Miniature, glittery houses aren’t just for Christmas anymore. This Halloween, I have the how-to for turning a paper mache house into a spooktacular DIY Haunted House Pumpkin Centerpiece. The centerpiece is perfect for decorating your home for Halloween or using at a Halloween party.
This Halloween craft is perfect for both adults and kids to make together. While some steps require a little more finesse (i.e., using an X-acto knife) other steps (like the painting and glittering) are perfect for kids. It would be a really fun family-night project!
Materials
- Small paper mache house, about 6″ high (Available at Michaels or as part of a set at Hobby Lobby)
- Black paint
- Black glitter
- Modge Podge
- Clear, glossy spray paint
- Spray glue
- Masking tape
- Hot glue gun
- Black wire
- Miniature picket fence
- Faux black tree branch (this is the one I used from Michaels)
- Moss
- Black cardstock
- Yellow, orange and burnt red cardstock (or colors of your choice)
- Free Beware Banner Cricut Design Space Project (optional)
- Free Haunted House Bats Cricut Design Space Project (optional)
- Small no-flame electric candle
- Medium or large pumpkin
Instructions
Step 1: Cut extra windows & a hole in the chimney. Using a pencil, trace the windows onto a piece of paper. Tape the windows to the back of the house and cut out holes using an X-Acto knife. Using the X-acto knife, cut a hole in the chimney.
Step 2: Paint the house and fence black. Paint the outside and inside of your house. Paint both sides of the fence.
Step 3: Add glitter to everything. For the house, cover a side of the base of the house with Modge Podge and then sprinkle with glitter over a paper plate. Tap off excess glitter and then repeat on the other three sides. Do the same for the lid (or roof). When doing the lid, do not glitter the lip that goes into the base of the house. You’ll also want to add glitter to both sides of the fence as well as the bats and branches (see steps 6 and 7).
Step 4: Spray everything that was glittered with clear, glossy spray paint. Glitter tends to get everywhere, even once glued to things. Prevent glitter from rubbing off by spraying it with one to two coats of clear, glossy spray paint.
Step 5: Create the “Beware” banner. If using a Cricut, you can use my FREE Beware Banner Cricut Design Space Project. Cut banner shapes out of yellow, orange and burnt red card stock. Then cut out the word “Beware” from black cardstock. Assemble the banner on a piece of black wire using the Modge Podge. The banner shapes fold over the wire and glue shut. Once assembled, attach the banner to the front of the house using a hot glue gun. Cut off any excess wire.
Step 6: Create the bats. If using a Cricut, use my FREE Haunted House Bats Cricut Design Space Project. Cut out six bat shapes from black cardstock. Using Modge Podge, add glitter to the bats. Spray the bats with the clear, glossy spray paint. Once dry, sandwich two bats together with a piece of wire in the middle. Glue shut. Repeat so you have three double-sided bats on wires. Attach the finished bats to the inside of the chimney using a hot glue gun.
Note: you can cut the bats when you cut the “Beware” letters. Also, you can glitter the bats when you glitter the house.
Step 7: Add the “trees” to your haunted house. Before adding the branches to the house you’ll glitter them like you did the house in steps 3 and 4. From the large stick, cut two to three smaller branches and then glitter them. Using hot glue, attach the sticks to the top of the house only. You want to be able to still open the house, so make sure you only glue the sticks to the top of the house (the roof). The sticks will then just rest on the base of the house. I glued one larger stick to the back-left corner and added a smaller stick in the front-right corner.
Step 8: Attach finished haunted house to a pumpkin. Using masking tape, cover the base of the haunted house with masking tape while also attaching it to the top of your pumpkin. You want to cover the base so that it doesn’t get ruined by any spray glue in step 9. Also note: If your pumpkin isn’t level on the top, you may have to prop it up on one side to make it level. You’ll also want to buy a pumpkin with no stem or very short stem.
Step 9: Add moss. Cover the top of your pumpkin with moss using spray glue. Be sure to cover all the masking tape.
Step 10: Add your picket fence. The fence will just stick into the moss, no need to use any adhesive. Bend it to whatever shape you want, have fun with it. I added a piece to the left side and it wrapped around into the front. I also added a small piece to the back.
Step 11: Add the no-flame candle and enjoy! Notice how the “lid” has the sticks attached and the base does not. This is so you can take the top off to put in the candle.
I also updated the artwork above my couch to set a perfect backdrop for the haunted house. I purchased stock photographs of bare trees and then using Photoshop I made them black and white and increased the contrast so they would only print in black on white paper. I then had them printed at FedEx office on their large-scale printer. They are 24″ x 36″ and cost $5.50 each, making the Halloween inspired artwork both affordable and easy.
Notice the back is almost as cute as the front! I wanted to make sure the centerpiece looked good on all sides. This is important to remember when using something in the center of a coffee table or dining table.
As for displaying your DIY Haunted House Pumpkin Centerpiece, simply surround it with a variety of guards and pumpkins. The various shapes, sizes, colors and amazing stems, keeps things fun and perfectly Halloween. I put mine on display on my coffee table put it would also be great on a dining room table.
Are you inspired to make your own? My cousin’s teenage son wants to make one so I’ll be helping him! I couldn’t believe it when he commented on my Instagram stories saying “So cool!” That was a win for me and made making this Halloween craft even more worth it. Happy crafting!
