Halloween is the perfect time to turn everyday recyclables into spooky, creative masterpieces. These recycled Halloween crafts are budget-friendly, eco-friendly, and easy enough for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children.
Whether at home or in the classroom, these projects help reduce waste while encouraging creativity.
Toddlers (Ages 3–4)
1. Paper Bag Ghost Puppets
Materials
- White paper lunch bags
- Black marker
- White tissue paper
- Glue
How to Make It
Lay the paper bag flat with the bottom fold facing up (this becomes the puppet’s head). Crumple small pieces of white tissue paper into loose balls and glue them across the front of the bag for a fluffy, textured ghost look.
Once dry, draw a simple friendly face using the black marker, placing it on the folded bottom flap so the mouth moves when little hands open and close the bag.
2. Yogurt Cup Ghosts
Materials
- Empty yogurt cups
- White paint
- Black marker
- White ribbon or string
How to Make It
Wash and dry empty yogurt cups thoroughly before painting. Apply two thin coats of white paint, letting the first coat dry completely to avoid streaks. Once fully dry, use a black marker to draw oval eyes and a small “oh” shaped mouth.
Punch a small hole near the rim with a pushpin (adult step), thread ribbon or string through, and tie a loop for hanging in windows or from tree branches.
Preschoolers (Ages 4–5)
3. Toilet Paper Roll Bats
Materials
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Black paint or black construction paper
- Googly eyes
- White paint pen
- Black cardstock
- Glue
How to Make It
Paint the entire tube black, inside and out, and let it dry fully. Flatten the top of the roll slightly and fold the corners inward and downward to shape two pointed bat ears.
Cut bat wing shapes from black cardstock and glue one to each side of the tube so they flare outward. Add two googly eyes near the top and use a white paint pen to dot on two tiny fangs.
4. Egg Carton Spiders
Materials
- Egg carton
- Black paint
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Glue
How to Make It
Cut the egg carton into individual cups using scissors, trimming the edges so they sit evenly. Paint each cup black and let dry.
Poke four small holes on each side of the cup with a toothpick, then thread one pipe cleaner through each pair of holes so it forms a bent leg on both sides. Bend the pipe cleaner tips slightly to mimic spider feet, then glue on two googly eyes to finish.
Learning bonus: Kids can practice counting all eight legs.
5. Cardboard Roll Frankenstein
Materials
- Toilet paper roll
- Green paint
- Black paper
- Gray paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
How to Make It
Paint the toilet paper roll green and allow it to dry completely. Cut jagged strips of black paper to glue across the top of the roll as spiky hair. Glue on googly eyes and use a marker to draw a stitched, zigzag smile.
Cut two small gray rectangles for “bolts” and glue one on each side of the head to complete the classic Frankenstein look.
6. Cardboard Tube Mummies
Materials
- Toilet paper rolls
- White crepe paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
How to Make It
Cut white crepe paper into thin strips, about half an inch wide. Starting at the bottom of the tube, wrap the strips around and around, overlapping slightly and gluing as you go, while leaving a small gap near the top for the eyes to peek through.
Glue two googly eyes into the gap once the wrapping is complete, and trim any loose ends of crepe paper for a neat finish.
7. Paper Plate Spider Web
Materials
- Paper plate
- Hole punch
- White yarn
- Plastic or paper spider
How to Make It
Cut out the center circle of the paper plate, leaving just the outer ring intact. Use a hole punch to make evenly spaced holes around the ring, roughly eight to ten holes total.
Tie one end of white yarn to a hole, then weave it back and forth across the ring in a star pattern until it resembles a web, tying off the end securely. Attach a plastic or paper spider to the web with a small dot of glue or a short piece of thread.
8. Plastic Spoon Monsters
Materials
- Plastic spoons
- Acrylic paint
- Googly eyes
- Yarn
- Glue
How to Make It
Paint the rounded bowl of the spoon in a bright monster color and let it dry fully. Glue on googly eyes in varying sizes for a silly, asymmetrical look. Cut short pieces of yarn and glue them to the top of the spoon bowl for wild monster hair.
Once dry, kids can hold the spoon handle and use their monster as a hand puppet.
9. Juice Box Monsters
Materials
- Empty juice boxes
- Colored paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
How to Make It
Rinse and dry the juice box completely, then wrap it neatly in colored paper, securing the edges with glue. Cut and glue on googly eyes, a mouth (jagged teeth work great), and small paper horns or antennae on top.
Add yarn or curled paper strips for hair, letting kids mix and match colors to give each monster its own personality.
10. Milk Jug Ghost Lantern
Materials
- Empty plastic milk jug
- Black permanent marker
- Battery-operated string lights
How to Make It
Rinse the milk jug well and remove any labels, then let it dry completely. Using a black permanent marker, draw a simple ghost face on the front, centering it so it will glow evenly once lit.
Open the jug’s cap or spout and slide in a battery-operated string light, tucking the battery pack outside if it doesn’t fit. Turn on the lights at dusk for a soft, glowing ghost display.
Safety tip: Always use LED lights instead of candles.
Early Elementary (Ages 5–7)
11. Newspaper Pumpkin Collage
Materials
- Newspaper
- Orange paint
- Cardstock
- Glue
- Green paper
How to Make It
Tear newspaper sheets into small, irregular pieces rather than cutting them, which gives a more textured look. Draw a large pumpkin outline on cardstock, then glue the newspaper pieces inside the outline, overlapping them until the shape is fully covered.
Let the glue dry completely before painting over the newspaper with orange paint in one or two coats. Finish by cutting and gluing on a green paper stem at the top.
12. Cardboard Pumpkin Garland
Materials
- Scrap cardboard
- Orange paint
- Green ribbon
- Hole punch
How to Make It
Trace and cut several pumpkin shapes from scrap cardboard, keeping them similar in size. Paint each one orange and let them dry fully before adding details like a black stem or face if desired.
Punch a hole near the top of each pumpkin, then thread green ribbon through all the holes in order, spacing them evenly to hang as a garland across a mantel or window.
13. Recycled Cardboard Pumpkin Puzzle
Materials
- Cardboard
- Orange paint
- Black marker
- Scissors
How to Make It
Draw and paint a pumpkin shape on cardboard, then outline the stem and ridges with black marker once dry. Once fully cured, cut it into five or six curvy puzzle pieces.
Mix up the pieces in a bowl and let kids reassemble the pumpkin puzzle as many times as they like.
14. Plastic Bottle Jack-o’-Lantern Lanterns
Materials
- Empty plastic bottles
- Orange paint
- Black marker
- Battery-operated tea lights
How to Make It
Remove labels from the plastic bottle and rinse thoroughly, then paint the entire bottle orange, applying a second coat if needed for full coverage. Once dry, use a black marker to draw a classic jack-o’-lantern face directly on the bottle.
Open the bottle and place a battery-operated tea light inside, positioning it so the face lights up evenly when illuminated at night.
15. Cardboard Box Monster Masks
Materials
- Cardboard boxes
- Paint
- Yarn
- Elastic string
How to Make It
Flatten a cardboard box and trace a simple mask shape (covering the eyes and upper face) onto it, then cut it out with scissors. Paint the mask in a bold monster color and let dry completely.
Cut and glue on yarn for hair or fur, and add extra details like paper horns or fangs if desired. Carefully poke a small hole on each side and tie on elastic string sized to fit comfortably around the child’s head.
Older Kids (Ages 8–12)
16. Bottle Cap Halloween Magnets
Materials
- Plastic bottle caps
- Acrylic paint
- Small magnets
- Glue
How to Make It
Clean and dry plastic bottle caps thoroughly to help the paint adhere well. Using a fine paintbrush, paint a small Halloween design inside each cap, such as a pumpkin, ghost, bat, or black cat silhouette.
Let the caps dry completely, then glue a small magnet to the flat back side of each one. Once the glue sets, the magnets are ready for the fridge or a metal craft board.
17. Cereal Box Haunted House
Materials
- Empty cereal box
- Black paint
- Colored paper
- Glue
- Craft knife (adult only)
How to Make It
Flatten the cereal box completely and draw a haunted house silhouette on the blank side, including a pointed roof and jagged windows. Have an adult cut out the shape carefully with a craft knife.
Paint the house black and let it dry fully before cutting small window and door shapes from colored paper to glue on. Finish by adding paper ghosts, bats, and a pumpkin near the entrance for extra spooky detail.
18. Recycled Jar Halloween Luminaries
Materials
- Glass jars
- Tissue paper
- Mod Podge
- Battery-operated tea lights
How to Make It
Clean the glass jar and remove any labels, then brush a thin layer of Mod Podge over the outside surface. Press torn pieces of orange, purple, or black tissue paper onto the jar, overlapping them until fully covered, then seal with another layer of Mod Podge.
Once completely dry, add cut-paper silhouettes like a cat or moon to the outside for a stained-glass effect. Finally, place a battery-operated tea light inside.
Recycled materials teach kids that creativity doesn’t require expensive supplies. Keep a craft bin stocked with clean cardboard tubes, cereal boxes, plastic bottles, paper bags, egg cartons, yogurt cups, and bottle caps so you’re always ready to craft.
For more Halloween craft fun, check out these posts:
- 20 Easy Halloween Crafts for Kids to Make at Home and School
- 12 Halloween Pumpkin Ideas for Kids by Age
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