There is nothing like decorating the house to get in the Halloween spirit, but purchasing the pre-made material to do so can be an expensive proposition. Taking a little time to do it yourself will cost you a fraction of buying the expensive store bought decorations outright and you're house will stand far above the others in your neighborhood. Here are a few SavingAdvice.com do-it-yourself decorations you can make for virtually nothing:
Ghosts: All you need are some old sheets and balls. You can determine the size of the ghosts you want from ping pong ball sized heads (for decorating windows) to beach ball sized heads (for outside flying in your tree). Simply place the sheet over the desired sized ball and tie underneath securely with string or twine. Crunched newspaper or old rags will also work just as well for forming the head. If you plan to use the sheet again, you can make eyes out of black felt or construction paper. If you no longer need the sheet, simply use a black marker for eyes and fray the edges of the sheet to give the ghost an older, spookier feel.
Tombstones: Get some old moving boxes or Styrofoam and cut them into tombstone shapes. Use the remaining scraps to make a stand so they will remain upright. Paint or color them gray or cover them with gray or beige material from no longer needed clothes. Use a black marker to write a simple R.I.P. or more amusing epitaphs as you see fit.
Spider Webs: For big spider webs, string white yarn in the shape of a spider web in trees or staple in a corner on the side of your house. For smaller webs, take cotton balls and gently pull them apart until they thin and have the feel of a spider web.
Scarecrow: Take an old pair of pants and a plaid shirt and stuff them with rags or balled up newspaper. Get some straw and position it so it is sticking out of the cuffs of the pants and shirt. Use a carved pumpkin as the head.
Mummy: Take an old pair of pants and a shirt and stuff them with rags or balled up newspaper. Use gauze bandaging or cloth strips cut from old white T-shirts and wrap completely.
Mist: Strategically place dry ice among the other decorations to give your house a "spooky foggy night" feel. You can locate the nearest seller of dry ice at
DryIceDirectory.com
Sounds: You can find creepy noise tapes for a few dollars at most stores or get a group of friends together and make your own tape. Turn the speakers to your audio system so they are directed outside.
Inexpensive Halloween Decorations
