The dollar store has so many awesome Halloween decorations that are wonderful for crafting with — including foam pumpkins and skulls. Transform these dollar store finds into upscale party decor with just a few steps. I love these ideas — a foam skull vase and pumpkin candy displays. Find instructions at Persia Lou: [DIY Skull Vase and Halloween Party Decor]

Skull Vase Project Estimate:

• Foam skull, $1
• Black paint, $1
• Glass jar, on hand
• Flowers (real or fake), on hand or $1 and up

Total cost: $2 and up

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My Halloween decor tends to center largely around skeletons and skulls – I even have a couple of skull themed pieces that stay out year-round as part of my regular decor.  (What can I say?  I have very eclectic taste!)  So it’s no surprise that I am totally in love with this bony candle lantern by Susan at Oh My! Creative.  Inspired by a similar piece from Pottery Barn, this lantern has a ton of spooky character.  I think one of these would look excellent on my bookshelf!  How about you – do you prefer spooky decor or cute decor for Halloween?  Tell us in the comments!  [how to make a glowing skulls lantern]

Project estimate:

• Cylindrical glass vase, on hand or $1,
• Plastic skulls, $1 and up
• Plastic skeletons, $1 and up
• Glue, on hand
• Caulk, about $2 and up
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up
• Battery operated tea light candle, on hand or $1

Total:  $4 and up

The post Make a Glowing Skulls Lantern appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

This is actually an idea I had last year, when I first bought a large felt skull cutout from Dollar Tree.  I’ve had a can of frosted glass effect spray paint sitting on my shelf for a couple of years waiting for just the right project, so once inspiration struck, it was just a matter of finding the right mirror.  When the right one and the right price didn’t surface last year, I ended up putting the idea aside.  Then the other day I went to Goodwill and happened across a mirror in just the right size for $4!  It wasn’t exactly what I’d originally pictured, since it doesn’t have a frame, but I knew as soon as I saw it that it was *the* mirror for the project.

And when you finish checking out this project, scroll to the bottom of the post for 11 more awesome Halloween craft ideas as well!

Project estimate:

• Felt skull cutout, $1
• Mirror, $4
• Krylon frosted glass spray paint, about $6 and up
• Repositionable spray adhesive, on hand or about $3 and up

Total:  about $10 and up

Spray the back side of the skull cutout with repositionable spray adhesive, then let it dry completely.  (If you don’t let it dry all the way, it will leave a sticky residue on the surface of your mirror!)  Clean the surface of the mirror and then center the skull on the mirror.  Press the skull firmly to the mirror, paying special attention to the edges.

Spray the entire piece with several light,even coats of frosted glass spray paint.  Add layers until you are happy with the coverage – fewer coats will make a more subtle, ghostly effect, while more layers will make a more dramatic impact, so it all depends on your preferred look!

Let the paint dry completely, the carefully peel away the felt cutout, revealing the shape of the skull as a reflective surface.  I’m super happy with how this came out, and can’t wait to get the rest of my Halloween decor finished so I can see how it all looks together!

Love Halloween crafts? Here are even more great ideas from some of our bloggy friends!

The post Tutorial: Frosted Skull Mirror appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

So, you want to add a little bit of Halloweeniness to your wardrobe, but you don’t want to go to over-the-top.  Here is a great solution!  Aki from Minted Strawberry made these fabulously fashionable and frightening earrings using dollar store skull rings – genius!  I love the geometric elements of her design, giving them a very modern look, and her color choices keep them understated and classy.  Plastic skull rings have never looked so good!  [how to make glam skull earrings]

Project estimate:

• Large popsicle sticks, on hand or $1 and up
• Skull rings, $1
• Nail polish, on hand or $1 and up
• Jewelry findings, on hand
• Glue, on hand
• Drill, on hand

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make Glam Skull Earrings appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Here’s a Halloween party food idea that is very impressive, and also super gross: a meat skull appetizer plate! For those of you who like your Halloween parties more on the creeptastic side, this Halloween craft is for you! And when you see what the dollar store component is, you’ll be all “why didn’t I think of that?” This great idea is from Ruffles and Truffles: [how to make a Halloween meat head skull]

Project Estimate:

• Plastic skull, $1
• 1 package red jello, $1
• 1/2 lb lunch meat ham, sliced thin, $3-ish
• 2 cocktail onions, on hand or $1 and up
• 2 black olive slices, on hand
• Toothpicks, on hand or $1
• Lettuce, for garnish, on hand
• Plate/tray for display, on hand or $1 (a silver tray from the dollar store?)

Total: $5 and up

The post Halloween Appetizer: Meat Head Skull appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

• Skull ice cube tray, $1
• Resin, on hand or about $5 and up
• Glitter, on hand or $1
• Black Paint, on hand
• Bail, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Tutorial: Make a Resin Skull Pendant appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love novelty napkins.  The only problem I have with them?  They are usually too pretty or fun for me to want to destroy them by wiping my fingers!  Cathie Filian came across some awesome skull napkins and, rather than using them to catch crumbs, she decided to highlight the design by crafting with them instead!  With a little Mod Podge action she secured them to a glass plate, making a fun and eye-catching piece that is perfect for serving up holiday treats.  With the variety of novelty napkins available, you can tweak this project for nearly any occasion!  [how to make a Halloween skull plate]

Project estimate:

• Plate, $1
• Napkins, $1 and up
• Book pages, on hand
• Mod Podge, on hand

Total:  $2 and up

The post Make a Halloween Skull Plate Using Napkins! appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Yes, spooky and elegant can go hand-in-hand!  Taking inspiration from a set of skull vases at Pottery Barn, Danielle at My EnRoute Life transformed some plain, inexpensive glass vases into classy Halloween decor.  PB’s version is already sold out for the season, so if you saw them and had your heart set on owning them, here’s your chance – at a fraction of the cost!  [how to make PB-inspired skull vases]

Project estimate:

• Vase, $1
• Foam skull, $1
• Glue, on hand
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $2 and up

The post Make PB-Inspired Skull Vases appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

Have you seen the spooky door knockers that Dollar Tree is selling in their Halloween section this year?  They’re pretty nifty, even if they do look cheap and plastic-y.  Nicolette from Momnivore’s Dilemma grabbed one and came up with a simple solution to change the chintzy look of it – just give it a little spray paint!  With so many choices available in spray paint these days (the regular stuff, hammered metal finishes, antiqued finishes, stone finishes, and so on), there are dozens of possibilities for making your knocker look more realistic and making it blend perfectly into your existing decor.  This is just one of Nicolette’s easy, inexpensive Halloween decor ideas – make sure you stop by her blog for more inspiration!  [how to make a painted skull door knocker]

Project estimate:

• Spooky door knocker, $1
• Spray paint, on hand or $1 and up

Total:  $1 and up

The post Make a Painted Skull Door Knocker appeared first on Dollar Store Crafts.

I love skull themed crafts.  Most of my Halloween decorations and crafts are skulls.  And I’ve been wanting to do something with one of those nifty clip lights for a while now; seeing them back on the shelf recently has rekindled that desire.  I’ve been wanting to make some Day of the Dead calavera skulls, so I snagged a big plastic skull and gave it a glowing makeover!  Today at Giggles, Glitz, and Glam I had the honor of guest posting on Jana’s awesome blog, where I shared my tutorial.  Make sure you stop by and check it out!  [how to make a calavera skull light]

Project estimate:

• Plastic skull, $1
• Clip light, $1
• Nail polish, on hand or $1 and up
• Sharpie,  on hand

Total:  $2 and up

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