For any Halloween-crazed enthusiasts out there, this haunted drive-in movie is the perfect way to spice up your October decorations in your front yard. It’s super spooky and surprisingly easy to pull together. Check it out!

I put together this haunted drive-in movie for the Scarecrow Festival at Ashton Gardens in Lehi, Utah. This was my 9th year submitting a scarecrow. Although I made this as a scarecrow display, you could easily use it as a yard decoration for your front yard. It’s pretty easy. Here’s how I did it.

Build your character cars

Paint your cars
I decided to use storage tubs instead of cardboard boxes for the cars so they would hold up to the elements outside. I collected seven tubs for free from yard sales. Spray paint each tub a different Halloween color. I used green, purple and orange. I bought a can of spray paint for about $6 on Amazon and I sprayed two tubs with one can.

Decorate your cars
Now that your cars are painted, you’ll need to decorate them like cars. I added the following accessories:

• Wheels – black paper plates with silver strips of paper
• Bumpers – Pool noodles covered with duct tape
• Steering wheels – Black paper plates attached with pool noodles
• Headlights – Small back paper plates with gold wrapping paper circles
• License Plates – Printable Halloween license plates that I designed (download at the end of this blog post for free)

The paper plates ended up being a bad idea because after a couple of wind storms, they fell right off. I would recommend using plastic of some sort and screwing them on really securely.

Add your characters
I needed to make seven Halloween characters to sit in the cars. So, I tried to find items that I already had around the house. I ended up with the following characters:

• Witch – a witch face with a wig and cloak
• Pumpkin – light-up pumpkin decoration
• Octopus – stuffed animal
• Werewolf – old Halloween mask
• Ghost – old bed sheet
• Monster – recycled Halloween decoration
• Cat – old Halloween mask

I attached each character inside each car with a bunch of styrofoam and duct tape. Just get creative.

Set up your refreshment stand

You can create a refreshment stand in a lot of different ways. I scoured Facebook Marketplace until I found an old wooden shelf that someone was getting rid of for free. You can also build your own refreshment stand with some wooden crates and 2x4s. I painted the wooden shelf black and then added all the details.

Here’s the following items that I added to the refreshment stand to make it look like something you would see at a drive-in movie:

• Popcorn boxes – filled with corn puffs
• Vintage popcorn machine
• Glass soda bottles – wrapped with Halloween drink labels
• Life-size skeleton – with a paper bow tie and hat and attached to rebar so it stands up
• Candy bar display – candy boxes covered in Halloween labels displayed on a black sturdy poster board
• Drive-in movie sign – Large poster board with “Dracula’s Haunted Drive-in” written on it and a large arrow pointing to the movie screen

I tried to secure most of the items on the refreshment stand with hot glue but if you can nail them down, that would work better. Some of the items started falling off the stand. I also found the popcorn machine at a yard sale for $10.

Set up the movie screen

The movie screen is probably the easiest part but it did take a little bit of work to find a display stand. Fortunately, I found a tradeshow display stand on Facebook Marketplace. It worked perfectly. If you can’t find something like that, you could use and outdoor movie screen or a couple of heavy duty shepherd hooks and a pole.

I found an extra-large Halloween backdrop of the clown from “It” and attached it to the display stand. Then I added some window curtains to the side and a black blanket at the top.

Once I built all of the elements of the drive-in movie, it was time to put it all together. I was so happy the way of this turned out. And, I was able to find most of my supplies using items I had laying around the house. The entire display only cost me about $100. Hopefully you will have just as much fun as I did creating this fun Halloween haunted drive-in movie. Let me know how it goes in the comments below.

You can download the free Halloween license plate printables below. Enjoy!

More from My Silly Squirts: How to make a life-size spooky Halloween tree

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Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Spongbob Squarepants! Yep, that’s right, you can make your very own life-size look alike of our favorite sea sponge and it’s a lot easier than you might think. So, whether it’s for a party, Halloween or just because your love Spongebob, here’s how to create your very own right now!

Every year, I like to enter a scarecrow into the Scarecrow Festival at Thanksgiving Point’s Ashton Gardens. It’s such a fun tradition during the Halloween season. This year I wanted to create something everyone recognized, something colorful and something fun. Well, Spongebob is definitely all of the above. Here’s how I did it and how you can do it too.

Step #1: The body

You’ll need four pieces of pink insulation foam that are 2 feet x 4 feet. I bought a 4 feet x 8 feet piece at Home Depot for $20 and just cut that with a jigsaw into four 2 feet x 4 feet pieces. It worked perfect.

Next, you’ll want to draw Spongebob onto one of the boards. Maximize the entire space. You’ll be using this as a template for the remainder of this project. It helps to print out a picture of Spongebob for reference.

Finally, working with the foam board that has the drawing of Spongebob, cut out everything except the legs with a jigsaw (see the image below). Use the first board and trace that same shape onto the remaining three boards and cut out the same shape until you have four foam boards that are the exact same shape. If you don’t have a jigsaw, you’ll want to spend $30 and buy one. It will make this project sooooo much easier.

Step #2: The base

Here’s the items that you will need to assemble the base for your Spongebob:

• 10 feet of PVC pipe
• Six 3/4″ tee pvc pipe fittings
• PVC pipe cement
• PVC pipe cutter

Spongebob’s two legs are going to be made out of PVC pipe. So, basically, just cut your PVC and assemble them based on the image below. The measurements don’t need to be exact. After you’ve cut and assembled your base, glue all of the pieces together with PVC pipe cement. Make sure the legs are facing straight up when you apply the glue because it dries fast!

Step #3: Attached base to Spongebob’s body

Trace the shape of the up three quarters of Spongebob’s legs onto the third layer of foam. Then, cut out the shape that you traced. You should be able to fit the upper part of the base firmly on Spongebob. Then basically glue everything together with Gorilla glue. Take a look at the image below and you can watch my video on how I made Spongebob as well.

Step #4: Paint and add embellishments

Now for the fun part. I bought a small jar of yellow house paint at the store and started painting. Basically, just paint Spongebob the way he is supposed to look. You should have already traced him on the foam insulation, so just fill it in with color. I decided to use a styrofoam ball and cut it in half for his eye balls. If I were to do it again, I would buy a really big styrofoam ball.

I also traced and cut out the arms, shoulders and shoes out of insulation foam. I attached them with a wire and Gorilla glue.

You’re done. I was so happy with the way my Spongebob Squarepants turned out. I am going to keep this little gem and display it on my porch every year for Halloween. Anyway, hopefully this tutorial was helpful. Send me a picture of your life-size Spongebob when you do it yourself!

Related link: DIY Life-size Blobby from Hotel Transylvania

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October 31 is arguably one of the best days of the year. If you share the same sentiment, then Halloween decorations are a must in your home. So, buckle up, because I found the top 10 DIY decorations that will blow your Halloween mind. Check it out!

Sometimes Halloween decorations can get pretty pricey. But they don’t have to be if you do them yourself. Some of these I have done myself. And some of them I can’t wait to try. So let’s begin.

Halloween decorations: Monster wreath

If you head to your local craft store, a wreath like this would normally cost $85-100. But you can make it for just $25. The tulle is what costs the most, so use coupons if you have them. Click here for a tutorial.

Life-size front porch witch

I made this one a few years ago. It is a little bit more work but well worth it. Especially considering life-size Halloween decorations usually cost hundreds of dollars. This one cost about $50. I used a lot of supplies that I found around the house. For completely tutorial, click here.

Bats on the wall

This will cost you $5 or less. Plus, you get a free bat template by clicking here. Hauntingly cute and ridiculously easy.

Wickedly cute witch shoes

I made these a couple years ago and holy cow, I love them. Don’t wear them! Put them on the shelf and admire them. Find an old pair of heels and make them for about $10. Complete tutorial here.

Halloween Diamond Wall Art

It’s nice to have framed Halloween decorations on the walls. And diamond art is the way to do it. This piece only cost me about $6 on Amazon. You can buy your own here. And learn how to do Diamond art here (it’s so easy).

Potion bottles

These are super creepy. I love them. For $5 or less you can make your own here. If you need some potion bottles to get started, buy them here.

Blobby and son from Hotel Transylvania

I can almost guarantee you’ll be the only one in your neighborhood with this lawn decoration made entirely of pool noodles. I made this myself. If you could buy this in the stores, I guarantee it would cost at least $200. But, I only spent a cool $30. Learn how to make it here. Check out Hotel Transylvania here.

Halloween countdown

Decoration your fridge and get excited for Halloween at the same time! This cute advent calendar is easy and fun for the kids. Plus it only costs about $4 to make. Check it out here.

Witch’s broom

This will cost you $0. Yep, it’s just a stick and more sticks and some string. So, check it out here.

Bleeding Halloween candles

This will only cost you about $3 but they will look so expensive and scary. Check it out here.

What ideas do you have for your own DIY Halloween decorations? Leave your comments below.

Related link: Halloween mystery boxes game

The post Boo! 10 easy, cheap & unique DIY Halloween decorations appeared first on My Silly Squirts.

I love Blobby from Hotel Transylvania and so do my kids. I also love Halloween. So I figure, why not combine the two? That’s how I came up with this adorable life-size lawn decoration that will make your Halloween even spookier.

So, every year the Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah holds a scarecrow festival for the general public to participate.. Last year, I did a witch but this year I wanted to submit something a little bit more unique. So I came up with Blobby and his son from Hotel Transylvania 3 which came out earlier this summer. Here’s how you can make your own.

Get your Blobby supplies

If you’re looking for a cost-effective Halloween decoration, this isn’t it. But it will definitely be worth it. From start to finish, this entire project cost me about $35, mostly because I spent $30 on bright green pool noodles. Ha ha. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 30-35 lime green pool noodles
  
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Scissors or large serrated knife

You’ll also need to print some eyes for Blobby and his son. Just click on the link below.

I bought all of my pool noodles at Dollar Tree all the way back in April because by the time September rolled around, they were completely sold out.

Start cutting and gluing

To make your Blobby, you just have to make large circles out of pool noodles that get progressively smaller and smaller. The first circle–the largest one–should be about 40 inches wide. 

The trickiest part is holding the pool noodles together tightly after applying the hot glue.  If the glue is not completely cooled before you let go, it will come apart. I made each individual circle and then glued them all together. I had ten rings total.

Finishing Bobby’s head was the hardest part. I ended up cutting pool noodles, bending and gluing across the top. Then I filled in the gaps with the scraps. 

Finishing touches

Blobby just wouldn’t be as cute without his cute sidekick son. It took about three pool noodles to finish this little guy.  The photo is pretty self explanatory. Then just print the eyes (PDF file below) and hot glue them. 

I LOVE the way these turned out.  I can’t wait to put them in my front yard for Halloween!

You can put Blobby and son on your front lawn or even on your porch to make for a very festive and fun Halloween.

More Halloween lawn decor ideas

• 30 Hillarious Elf on the Shelf ideas for your Halloween skeleton
• The BEST do it yoursef Halloween decorations
• 100 Best Halloween porch ideas
• DIY Witches Brooms
• Front porch and outdoor Halloween decorating ideas

What fun ideas do you have to decorate your lawn and front porch this Halloween?  Leave your comments below.

Related link: Halloween Mystery Boxes

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