18 Easy Halloween Paper Crafts for Kids

Halloween decorating does not have to cost much or take over the kitchen table for the afternoon. A pack of paper plates, some construction paper, and a glue stick are enough to keep kids busy for days — and the results go straight onto the fridge, the front window, or the classroom wall. Paper is the perfect Halloween craft material: it is cheap, easy to find, and mistakes are no big deal.

This list sticks to one rule — everything is paper-based. No painting rocks, no clay, no baking. Just paper plates, paper bags, tissue paper, and empty toilet paper tubes turned into ghosts, bats, pumpkins, skeletons, and mummies. Most projects take 10 to 30 minutes and suit kids from about age 3 up, with a few perfect for toddlers. Each craft below is an original creation from a kids’ craft blogger, credited and linked so you can follow their full step-by-step tutorial.

What you need

You do not need a craft store haul to get through this list. Gather these basics and you are covered:

• White paper plates (the plain, cheap kind work best)
• Brown paper lunch bags (orange if you can find them)
• Construction paper or cardstock in black, white, orange, green, yellow, and pink
• Tissue paper and white crepe paper streamers
• Empty toilet paper tubes
• Black marker and crayons
• Glue stick and white school glue
• Kid-safe scissors
• Googly eyes (or cut your own from paper)
• Black washable ink pad
• Clear contact paper or self-adhesive laminating sheets
• Green pipe cleaners
• Hole punch, tape, and string or yarn

1. Paper Plate Streamer Ghost

Two paper plates, some white crepe paper streamers, and a black marker are all it takes to make this friendly floating ghost. Kids draw the face on the front, glue streamers to the back so they hang like a ghostly body, then sandwich two plates together for a sturdy finished piece. Punch a hole in the top, thread some string through, and it is ready to hang from a doorway or the ceiling. Hang it near a vent or fan and the streamers flutter, which kids love. Best for ages 3 to 8.

Get the full tutorial from Mokze.

2. Handprint Paper Plate Ghost

This one doubles as a Halloween decoration and a keepsake, because the ghost’s little hands are your child’s actual handprints. Trace and cut two handprints from printer paper, stick a drawn or cut-out face on a paper plate, tape the hands to the sides, and finish with tissue paper strips for the tail. The project is simple enough for toddlers, and grandparents love receiving these in the mail. Hang several together over an air vent so the tails wave in the breeze. Best for ages 2 to 6.

Get the full tutorial from One Little Project.

3. Rattling Paper Plate Ghost

This ghost has a secret: shake it and it rattles like a little Halloween instrument. The trick is simple — a small handful of pony beads or dried beans goes between two paper plates before the edges are stapled shut. Kids draw the face on the front and now they have a noisemaker for trick-or-treat night or the class party. It takes about 10 minutes and is a fun way to turn a quiet craft into play. Best for ages 3 to 8 (adults handle the stapler).

Get the full tutorial from In the Bag Kids’ Crafts.

4. Paper Plate Ghost with Drawn Face

If you want a ghost with some personality, this cut-out version delivers. Kids sketch a wavy ghost shape right on the paper plate and cut it out, then build the face from paper ovals: big black eyes, an open mouth, pink cheeks, and little white highlights in the eyes. The result looks bright-eyed and mischievous rather than spooky. A printable template makes cutting easy for younger kids. Best for ages 4 to 9.

Get the full tutorial from Parenting Chaos.

5. Paper Bag Handprint Bat

A brown paper lunch bag, painted black, becomes the body of this bat, with two handprint cut-outs for wings. Add triangle ears and white triangle fangs from cardstock, stick on googly eyes, and you have a bat that stands up on its own and looks great on a mantel or party table. Kids get a kick out of their handprints turning into bat wings, and the whole thing takes about 20 minutes plus drying time for the paint. Best for ages 3 to 7.

Get the full tutorial from Our Kid Things.

6. Paper Bag Pumpkin with Handprint Leaves

No pumpkins at the store yet? Make your own. Stuff an orange paper bag with crumpled newspaper until it is nice and round, fold and glue the top shut, then glue on paper eyes, nose, and a jagged mouth. The finishing touch is the handprint leaves: trace little hands on green cardstock, cut them out, and stick them on top with a brown paper stem and curly pipe-cleaner tendrils. Best for ages 3 to 8.

Get the full tutorial from Kids Craft Room.

7. Torn Paper Halloween Moon with Thumbprint Bats

Tearing paper is half the fun here, which makes this ideal for toddlers who are not ready for precise cutting. Kids tear yellow construction paper into small pieces and glue them over a printed crescent-moon outline, then press their thumbs into a black ink pad and stamp bats around the moon. Add hand-drawn wings, ears, eyes, and fangs to each thumbprint to finish the scene. The finished piece reads like a little card, with a sweet keepsake message at the bottom. Best for ages 2 to 5.

Get the full tutorial from Glued to My Crafts.

8. Spider Paper Chain

This is the classic accordion-fold chain trick turned spooky. Fold a black sheet of paper back and forth, draw a half-spider on the folded edge, cut it out, and when you unfold it you get a whole chain of connected spiders. Give each spider a slight crease down the middle so they stand up a little. It is easy enough for kids to make several chains and drape them across doorways or windows. Best for ages 5 to 10.

Get the full tutorial from The Little Crafties.

9. Paper Hand Skeleton

Another handprint project, this time with a spooky twist. Trace your hand on white paper, cut it out, then make two or three folds across each finger and press the folds from both sides so the fingers take on a bony, jointed look. The result is a surprisingly convincing little skeleton hand that older kids find genuinely cool. Stick it on a dark background for a great window or door decoration. Best for ages 5 to 10.

Get the full tutorial from The Little Crafties.

10. Paper Halloween Cat

Fold a black sheet in half, draw a double-U shape, and cut it out to form the cat’s body. Then cut triangle ears, a round folded head, and a spiky tail, gluing them together with a drawn-on face to finish. The folded legs let the cat stand up on its own, so it makes a nice tabletop decoration. It uses nothing but black paper, glue, and a marker, which makes it a great low-prep classroom craft. Best for ages 5 to 10.

Get the full tutorial from The Little Crafties.

11. Strip Paper Pumpkin

Orange paper strips and a length of thread are all you need for this plump little pumpkin. Cut the sheet into strips, stack them, thread them together through the middle with a knot on one end, then fan the strips out into a round pumpkin shape. Twist green pipe cleaners around a pencil for curly tendrils and stick them on top. The finished pumpkin is light enough to hang and sturdy enough to sit on a shelf. Best for ages 6 to 10.

Get the full tutorial from The Little Crafties.

12. Paper Strip Mummy

Preschoolers who are learning to use scissors get a real workout with this one. Cut a simple body shape from paper, then let kids glue white paper strips across it every which way to wrap their mummy. Sticker eyes finish the face. There is no wrong way to do it — crooked strips just make the mummy funnier — so little ones can work independently once the strips are cut. Best for ages 3 to 5.

Get the full tutorial from BabyMamaHub.

13. Tube Bat

An empty toilet paper tube is the body: paint it black (or cover it with black paper for a no-paint version), fold the top flaps down to form ears, then glue on paper wings and draw a goofy face. It is one of the quickest crafts on this list — about 10 minutes once the paint is dry — and the result doubles as a puppet or a table decoration. A good first Halloween craft for preschoolers. Best for ages 3 to 5.

Get the full tutorial from BabyMamaHub.

14. Sticker Monster

This is the simplest craft on the list and a lifesaver for short attention spans. Hand your child a toilet paper tube and a pile of large stickers and let them decorate their own monster. There is no right answer and nothing to cut, which makes it perfect for toddlers who just want to stick things onto other things. The mess level is zero. Best for ages 2 to 4.

Get the full tutorial from BabyMamaHub.

15. Contact-Paper Window Art

Tape a sheet of clear contact paper to a window with the sticky side facing out, then let kids press torn tissue paper and paper leaves onto it. There is no glue, no scissors work for the youngest crafters, and the finished piece glows with daylight coming through — a proper stained-glass look for zero effort. When the season is over it peels right off the glass. Best for ages 18 months to 5.

Get the full tutorial from BabyMamaHub.

16. Torn Paper Pumpkin

Another tearing craft, perfect for toddlers building fine motor skills. Draw a circle on cardstock, rip orange construction paper into pieces, and glue them inside the circle until it is filled. Then cut a stem and a jack-o’-lantern face from construction paper and glue them on top. The ragged torn edges give the pumpkin a handmade charm that cut paper cannot match. Best for ages 2 to 5.

Get the full tutorial from East Coast Mommy.

17. Spider Headband

This one is wearable, which instantly makes it more fun. Kids color and cut out a spider from a free printable template, add googly eyes, then tape it to a headband made from strips of paper taped end to end. The spider rides on top of their head, which gets big laughs at the Halloween party or the school parade. Adults should handle the cutting for the youngest kids. Best for ages 3 to 8.

Get the full tutorial from East Coast Mommy.

18. Halloween Sun Catcher

Tissue paper and self-adhesive laminating sheets make these glowing window decorations. Cut a pumpkin, ghost, bat, or candy corn shape from construction paper, cut out the center, and stick it to the laminating sheet. Kids fill the open middle with tissue paper squares, seal it with a second sheet, and hang the finished sun catcher in a window. Light streaming through the tissue paper colors is the payoff — it looks impressive for a very simple craft. Best for ages 3 to 8.

Get the full tutorial from Be the Best Nanny.

Tips for crafting with kids

A few habits make the whole afternoon go better. First, do the tricky cutting and any hot glue yourself — hand kids the gluing, sticking, and decorating jobs. Second, cover the table with newspaper or a cheap plastic tablecloth and keep wipes nearby; even paper crafts get gluey. Third, pre-cut the fiddly pieces (ears, eyes, faces) for kids under five so they stay engaged with the fun part. Fourth, keep sessions short — 15 to 20 minutes is plenty for toddlers, and you can always do a second craft later. Finally, give every finished piece a home: fridge, window, or classroom wall. Kids care far more about crafts that get displayed than ones that land in a drawer.

Frequently asked questions

What are the easiest Halloween paper crafts for kids?

The sticker monster (item 14) and the contact-paper window art (item 15) are the simplest of all — no scissors and no glue. The paper plate ghosts (items 1 through 4) are also very forgiving, since the plate does most of the structural work and kids just add the face and decorations.

What age are these Halloween paper crafts for?

Most projects on this list suit ages 3 to 8. Toddlers from about age 2 can handle the tearing crafts (items 7 and 16), the sticker monster, and the window art. The cutting-based crafts from The Little Crafties (items 8 through 11) work better for ages 5 and up, where kids have the scissor skills to fold and cut accurately.

What supplies do I need for Halloween paper crafts?

Paper plates, paper bags, construction paper or cardstock, tissue paper, toilet paper tubes, glue, kid-safe scissors, and a black marker cover nearly everything on this list. Optional extras like googly eyes, pipe cleaners, contact paper, and an ink pad make certain projects possible. Check the “What you need” section above for the full list.

Are these crafts good for a classroom Halloween party?

Yes — several were designed with classrooms in mind. The spider paper chain, paper strip mummy, and strip paper pumpkin all use cheap materials in bulk and have simple repeated steps that a group can follow. Pre-cut the pieces the night before so the party stays on schedule.

How do I hang paper Halloween crafts without damaging walls?

Use painter’s tape or removable adhesive strips for lightweight items like ghosts and spiders. Heavier pieces like the paper bag pumpkin sit fine on shelves or mantels. Sun catchers go straight on windows with their own sticky backing or a small piece of tape. Avoid regular tape on painted walls — it can pull the paint off when you take it down.

Can toddlers really do these crafts?

Absolutely — if you pick the right ones. Toddlers do best with tearing, sticking, pressing, and painting. The torn paper pumpkin, thumbprint moon, sticker monster, and contact-paper window art were all made for that age group. The trick is doing the prep yourself (cut shapes, tape things down) and letting them own the fun parts.

Conclusion

Halloween crafts do not need fancy kits or a big budget — a stack of paper and a free afternoon can fill your house with handmade ghosts, bats, and pumpkins. Pick one project to start tonight and work through the rest in the two weeks before Halloween. Happy crafting!