Lennar Resource Center

With autumn officially here, the days are getting shorter, the weather cooler and if you love this season, you’re likely already getting into the Halloween spirit. It’s more than likely Halloween will look a lot different this year – a lot less in-person interaction than in years past. While it’s still a great excuse to dress up in a fantastic costume, there are so many other ways to get into the spooky spirit all month long at home.

1.Make Halloween sugar cookies. 

It’s an easy recipe and the kids will have a blast decorating them. Just pick up some cookie cutters in the shapes of pumpkins, ghosts, bats and any other character that fits with this time of year – if you don’t already have them in storage!

2. Create a spooky wreath.

Before the Thanksgiving or Christmas wreaths come out, consider making a more spirited wreath at home. Incorporate some bats, skulls or mini pumpkins. All you need is floral wire, shears, glue gun and some supplies from your local craft store.

3. Embrace pumpkin-spiced everything.

Even if you aren’t a pumpkin-spiced latte lover, there are so many other mouthwatering pumpkin recipes, such as pumpkin soups, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie. Delicious!

4. Hang up fake spider webs.

Okay, so it’s a very basic decoration, but who hasn’t grown up doing this at school or at home? The more, the spookier!

5. Decorate with mini pumpkins galore.

The pumpkins are out in grocery stores everywhere and you can usually find a plethora of mini pumpkins that cost anywhere between $0.50 – $1. Why not get a whole bunch and place them in every room! Or paint them, cover them in glitter glue, go crazy and have fun.

6. Boo one of your neighbors!

If you haven’t been part of the “you’ve been booed” game before, it’s a great way to share the Halloween spirit with family and friends. Simply create a bag of fun Halloween treats, google the “you’ve been booed” letter and place it inside. Then drop off to someone secretly. They’ll be instructed they have two days to boo somebody else – before you know it the whole neighborhood will be involved.

7. Create a spirited window display.

Use shadowy ghouls, fake spiders or just some creepy eyes – get crafty and let your windows tell their own spooky story.

8. Make a chic and trendy plush velvet pumpkin.

Tutorials for this easy craft are available all over the internet and you only need a few basic craft supplies. Bonus: they look high-end!

9. Make a ghostly gourd!

Gourds are now in season and usually available right next to the pumpkins. You can decorate with gourds next to pumpkins on their own, but thanks to their funky shapes they make for an easy craft: paint it white then paint some black eyes and an open mouth for an instant ghost décor piece!

10. Make “bleeding” candles.

All you need are some white pillar candles and red candles. Simply met red wax over the top of the white candles to create that creepy yet chic effect.

11. Try carving a pineapple Jack-o-lantern.

It sounds weird but because of the weathered look and texture of the outside of a pineapple, paired with the wild top leaves, it comes out looking quite creepy but tastes oh so sweet!

12. Build a scary or sweet scarecrow!

There really are no rules, but oh so many ways to do it. You don’t have to stuff the entire thing with hay – newspaper works for the main body under the clothes, just add hay to the hands, neck and feet sticking out to give it some authenticity.

13. Carve a pumpkin! Okay – this one is the traditional way to celebrate, but it’s fun every year and never gets old. Be sure to wait until the week before so that your pumpkin design will stay strong – or carve a new one all month long.

Holidays are all about sharing tradition with the ones you love. So, tap into your creative side this year and celebrate with some of these fun ideas that might help inspire some new traditions of your own.