International Travel Writer and Photographer who considers herself a global citizen, sharing the world with her readers through her travels.

I know it's just September, but Halloween will be here before you know it. It is approaching, and it is approaching fast, when all the little goblins and witches and warlocks walk the street in search of little treats, and maybe perform a few tricks of their own.

New products from the beyond grave line the aisles and shelves of stores. Fresh coffins, tombstones, spider webs, black birds, and skeletons are piled high onto shelves. Cobwebs drape the windows teeming with hideous spiders. There are decorations for the ghoulish sorts....not for the faint of heart.

Wreaths: A Huge Trend in Home Decor

Wreaths have become a HUGE trend in home decor and we love it.

Here’s why:

• A well done wreath adds instant curb appeal.
• Wreaths are an easy way to dress up your house for any occasion, just put a hook on your front door and you’re done.
• Wreaths don’t damage your home in any way (think Christmas lights and nail guns).
• Wreaths can be store bought or homemade.
• Wreaths can be very inexpensive.

Wreaths: They're Not Just for Christmas Anymore

Want to create some Halloween ambiance around your home? A DIY wreath is a perfect way to get the Halloween look without spending too much time decorating with skulls, candelabras, and other spooky interior decorations.

Many of these wreaths can be: made in a few hours or less, and the majority will cost you very little money to make. Get ready to craft a whole lot of bang for your decorating buck.

If you’re looking for some fun Halloween decorations for your apartment, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, these DIY Halloween wreaths are a perfect solution.

1. Bones Wreath

What you need

• Foam or plastic skeleton or a bag of bones
• Styrofoam glue
• Ribbon

Directions:

If you purchased your Halloween skeleton already assembled, the first step will be to disassemble it. Lay out the bones to get a feel for the shapes and sizes of each bone. If you don’t want to take the time to disassemble a skeleton, you can purchase a bag of bones that will be ready to go right out of the bag.

Dry stack the skeleton bones in a circle to get an idea of how they will fit together and form a wreath (the flatter pieces such as the hips and hands make a good base, with other bones on top).

If you want the skull to greet your guests, arrange it prominently at the top of the circle.

Begin with one bone and start gluing them together where they touch another bone, until all the bones are secure in a circle.

Allow the glue to dry completely before attaching a ribbon to the back of the bones and then hang it on your door.

Options:

You can embellish your skeleton wreath with fake bugs, jewels and some rope.

2. Snakes on a Wreath

What you need

• Grapevine wreath (You can purchase this at the Dollar Tree.)
• 1 can black spray paint
• Several plastic snakes, various sizes
• Hot glue
• Ribbon

Directions:

1. With your wreath laying on a flat surface, position your snakes onto the wreath.
2. Once you have them in place, hot glue them to the wreath.
3. Spray paint the entire Halloween wreath and the snakes with gray paint so they all blend together.
4. Attach a ribbon to the back of your snake Halloween wreath and hang it on the door.

3. Pumpkin Halloween Wreath

What you need

• An 18″ grapevine wreath
• (15 or so) artificial mini pumpkins (or real ones if you are going to throw it out after Halloween)
• Plastic spiders
• Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
• Plastic spiders
• Ribbon

You can purchase the spiders, pumpkins and ribbon from the Dollar Tree. This project will cost you less than $5 to make.

Directions:

I chose to make this wreath with artificial pumpkins as I did not want to deal with the real pumpkins rotting, and the clean-up.

1. Begin by laying the mini pumpkins on the wreath to get an idea of where each pumpkin will fit the best.
2. After the pumpkins are laid out, glue each one down until there is a layer of pumpkins along the entire front of the Halloween wreath.
3. Glue down plastic spiders intermittently on the pumpkins.
4. Glue a ribbon onto the back of the pumpkin Halloween wreath and attach it to the door.

Pumpkin Wreath 1

Pumpkin Wreath 2

4. Horror Movie-Inspired Wreaths

If you're a fan of Horror movies, then you will love these next two wreaths:

• Friday the 13th-inspired wreath
• A Nightmare on Elm Street-inspired wreath

You may to do some searching in costume stores to get the parts required to make these wreaths, but I know the results and the search will be worth it.

Happy hunting!

5. Black and White Wreath

Supplies:

– foam wreath form 14″
– black and white striped ribbon, you will need 2 x 4 yd rolls
– black fabric
– small wood letters
– orange acrylic paint
– copper glitter
– decoupage or modge podge
– foam brushes
– glue gun

First thing you will need to do is to wrap your foam wreath form with the black and white striped ribbon. I like to pin the ribbon on to my wreaths so that I can reuse my wreath forms, saves a ton of money.

For the full tutorial, go here.

6. Raven wreath

Materials

• 1 small wreath form 9 1/2" (You can find this at the Dollar Tree)
• 10 dollar store black birds (pick ones that are all facing the same direction)
• Glue Gun
• Spray Adhesive
• Black Microfine Glitter
• Optional: Black string or cord for hanging
• Approx. Cost: $12
• Time: Less than 10 minutes

Get the full tutorial here.

7. Skeleton Hands Halloween Wreath

Materials

• 9 Plastic Skeleton Hands
• Krylon Metallic Silver Spray Paint
• Chalkboard Circle
• Strong Permanent Glue
• Fine Chalk Marker

For the full tutorial check here.

8. Wreath Using Old Frame

Create outside the box. Who said a wreath had to be round.

Check out this wreath using:

• an old frame
• black cheese cloth
• various Halloween decorations

Let your imagination run wild with this one.

9. Edgar Allen Poe Wreath

Materials:

• An old book
• A styrofoam wreath
• Hot glue sticks
• Hot glue gun
• Yarn or twine
• Release of guilt over using a book to make the wreath

For the Edgar Allen Poe wreath, click here to see the full tutorial.

10. Eucalyptus Wreath

Materials:

• Eucalyptus wreath (You can buy these already made into wreath form.)
• Spray paint
• Creepy crawlies to add to it.

See here for the full tutorial.

11. Pinecone Monster Wreath

Supplies:

• 12″ found foam wreath form
• Pinecones, in a variety of sizes
• 2 – 2″ smooth round foam balls
• Black Marker
• Green Spray Paint {I used almost an entire can}
• Hot Glue gun with lots of extra glue sticks
• 6″ x 18″ piece of Orange Fabric
• 3″ Black and White striped ribbon
• White foam board
• Scissors

For the full pinecone monster wreath tutorial go here.

12. Mummified Wreath

I saw this wreath on Etsy, but it is no longer available. However, it is very easy to make.

Once again, this wreath is super easy as well.

Start with a wreath form, whatever you find cheap.

Wrap about 2” wide strips of fabric around the wreath form till it is covered.

Then, go back in and use smaller short strips that you tie on to give the look of wrapped mummy.

All you need is:

• A styrofoam wreath (size of your choice)
• White cheese cloth/gauze
• A few creepy items to hang in the center. You can use the hands like in the photograph, or you can choose your own creepy-crawlies.
• Glue gun
• Glue sticks
• Ribbon to hang your wreath

Directions:

1. Secure one end of the cheese cloth or gauze fabric onto the styrofoam wreath. Wrap and wrap the gauze until you get the mummified effect as in the photograph. Once you have achieved the desired look, simply secure the last end of the gauze.
2. Use ribbon to decorate the top of the wreath, as well as to hang the wreath.
3. If you want, you can add plastic spiders or centipedes to the gauze for additional creepy effect.
4. Secure the centerpiece, and hang on your front door.
5. Wait for surprised visitors.

13. Batty Wreath

The supply list is quite simple, really. Here it is…

1. A styrofoam wreath (you choose what size)
2. Spray paint to coordinate with your yarn
3. Some yarn
4. Construction paper
5. Silhouette/Cricut/scissors—whatever you have on hand
6. Patience. A lot of it.

For the full tutorial, go here.

The author did indicate that it was really annoying to wrap the yard. My suggestion would be to use ribbon to do the wrapping.

What's Your Favorite Halloween Movie?

Tell me in the comments below.

What's your favorite Halloween movie?

© 2016 Gina Welds Hulse

Comments

manatita44 from london on September 17, 2016:

Thanks. Good to know. My Prayers are always with you and your family. I see your pic when I sit at my shrine a.m... daily. In our Beloved's Heart of Light and Beauty. Shalom!

Gina Welds Hulse (author) from Rockledge, Florida on September 17, 2016:

Hi Manatita. I agree. This is all creepy stuff, but some people really get into this day called Halloween. I don't. I love to go around and see what others have done as far as decorating, though.

I remember when I was living in Mexico...this was a two-day holiday. That was scary stuff! (shudder)

The last couple of days have been a bit of a challenge, but I am recovering well. Surgery took place on Wednesday, and I am finally beginning to feel better today. Thanks for asking.

Hope you're well. Much love!

manatita44 from london on September 17, 2016:

All very scary stuff. Definitely not me. But if it's a question of writing and portraying or celebrating an idea or event, then you've done this well.

I note it's Saturday, the 17th. 3 days post... How are you, my Dear?