Cheap Halloween Porch Decorations with Recycled Materials

I love Halloween, I really do. I love seeing all the kiddos dressed up in their creative costumes. And I love trick or treating. Oh ya, and I love the candy, haha.

Here’s my beef with Halloween though…..the decorations. I can’t bring myself to spend a lot of money on decorations that we only put out for a few weeks a year.

Do you feel the same? Maybe you’ve gone so far as to not decorate for Halloween at all as a result.

Today’s simple DIY project gives you a solution! Stop spending lots of money on Halloween decorations from the store…. you can make these cheap Halloween porch decorations with recycled materials that you may already have laying around at your house – like old fence boards in the backyard….or extra white fabric in your fabric stash.

In just 30 minutes, you can create these adorable and cheap Halloween porch decorations!

This cheap Halloween porch decorations tutorial contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t wholeheartedly recommend anyway! Read my full disclosure here.

Recycled Wood Ghost Porch Decoration

Step 1. Paint repurposed fence board board white

I used the 4′ fence board for my ghost. Using an old paintbrush, roughly paint the fence board with white acrylic craft paint. Don’t worry about getting the paint perfectly covering the fence board. I love the rustic look of some natural wood poking through.

Step 2. Add eyes and mouth

Using a black Black paint pen, draw on the ghost’s eyes and scary mouth. I looked at some pictures online of cartoon ghosts for my guide here.

Wood Frankenstein Halloween Porch Decoration

Step 1. Paint repurposed fence board green

I used the 3′ fence board for my Frankenstein. Using an old paintbrush and green acrylic craft paint, I did a few lighter green and darker green layers to achieve a more “Frankenstein” color. I made the lighter and darker green colors by simply adding in a couple of drops of white paint for the lighter green and black paint for the darker green.

Step 2. Add hair at top

Using a black paint pen, start by adding jagged bangs of hair to the top of the fence board.

Step 3. Draw in Frankenstein face

Next draw in a silly Frankenstein face with a black paint pen. I googled “cartoon Frankenstein” to get some ideas and just went for it!

Step 4. Add bolts on side of head

To add the bolts onto the side of Frank’s head, cut them out of felt and attach them to the back of the fence board with a dot of 3-in-1 glue.

Easy Mummy Halloween Porch Decoration

Step 1. Paint repurposed fence board black

I used the 3′ fence board for my mummy. I intentionally chose the smallest board so I wouldn’t have to use up as much fabric. Using an old paintbrush, roughly paint the fence board with black acrylic craft paint. Don’t worry about getting the paint perfectly covering the fence board, you just need a dark background for this one.

Step 2. Rip fabric into strips about an inch wide

I have a ton of this fabric from something…I have no idea what… Please tell me that I’m not the only one that doesn’t remember where random craft supplies come from exactly!? Rip your fabric in about 1-inch strips. I love that it rips very easily and gets really stringy when it does rip up. It really made it look like authentic mummy wrap, don’t you think?

Step 3. Wrap fabric around board

Starting by tying a knot on the back of the fence board to secure the fabric, I just started wrapping the fabric around the fence board every which way. When I ran out of one fabric strip, I just made a knot to tie on another. Continue wrapping fabric until the entire fence board is covered (with little bits poking through here and there).

Step 4. Add in felt eyes

Lastly, cut out some eyes from black adhesive felt. Then just remove the backing and stick them in between the layers of fabric. Easy as that!

Aren’t they just adorable!? I love how simple these cheap Halloween porch decorations were to create.

Do you want to know the best part? I had ALL of these supplies on hand, so it literally cost me NOTHING to create these cute little guys.

Now that’s my kind of seasonal decor!! I love adding the cute little touches around the house and outside for the holidays but can’t wrap my head around spending lots of money on the decor you only see for a few weeks every year. If you’re looking for cheap Halloween porch decorations, give this simple DIY project a try!

How To Make Cheap Halloween Porch Decorations

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $10

If you’re looking for cheap Halloween porch decorations, this simple DIY project is for you! See how you can transform old fence boards and recycled materials and turn them into adorable Halloween porch decor that will have your neighbors jealous.

Print

Materials

• Old cedar fence boards cut at 4′, 3′, & 2′
• Acrylic craft paint
• Black paint pen
• White muslin fabric
• Black adhesive felt
• 3-in-1 glue

Tools

• Scissors
• Old paint brush

Instructions

1. Paint repurposed fence board white for ghost.
2. Add eyes and mouth for ghost.
3. Paint repurposed fence board green for Frankenstein.
4. Add hair at top.
5. Draw in Frankenstein face.
6. Add bolts on side fo head.
7. Paint repurposed fence board black for mummy.
8. Wrap fabric around board
9. Add in felt eyes.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram