Spooky Halloween Cutouts, for the Perfect (and inexpensive) Haunted House

For haunting window decorations:

Print out templates. Place construction paper behind a template and cut through both at the same time. Tape figures to your windows. Note : These cut-outs look really great in small windows beside a front door. For large windows, enlarge the template on a copier and cut figure out of black poster board.

For eerie tree decorations:

Print out templates. Place stiff paper behind the template and cut through both at the same time. Thread a needle with light colored thread (tie a knot in the end of thread leaving a small amount of length to hang the cut-out), gently poke needle through the top of a cut-out, pull thread through to the knot, and hang from a tree. For a really eerie scene: You can first string small white Christmas lights, hang your spooky cut-outs throughout the tree, and finally spread spider webs (use stretchable spider webs, available from craft stores) around the tree for a great finishing touch.

For an extra spooky Halloween mobile:

Print out templates. Place stiff paper behind the template and cut through both a the same time. Tie the cut-outs to an embroidery hoop at different levels. Tie a hanging string to the top of the hoop (tie one side of thread or string to one side of the hoop and the other end to the opposite side) and find the perfect spot to hang your spooky mobile.

For a scary Halloween swag:

Print out templates. Place craft foam behind the template and cut through both a the same time. Attach the cut-outs to a handmade or store-bought fall swag. You can even string mini orange lights in the swag to light the way to your door.

For a haunted Halloween wreath:

Print out templates. Place craft foam behind the template and cut through both a the same time. Finish by attaching the cut-outs to a handmade or store-bought fall wreath.

For a chilling garland:

Print out templates. Place craft foam behind the template and cut through both a the same time. Attach the cut-outs to a fall handmade or store-bought garland (gently poke a threaded needle through the top of the cut-out, pull thread through to the knotted end, cut the thread leaving a small length to tie to the figure to the garland) and decoratively drape the garland around your door, posts, railings and porch overhang. You can even string mini orange lights in the garland to light the way to your door. Note : Another cool idea is to drape a small fall garland around a chandelier or chandelier-type kitchen light weaving it in and out, stringing the cut-outs and hanging them from the garland at different levels so they create a spooky mobile over your table.

Ideas for a Spooky Halloween Bucket:

Paint a stainless steel bucket (trick-or-treat appropriate size) orange and let dry. Print out templates and use a copier to adjust the size if necessary. Plan your design, then cut out the center of the template and tape to the front of the bucket where you want the image to be. Paint within the template figure with black paint and let dry (add a second coat if necessary and let dry).

Carefully remove the template and continue with the other template figures until your design is complete.

You can paint one or more figures in the same size evenly spaced around the bucket, or you can paint on many of the figures in different sizes to create a really spooky scene.

Note : This bucket can be used for trick-or-treating or it can be filled with candy to hand out to the ghosts and goblins who come to the door.