cash (who isn’t?!) and I really hate spending loads of money on holiday decor that you use for only 3-4 weeks. So I did what I do best; I headed to the dollar store (Dollar Tree) and loaded up. I spent about $10 and ended up with an entire yard and mantle full of Halloween decor.
I purchased the products above plus some spider webbing and a bag of moss. If you want to decorate for Halloween on the cheap real quick, head over to the dollar store and get creative. The more creative the better!
Okay, so here’s how I used these cheap ass products to decorate this year.
Headstone Yard Decorations
You’d think foam headstones would be cheap, but the aren’t! I found them for ten bucks each at Target. Gasp! Yikes. Of course, Dollar Tree has them for a buck o’ piece, so I loaded up.
The only problem? There’s no way to stick them in the ground. I’m not gonna let that stop me! I headed to our local hardware store and bought a 12-pack of wooden stakes. They were about $4 for the package.
We just hammered them into the ground…
Then I used my staple gun to attach the headstones to the stakes.
Purchase this nail gun or an air compressor 3-tool combo.
You can also just nail them in, or glue them on, or heck, tie them on with some twine.
After all that, the kids went to town covering them all with the spider webbing. We even added a dollar store bird to the top of one of the signs. Que the creepy vibes here.
Instant Yard Art!
* These should hold up fine outside. Foam should be waterproof. And if not? Who cares. They were only a buck.
Creepy Door Wreath
To create the Creepy Door Wreath I took a dollar store wreath, spray painted it black, hot glued the sign on, hot glued the ribbon on, and hung it to the door. The kids added the creepy-crawly spider web.
The cheapest and easiest wreath I’ve ever made, and probably one of my favorites!
Boney Window Decor
I bought three glow-in-the-dark Skeletons…
…and used some box tape to hang them on the three windows on our porch.
They are a little bit harder to spot during the day, but the creepiness factor is on ultra-high at night when they come alive (they glow)!
Our horrible lawn with no landscaping is really adding to the scariness of it all. The kids had a blast adding the final spider web touches to everything.
And of course you can’t go wrong by adding dollar store spider rings to all the web you just hung.
Now let’s take this cheap Halloween decor-athon inside, shall we?
Mini Skeletons in an Apothecary Jar
I fell head-over-heels with these mini skeletons:
They come strung up, but I quickly snipped the jute off their necks and had a pile of skeletons. By adding some moss in a large apothecary jar, then piling in the mini skeletons, I’ve created the perfect touch of creepy for my mantle.
Oh, and the white skeleton on the left? He’s from the dollar store too. I just spray painted him white.
Mini Skulls in an Apothecary Jar
Another quick creepy idea is to take mini skulls and stuff them into a mini apothecary jar with some more moss. Que “Thriller”.
Jack-o-Lantern Garland
And last but not least, Kinsey had a great time doing this project mostly by herself. This is a great kids craft!
We found these mini foam pumpkins (in a 12 pack I think) from, you guessed it! The dollar store. I bought two packages.
We used a hole-punch to punch holes in either side of each pumpkin, then tied them all together to form garland.
Kinsey and I did this super-easy project in about 20 minutes TOPS.
So cute! And the kids love it!! This would be cah-ute strung across a mantle, or up a staircase, or even across the front of your house. Get creative!
I hope I’ve given you some last-minute cheap decorating ideas for Halloween!
Always remember: Holiday decorating does not need to break the bank! There are lots of viable options, especially at dollar stores. Just get creative with how you use the cheap crap over there and you can come up with some pretty cool decorating ideas!
Happy Halloween my friends.
I love the dollar store, too. Your decorations are creepy for sure. I love anything that glows in the dark. I’m not so fond of your jars filled with skeletons and skulls. They would scare me too much. Aren’t you pleased? hehehe
I am not a big halloween kind of girl but I love your apothecary jars! I never would have thought to put the skeletons in a jar like that. So smart!!!
Very cute I love the dollar store so much.. I don’t decorate for Halloween cause I really am not to fond of this holiday.. way to go now show me some fall ideas….lol
This post just reminded me that last year I got a bag of the skeleton bones and put them in my fireplace! I obviously have not put out any of my decorations…
LOOOVE the dollar tree! your ideas are fabulous!!
Loved all the decorations!! Those skeletons truly are amazing!!
Very cool
Love the door wreath…I think that is my fav as well
Hugs
SueAnn
I did the same thing with the skeletons and moss in apothecary jars. Love the glow in the dark skeletons – added to the list! Thanks for the inspiration!
I especially like the strung pumpkins! They’re so cheery in a seasonally appropriate way:)
Fabulous ideas, Ms. Allison!!
Thanks for the ideas:) I have been wanting a mini cemetery, but the headstones have been so expensive, I can afford a buck or two!!
I love the skeletons in the jar. It is so original. at least I think it is. I have never seen one before. 🙂
Wow! Love all of your inexpensive decor! What inspiration! I will look at things at Dollar Tree differently from now on! I pinned a couple of ideas.
great job! I have Halloween/fall stuff, I’ve just been way too lazy to put it up!! the boy keeps asking me to. I just don’t feel like it at this point!
Allison!!!!! LOVE it. My whole mantle is the exact same (crap) stuff from Good Ol’ dollar Store! I want to do a cheese dome cloche heard round the blogging world party….Will you guest for me? Linky party?
Love your ideas! Love Halloween decor! I bought a black sheet ($2.99) and a broom ($1.99) at the thrift store and a witch hat at JoAnn (half-price $3.00). I am going to drop the sheet in a pile on the front porch, set the hat on top and lay the broom across the front. I will set a bucket with about an inch of water off to the side. Voila! Melted witch!
I have picked up candelabra, skulls, black goblets, etc. at after-Halloween sales last year and from the thrift store all year long. I bought “bloody candles” from Yankee Candle after Halloween last year. (They are white tapers that drip red wax.) Last week a bought a Big Bag of Bugs from Walgreens. For very little money, I have a lot of decorations. Can’t wait to have my annual Halloween party Saturday night!
Spoooooktacular! I totally forget about the Dolla Store! Don’t know why cuz were totally trying to save some cash!!
Love the Dollar Tree! We have the exact skeletons (OK ours are orange), the tombstones and the sign. I must get those tiny skeletons. I saw very similar ones at Michaels for four bucks!
p.s. added this to my Pinterest Halloween board because you rock
It all looks fabulous! I love the skeletons in the jars! I was planning on stopping by my local dollar store tonight and I hope it has skeletons like the smaller ones you used. They are so cute! Some of my pumpkins I put in a jar are already molding so I think I need to switch to something a little less perishable. So many Halloween decor ideas, so little time! I need to make my costume too!
Also, Lisa your melting witch idea it fantastic! If only I had a porch!
I am SO LUCKY that House of Hepworths is my NEIGHBOR!!! Really and truly! I enjoy the privilege of seeing this awesome decor every day—-very creative, and creepy in a hip and cool sort of way! I may try a variation of the Dollar Store “Do Not Enter” wreath on your front door with something Christmas-y for the Holidays—-the really cool part is, if I totally screw it up, all I have to do is run one house up for your assistance….
I love your blog and would love to win a 50.00 gift certificate from On My Crafts. I shop with themn all the time. Thanks for the chance to win this prize. Thanks so much!
Happy Crafting, Brenda Gallant
I LOVE the yard!! Looks awesome! Those skeletons in a jar are SPOOKY!! I MUST TRY THAT!!! 🙂
i love the decorations spooky loven it i love u diy network
I love all of them but the bone decor are so cute.. I’ll definitely buy them this halloween.
those tombstones DO come with stakes took me a while a to figure it out but if you look in the bottom they have metal things you pull them out and turn them.
lmao i was the SAME way i was like “WTF WHY.. WHY WOULD THEY DO THIS!?” hahahah