20 Easy Halloween Paper Crafts for Kids to Make at Home

The easiest Halloween paper crafts for kids are no-scissors projects like torn-paper ghosts and simple cut-and-glue bats that work for ages 3 and up. Older kids can step up to origami bats, a folded spider, or a 3D paper pumpkin. Every project below uses paper you already have, most finish in 10 to 30 minutes, and each one costs under a couple of dollars.

The crafts are grouped by type, so you can jump straight to bats, ghosts, pumpkins, spiders, or witches. Each pick lists its difficulty, time, age range, and what it is best for, and links to a full step-by-step tutorial with photos.

Halloween Paper Crafts at a Glance

Paper Bat Crafts

1. Easy Paper Bat Craft

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 10 min  ·  Ages: 4+  ·  Materials: Printable template, colored paper, craft stick, glue, scissors

Best for: Quick starter craft

A friendly printable bat that kids color, cut, and glue onto a craft stick. The template does the hard part, so even a 4-year-old ends up with a bat that looks finished. Great as a quick starter craft before moving on to the folded and mechanical bats below.

See the Easy Paper Bat Craft at Arty Crafty Kids →

2. Origami Bat

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 10-15 min  ·  Ages: 6+  ·  Materials: Square craft paper, glue, scissors, pen

Best for: Wall and ceiling decor

Flat paper becomes a dimensional bat with raised wings and pointed ears through a 15-step fold sequence that uses only basic origami techniques. Once a child has the sequence down, they can make a batch quickly and tape them across a wall or ceiling. A video covers every fold that is hard to read from a photo.

Fold the Origami Bat →

3. Flapping Paper Bat with Moving Wings

Difficulty: Beginner (moving parts need care)  ·  Time: 20-30 min  ·  Ages: 6+  ·  Materials: Cardstock, brad pins, non-stretchy yarn, popsicle stick, glue, scissors, free template

Best for: Interactive play

Pull the popsicle stick and the wings flap open. Push it back and they close. That simple mechanic is why kids keep playing with this one long after it is finished. The tutorial walks through the string-and-brad-pin mechanism step by step, including the common mistakes that stop the wings from moving. Free template and full video included.

Make the Flapping Paper Bat →

4. Paper Bag Bat Puppet

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 15 min  ·  Ages: 4+  ·  Materials: Paper lunch bag, black construction paper, googly eyes, glue, scissors

Best for: Classroom puppet play

A lunch bag turns into a bat puppet with a movable mouth once black paper wings, ears, and a face are glued to the bag’s flap. The play starts as soon as the craft is done, which makes it a good pick for classroom parties where kids want to keep going. Pairs naturally with the ghost, pumpkin, and witch puppets further down this list.

See the Paper Bag Bat Puppet at Easy Crafts for Kids →

Paper Ghost Crafts

5. Easy Paper Ghost Craft

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 10 min  ·  Ages: 3+  ·  Materials: White paper, black marker, googly eyes (optional), scissors

Best for: Last-minute craft

A minimal ghost that even toddlers can help make. Cut a rounded ghost shape, add eyes, and it is done. The tutorial also shows tissue-paper, cotton-ball, and painted variations, so the same base can be dressed up for kids who want to add texture. Reach for this when craft time is short but you still want something on the fridge.

See the Easy Paper Ghost at Happy Toddler Playtime →

6. Torn Paper Ghost (No Scissors Needed)

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 15 min  ·  Ages: 3+ (no scissors)  ·  Materials: White paper, ghost template, glue stick, markers

Best for: Toddlers, no scissors

Kids tear white paper into small pieces and glue them onto a printed ghost outline to fill it in. No scissors at all, which makes it safe for children as young as 3 working on their own. The torn edges give the finished ghost a fluffy texture that a flat cut-out does not have. Print one template per child for a group.

See the Torn Paper Ghost at Finding Myself Young →

7. Easy Origami Ghost

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 10-15 min  ·  Ages: 5+  ·  Materials: White square paper, gel pen, small paper scraps, glue

Best for: First origami project

A single white square folds into a friendly ghost with arms that float outward. The base technique is forgiving, so it looks good even on a first attempt, which is why it is a favorite for kids new to origami. Make a whole family in different sizes and hang them in a window or string them into a garland. Video included.

Fold the Origami Ghost →

8. Ghost Paper Bag Puppet (Free Printable)

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 15 min  ·  Ages: 4+  ·  Materials: White paper bag, black marker, free printable template, glue, scissors

Best for: Puppet theater

A white paper bag with the ghost face on the movable flap, so the mouth opens and closes when a hand is inside. The free printable template removes any freehand drawing. This is the ghost to make alongside the bat and pumpkin puppets for a small Halloween puppet theater the kids can perform with.

See the Ghost Puppet at Artful Clips →

9. Simple Paper Ghost on Black Paper

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 10 min  ·  Ages: 4+  ·  Materials: White paper, black paper, black marker, scissors, glue

Best for: Minimal supplies

This version mounts the cut ghost on black paper so it pops, and it needs nothing more than paper and a marker. The tutorial includes a trick for getting a smooth ghost outline without a template. It is the one to keep in your back pocket for the afternoons when the craft drawer is nearly empty.

See the Simple Paper Ghost at Made in a Pinch →

Paper Pumpkin Crafts

10. Easy 3D Paper Pumpkin

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 15-20 min  ·  Ages: 6+  ·  Materials: Orange cardstock, green paper, glue, scissors, pencil

Best for: Shelf and mantel decor

Sixteen identical cutouts get glued in an alternating fan pattern, then spread into a round pumpkin that stands on its own. Make them in any color, group three sizes on a shelf, or string minis into a garland. If your kids would rather fold than glue, our origami pumpkins are another paper option. A full video makes the accordion technique easy to follow the first time.

Make the 3D Paper Pumpkin →

11. Pumpkin Paper Bag Puppet (Free Template)

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 15-20 min  ·  Ages: 4+  ·  Materials: Orange and brown paper or printable template, paper lunch bag, scissors, glue

Best for: Puppet-show play

A jack-o-lantern puppet with a movable mouth built on a paper lunch bag. The free template includes the pumpkin top, body, and a mouth piece that lines up with the bag flap so the puppet can talk. For a no-print pumpkin instead, our recycled pumpkin box uses a toilet paper roll and orange paper. The alignment instructions are clear enough that it works on the first try.

See the Pumpkin Puppet at Simple Everyday Mom →

Paper Spider and Spider Web Crafts

12. Cut-Paper Spider Web (Snowflake Method)

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 10 min  ·  Ages: 5+  ·  Materials: Printer paper, scissors

Best for: Window display

Fold a square into a tight triangle, cut slits along the folded edges, and unfold to reveal a full circular web. The thinner the slits, the more delicate the web. Any kid who has made a paper snowflake will pick this up instantly. Layer several at different heights across a window for an easy spooky display.

See the Cut-Paper Spider Web at FirstPalette →

13. Paper Strip Spider Web

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 15-20 min  ·  Ages: 4+  ·  Materials: White paper strips, black paper, scissors, glue

Best for: Big wall display

White strips are arranged in a radiating spoke pattern and joined with curved cross-strips to build up the web. Gluing strips is easier for small hands than the fold-and-cut method, and the web can be scaled to fill whatever wall space you have. A small paper spider on top finishes it off.

See the Paper Strip Spider Web at Kids Activities Blog →

14. Cut-Paper Spider Web with Spider

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 15 min  ·  Ages: 5+  ·  Materials: White paper, black paper for the spider, scissors, string or tape

Best for: Neat window web

Another fold-and-cut web, this one photographed step by step and finished with a small black spider so kids can see exactly where each cut goes. It hangs beautifully in a window and uses a single sheet of paper. A nice next step for a child who wants a tidier web than the freehand strip version.

See the Spider Web at Red Ted Art →

15. Origami Spider

Difficulty: Intermediate  ·  Time: 20-25 min  ·  Ages: 8+  ·  Materials: Square craft paper, scissors, gel pen

Best for: Older kids, a challenge

The trickiest project here: eight legs separated with careful cuts along pre-folded crease lines. It suits older kids who have already tried the ghost and bat folds. Add googly eyes and blush for a cute spider, or leave the face plain for something genuinely creepy. Works perched on a table or dropped in a treat bag.

Fold the Origami Spider →

Paper Witch Crafts

16. Paper Plate Witch Hat

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 20-30 min  ·  Ages: 5+  ·  Materials: Paper plate, black cardstock, black paint, foam brush, scissors, glue

Best for: Painting and decor

Half a paper plate becomes the brim and a rolled cardstock cone becomes the pointed top. Kids paint the brim black and decorate the band with a paper strip and a sticker. For a witch that stands on its own, our recycled spoon witch uses paper cutouts too. It makes a cute wall decoration or a hat sized for a stuffed animal.

See the Paper Plate Witch Hat at Glued to My Crafts →

17. Torn Paper Witch Hat (No Scissors)

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 20 min  ·  Ages: 3+ (no scissors)  ·  Materials: Black construction paper, witch hat template, glue stick

Best for: No-scissors, ages 3+

The same torn-paper technique as the ghost, applied to a witch hat outline. Kids tear black paper into small pieces and fill the shape in, and the ragged edges actually suit a witch hat. No scissors, so it works for the youngest crafters and for group settings where scissor supervision is limited.

See the Torn Paper Witch Hat at Craft Corner DIY →

18. Witch Paper Bag Puppet (3 Templates)

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 20 min  ·  Ages: 5+  ·  Materials: Paper bag, colored paper, free printable templates (3 options), scissors, glue

Best for: Group drama activity

Three template options let kids choose a witch with a different hat, a broom, and a full dress, so no two puppets look alike. It has more personality than a plain bag puppet and works well as a group drama activity where each child makes a character and they act out a short scene together.

See the Witch Puppet at Arty Crafty Bee →

More Halloween Paper Crafts

19. Halloween Corner Bookmarks (4 Designs + Free Template)

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 15-20 min  ·  Ages: 6+  ·  Materials: Colored paper, black and pink markers, glue, scissors, free template

Best for: A keepsake that lasts

Four designs in one tutorial: bat, ghost, candy corn, and pumpkin. Each is a folded pocket that slides over a page corner, so kids end up with something useful that lasts through reading season. A free printable template means no freehand drawing, and most 6-year-olds can handle the folding on their own.

Make the Halloween Corner Bookmarks →

20. Paper Haunted House Craft

Difficulty: Beginner  ·  Time: 20-30 min  ·  Ages: 5+  ·  Materials: Black construction paper, colored paper, scissors, glue

Best for: Group bulletin-board scene

Cut a haunted house silhouette from black paper, then add glowing windows, a full moon, bats, and ghosts from colored scraps. Every child’s house comes out different depending on the details they choose. It shines as a group project, with several houses arranged into a haunted neighborhood on a bulletin board.

See the Haunted House Craft at Craft Corner DIY →

Halloween Paper Craft Tips for Parents and Teachers

Match the project to the age, not just the difficulty rating. A “beginner” project can still need fine motor skills a 4-year-old does not have. The fold-and-cut spider web and the origami bat are beginner projects for kids 6 and up, while the torn-paper ghost and torn-paper witch hat are genuinely doable for ages 3 and up.

Pre-cut for younger kids. For children under 5, pre-cutting the basic shape lets them focus on the fun parts: gluing, drawing, and decorating. It works for almost every project here without changing how the finished craft looks.

Keep paper weight in mind. Regular printer paper is fine for origami folds and cut-paper webs. For the 3D projects that need to hold their shape, like the paper pumpkin and the flapping bat, cardstock in the 65 to 80 lb range makes a real difference.

Set up in batches for groups. For a classroom or party, pre-trace and stack 10 to 15 sets of cutouts before you start. Tracing is the slowest step, and doing it ahead keeps the whole group moving at a pace kids can sustain.

Turn the finished crafts into decor. Most of these look great strung on a length of yarn or kitchen twine. A garland turns a table activity into a room decoration the kids are proud to keep up through October.

Paper is the most forgiving Halloween craft material there is. Nearly every project here costs less than a couple of dollars, most finish in under half an hour, and none need anything beyond a basic craft drawer.

If you try any of our tutorials, share your version on social media with #thecraftaholicwitch. We love seeing what kids come up with, especially the ones that go in unexpected directions.

Happy crafting!