I’m not the most crafty person around, mainly because I don’t have the patience or the time usually but these fun little DIY projects are super easy, quick, and cheap to make, making them all right up my alley. Everything I use is from Discover Goodwill or the Dollar Tree.

A couple of drops of yellow food coloring and a few creepy objects like these eyeballs and spider and in seconds, you have a “mad lab.” Both the mason jar and glass vase were 99 cents at Goodwill, eyeballs (pack of 12) and spider (pack of 2) from the Dollar Tree.

Or add a bit of green (or really any color) food coloring. Ok, so funny story. After putting the rat in the water and pushing it down, just as I was about to take a picture, the rat popped up with its head coming out. I screamed so loud, I hurt my throat! The light was a bit bright to get the full effect of the “green glow” jar filled with cotton, a couple of glow sticks, and spiders.

A black pitcher ($2.99) or vase with a few twigs is spooky…

Or add a few black roses and black cat…

If you don’t feel like making something, Discover Goodwill has plenty of Halloween decorations for less than the retail stores.

If you buy pumpkin decorations with a jack-o-lantern face on just one side, you can use the jack-o-lantern side for Halloween ($1.99),

And then turn it around and use it for Thanksgiving.

I see black candle holders like these all the time at Goodwill ($2.99 and $3.99) which you can decorate with spiders, mice, or any creepy crawler.

Spider web added to candelabra  ($4.99) because spider webs always look spooky.

Sweet instead of scary…why pay more for glass containers when you can pick them up for 29 cents to about $4.00 at Discover Goodwill?

Make a “tray” with an old picture frame and construction paper. You can draw your own designs on the paper or use decals, stickers, or cut-outs. You could also use this as a picture of course.

I picked up this mirror for $4.99 and just used lipstick to write my backwards “murder.” (Like from The Shining.) I actually use this in our yard with a flashlight aimed at it as the kids come up to the door.

A fun way to light up a sidewalk, driveway, or scattered around the house on tables. A juice glass wrapped in tissue paper with black electric tape eyes (or use construction paper.) DON’T use a lit wax candle, DO use battery-operated candles.

A tall water-glass wrapped in a cut-off sleeve…

Along with some pretzel “spooky fingers,”

Makes for a fun serving piece, along with a yummy treat.

TO MAKE PRETZEL “SPOOKY FINGERS”…(Makes 20)

Ingredients:

8 ounces white chocolate

20 pretzel rods

20 almond slices

Directions:

Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Place chocolate in large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30-second increments until almost melted, stirring occasionally until smooth.

Holding 1 pretzel at a time over melted chocolate, spoon some chocolate over pretzel to coat, leaving about 3 inches uncoated on one end. Carefully place on prepared cookie sheet. Immediately press 1 almond slice onto coated tip to resemble fingernail. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Refrigerate 15 minutes to set chocolate.

You can store these at room temperature in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

And don’t forget to check out all the Halloween costumes you can pick up at Discover Goodwill…something available for the whole family.