1. Start with Kid-friendly, Flame-free Candles and Votives:

Have any orange or black placemats on-hand? How about colorful drinking glasses — maybe in white, frost, orange, smoky gray, green or purple? Any white candle pillars stashed in a drawer? These everyday things can do double-duty as Halloween decor! For example:

• MYO-Votives: Add some construction paper bits to colorful drinking glasses, pop a flame-free candle in the glass and, Presto! Instant Halloween votive candles that kids can easily help make. We used Bentley 11-oz plastic tumblers  in Smoke and Tangerine, construction paper and double-sided gift tape. 
  

  Plastic glasses do double-duty as Halloween votive candles

• Create a Ghostly Glow: Don’t spend your money on fancy Halloween candles that you’ll just have to store in a few weeks! Grab simple white or orange pillar candles (of course, battery operated candles are best) and attach paper or fun foam bits to make Jack-o-Lantern faces or Ghosts. (If you use real candles, place embellishments well below the burn region and keep an eye on them when burning).

Arrange several candles, homemade votives or a combination of these across the mantle for a Halloween spookscape, or place a few on orange or black placemats for a flickering centerpiece.

3. For a Spideriffic Centerpiece, Start in the Backyard:

What could be spookier (or cheaper) than a cluster or spindly branches hung with paper or pipe cleaner spiders? For this simple project, you just need some branches, an empty soup or coffee can, floral foam or dried beans* to hold the branches in place, some pipe cleaners or construction paper, and glue. If you want to get fancy, spray paint the branches and can before assembling. (*If decorating around toddlers, use foam instead of dried beans – if spilled, beans could be a choking hazard)

Battery operated candles offer a spooky and kid-safe glow

4. Safe — and Spooky – Trick-or-Treating Lights:

Add a little extra creepy to your little ghouls’ and booys’ costumes this year. Instead of flashlights, give them a battery-operated pillar candle to hold. These cast a spooky flickering glow without a flame — perfect if you have a little witch or wizard who really gets into character!

Let us know about your kid-safe, budget-friendly Halloween ideas!

Here are a few safer decorating tips for adding some creepy crawly fun to homes… even those with small, busy kids. Plus budget-friendly Halloween decor ideas using everyday items – like plastic glasses for Halloween votive candle holders; branches and a coffee can for a creepy spider centerpiece; and repurposing everyday placemats for inexpensive Halloween table runners… and more.