Fall isn’t just about colorful leaves, bonfires, and pumpkin spice, although those are pretty incredible in themselves! This is the season that hosts the splendor of the great outdoors showing off its breathtaking colors, but it also brings with it the element of spooky fun! With no gift-giving on the autumn agenda, now is the time to save a bundle on decorating that won’t scare your wallet or frighten you into a frantic spending frenzy!
Instead, your bank account can rest in peace with no haunting card balances creeping up on you. So, let’s dig up some decor and bring out creativity instead of those creatures of habit that spend scary amounts of cash!

Trees That Fright in the Night
This one is fun, easy, and makes a huge Halloween presence anywhere you put it, inside or out. The kids can help and will be very proud of their contribution! Simply go outside and get some branches that are shaped like small trees. Find a safe place away from houses and cars and stick them in the ground. Now all you do is spray paint them black and you have yourself the choice of a forest or a standalone spooky tree! Use it bare or place Dollar Tree crows on the branches for a tree-mendously impressive, yet basically free tree!

Bubbling Cauldron
Money saved is money not thrown away and here is another low-cost decorating option that can be used year after year after year! Start with an inexpensive black, medium plastic cauldron. Glue a styrofoam ball or tightly stuff tissue paper inside the cauldron for bulk and a platform for the “bubbles.” Next, catch a sale on round, clear Christmas ornament balls. (Hobby Lobby is a good choice!) Using assorted sizes will look more realistic. Simply glue the balls in a way to make it look like the pot is boiling, including some running down the side. For a touch of dazzle, intermingle some wired twinkling lights amidst the bubbles for an absolutely spooktacular decoration or centerpiece!

Concrete Pumpkin Planter
When you can’t decide between fall flowers or a pumpkin, this is the combo that will satisfy both categories!
Supplies
- One 80-pound bag of Quikrete Countertop Mix (will make four planters)
- Water
- Plastic pumpkin pails, any color, about $1.99 each at Walmart
- Foam or plastic cup
- Disposable gloves
- Drop cloth
- Mask (to protect from flying powder!)
Directions
- Remove the handle on pail.
- Spray the inside and outside of pail and inside of the cup with cooking spray for easy release.
- Mix concrete according to the package directions to a consistency of cake batter.
- Pour the wet mix into the pail, leaving about 1/2″ at top.
- Use a heavy vibrator or sander or vigorously tap the pail to get rid of air bubbles.
- Press your cup of choice in the center of your wet mix and push it down into the pail. Some of the wet concrete may spill over the top, so just wipe it off, cleanly and evenly.
- Place a heavy rock or something equivalent in the cup to hold it in place and let it dry overnight.
- When dry, remove the cup with pliers and wiggle it out.
- Carefully slice the sides of the pumpkin pail with an exacto knife and peel back layers to remove the plastic and reveal your planter!
- Fill with faux fall flowers.

Goblin Globes
If you’re redecorating, don’t throw out those globes from your light fixtures! And if a home redo is not in order, check out Goodwill, antique stores, and even the clearance aisles at home improvement stores to find the perfect shape for creating a ghost! Wash and dry globes thoroughly. Cover the opening where a bulb would normally go with painter’s tape to prevent paint from dripping inside. Cut out eyes and a ghostly mouth from wide plastic tape or plastic sheet with sticky backing. Arrange and stick the “face” thoroughly to your ghost. Now you’re ready to spray paint him white. When dry, remove the stickers. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire family of friendly ghosts to light up an entryway, table, coffee bar, or as a nightlight in a bedroom or bathroom. Since the top has an opening, you can use wax tea lights but for those little spirits left unattended, a battery tea light is a better option!

The Witch in Your Roomba!
Do you have a Roomba? If you do, this is going to be really cool! Look for summer sales and pick up a discounted tiki torch. Disassemble down to the stick to make this your handle. Spray paint it black or brown. When the paint dries, glue two flat-edged styrofoam pieces together with hot glue. Apply self-adhesive to one side. When the broomstick is dried, glue each prong on the torch handle to the styrofoam. Tie string around the prongs to secure them. Add layers of raffia with hot glue then flip it over for the broom effect. Secure the top with a ribbon and a bow and trim the bottom so the raffia doesn’t get in the way of the Roomba. Peel off the paper covering from the self-adhesive side and secure the broom to the Roomba. Surprise and astonish all who enter with what appears to be a mysterious floating broom that visits multiple areas of your home, popping up when you least expect it!