DIY Dollar Store Halloween Wreath: How I Created a Spooky (and Budget-Friendly) Halloween Wreath

Can you believe it’s almost Trick or Treat time? Seriously, where did the year go? It feels like just yesterday I was packing away Christmas decorations, and now here we are, knee-deep in spooky season.

Despite my best intentions (yes, I did pin about 700 Halloween decor ideas), time has a funny way of sneaking up on me. Between work, family visits, chasing after a two-year-old, and, you know, life, I barely have enough time to keep the house clean—let alone get crafty. But I digress.

Like most DIYers (or even frugal shoppers), I hate spending a fortune on something I know I can make myself. I’ve seen those gorgeous Halloween wreaths at Michael’s, and yes, they’re stunning. But $60 for a wreath?! No, thanks.

The Craft Demons in me immediately start chanting, “You can make one! You can make a better one! Bigger! Cheaper!”—and so, I had to try.

The Quest for the Perfect DIY Halloween Wreath

Disclaimer: These were my first-ever attempts at making wreaths, so be kind. I’m sharing what worked, what didn’t, and everything in between, so maybe you can skip the mistakes and go straight to the awesome results.

First up, I found some grapevine wreaths at the dollar store. They were a bit on the small side, but hey, for a dollar, why not? Then I hit the jackpot at Goodwill, where I scored another wreath for just $1. Michael’s had a slightly bigger one for $5—so I grabbed that too. And what’s Halloween without some creepy-crawly elements? I picked up glow-in-the-dark spiders and some spiderwebs. (You know, to keep things classy.)

Cricut to the Rescue (And My First Time Using It for Halloween)

I don’t know about you, but I love a good deal. Cricut offered a Halloween digital rental bundle for $19.99 (60 days of Halloween-themed cuts!) and I was sold. While I didn’t have nearly enough time to use everything in the bundle (story of my life), I managed to sneak in some cute die-cuts for my wreaths. If you’ve got a Cricut sitting around gathering cobwebs, Halloween is a great time to dust it off and get creative. (Or make it natural decoration?)

The Crafting Process: My Hits and Misses

I had already stocked up on some Halloween and fall-themed ribbons (yes, I’m that person who buys ribbons on clearance), so I was ready to go. I also found some green chargers at Michael’s for a dollar each and decided to incorporate them. Throw in some clearance fabric from Hobby Lobby, spray paint, and random fake plants from the ghosts of autumns past, and I was set.

Now, full disclosure: I didn’t originally plan for this to be a tutorial, so no step-by-step photos (oops). But here’s what I learned along the way.

Lessons Learned from My First Wreaths:

1. Don’t Skimp on the Ribbon.
One major rookie mistake I made: not having enough ribbon to wrap all the way around my wreath. The orange ribbon in the top wreath? It’s literally snipped into pieces and hot-glued in place because I ran out halfway through. Not my finest moment, but hey, it works. So, tip number one: make sure you have enough ribbon before you start gluing things down.

2. Chargers Look Great—But Are a Pain to Attach.
Using the green plastic charger in the center of the wreath was a cute idea, but actually attaching it? Not so much. It didn’t sit flush with the wreath, and I ended up wrestling with it way more than I’d like to admit. If you go this route, be prepared for a little extra effort (and some swearing). Hot glue and black zip ties ended up being my saviors here.

3. Spray Paint Is Your Friend (But Don’t Overdo It).
I spray-painted the fake flowers and fence I added to one of the wreaths, and I’m actually obsessed with how they turned out. I went with a black base, then lightly misted them with white spray paint for a ghostly effect, and it added the perfect spooky touch. That said, I also spray-painted one of the wreaths black…and I probably wouldn’t do it again. The difference was barely noticeable, and the paint flaked off anyway. Lesson learned!

4. Don’t Be Afraid to Improvise.
Half the fun of DIY is figuring things out as you go. I used old faux flowers from a forgotten decoration, chopped up fake plants, and a wooden fence piece I found at Hobby Lobby to give my wreaths some character. The best part? They cost me next to nothing. So, dig through your stash and get creative—you’ll be surprised what you can come up with.

---

The Final Result

For my first go at wreath-making, I’m pretty happy with how they turned out. Are they perfect? No. But they’re fun, they’re spooky, and they were made with love (and, let’s be real, a lot of hot glue). Plus, I now feel way more confident tackling Christmas wreaths—bring on the holiday season!

---

Bonus Tips for Making Your Halloween Wreath Stand Out

1. Add Dimension with Die-Cuts.
   I used my Cricut to add some Halloween-themed die-cuts to my wreaths, and it made such a difference! Keep in mind that cardstock can be flimsy, though. I layered a few pieces together to make sturdier decorations, but if you’ve mastered the art of foam or chipboard cutting, you’re ahead of me.
2. Use What You Have.
   Some of the best parts of my wreaths came from using old decorations I already had lying around. Don’t be afraid to tear apart a tired faux flower arrangement or reuse a fabric remnant from an old project. It saves money and gives your wreath a unique touch.
3. Get Creative with Foliage.
   Spray-painting old faux plants and flowers was a game-changer for me. It’s an easy way to add that eerie, haunted look to your wreath without spending extra cash. Just make sure to mist the paint lightly—you want a faded, ghostly effect, not a solid coat.