By Felicia Czochanski Bisaro
Spooky season is approaching, and all things pumpkins, ghosts and witches are back in style. Seasonal décor can be a fun way to hype up anticipation for a holiday or change in weather. After this summer’s extreme heat, I’m finding myself looking forward to fall more than usual! Celebrating the soon-to-come shift in seasons with an easy thrifted DIY Halloween craft was the perfect way to say goodbye to summer.
Part of what I love about fall is lighting candles and being cozy. This is no exception when it comes to Halloween decorations! You might remember from previous years all of the fun and quick candle décor hacks I’ve shared on the Goodwill® blog. This year, we’re taking these hacks to the next level with a quick and easy craft that takes less than twenty minutes and involves materials you likely already have in your home or can easily find secondhand at Goodwill.
Environmentally-Friendly Secondhand Seasonal Décor
When shopping for seasonal décor, I prefer to do it secondhand. It’s no secret that holiday and seasonal décor generates tons of waste that will eventually sit in landfills for years — like ‘disposable’ Halloween costumes and décor plastic that generates more than 2,000 tons of waste in one year alone. By shopping secondhand, you’re diverting this waste from landfills while also creating the space to get creative with your décor. I have always had great luck at Goodwill and love shopping for a fraction of retail prices, knowing my purchase supports community services and programming while reducing environmental waste.
Your Easy DIY Halloween Craft
So, what’s this year’s Halloween candle craft? It’s spooky, twisted ghost candles!
Take a look at these three easy steps below. All you need is thrifted candle stick holders, candles, a baking pan, hot water and a permanent marker. It’s so easy you’ll want to rinse and repeat. Plus, it cost less than $5!
First, fill a pan or deep bowl with hot water. It doesn’t need to be boiling, but the warmer it is, the less time this craft will take.
Then, place your candles in the hot water. Let them sit for about 10-20 minutes, depending on how hot the water is. Check occasionally to see if they start to get pliable.
Once the candles start to soften, reach into the water and start to transform them into twisted shapes of your choosing.
Then, dry them off. Once they’re dry, you can use a marker to draw ghost faces on them!
Place into candle stick holders or a candelabra and enjoy the start of spooky season.