15 Cute Halloween Wreath Ideas With Ghosts and Pumpkins
Halloween brings a chance to welcome cozy nights, flickering lights, and a little playful spookiness to your front door. A handmade wreath with ghosts and pumpkins adds charm that store-bought decor can't match.
Each of these ideas blends whimsy and craft with clear steps and exact supplies. You’ll find something perfect whether you love stitching, painting, or working with paper.
1. Felt Ghost and Pumpkin Wreath
Soft pastel ghosts and mini felt pumpkins dance on a grapevine base for a kid-friendly wreath that feels handmade and sweet. This one stays up all season without looking too spooky.
Materials Needed
- 12-inch natural grapevine wreath
- White wool-blend felt (half a yard)
- Orange wool-blend felt (quarter yard)
- Black embroidery floss
- Needle
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Glue sticks
- Pencil
- Ruler
How to Make It
- Cut 6 ghost shapes from white felt using a 3-inch tall template drawn with pencil and ruler.
- Stitch two black dot eyes on each ghost with short straight stitches using black embroidery floss.
- Cut 4 pumpkin shapes from orange felt, each 2.5 inches tall with scalloped sides.
- Glue each ghost and pumpkin randomly around the wreath with hot glue, letting edges overlap slightly.
- Let dry completely for 10 minutes before hanging.
2. Pumpkin Patch Pipe Cleaner Wreath
Twisted pipe cleaners form tiny upright pumpkins and floating ghosts on a foam ring. It’s lightweight, bouncy, and fun to make with kids who love bending wire into shapes.
Materials Needed
- 8-inch polystyrene foam wreath
- Orange pipe cleaners (12)
- White pipe cleaners (8)
- Green pipe cleaners (4)
- Tacky glue
- Small black pom-poms (8)
- Glue brush
How to Make It
- Bend each orange pipe cleaner into a loose spiral to mimic a pumpkin shape, then pinch the center to create segments.
- Twist a green pipe cleaner around the top of each orange spiral to make a stem.
- Glue one black pom-pom on each ghost pipe cleaner face, placing it near the top third.
- Wrap each white pipe cleaner into a teardrop loop and glue in place on the wreath, alternating with pumpkins.
- Secure all shapes with tacky glue applied at contact points, let cure for 2 hours.
3. Watercolor Ghosts on Burlap Wreath
Delicate hand-painted ghosts float above stitched pumpkins on a coffee-stained burlap wrap. The soft look works well on farmhouse doors or covered porches.
Materials Needed
- 10-inch straw wreath
- Natural burlap fabric (1 yard)
- Cold watercolor set with gray and orange pans
- Round size 4 paintbrush
- Distilled water in spray bottle
- Raffia (1 roll)
- Fabric scissors
- Wooden clothespin
How to Make It
- Cut burlap into a strip 5 inches wide and long enough to wrap the wreath twice, then fray the edges by pulling threads.
- Spritz burlap lightly with water and rub coffee grounds over it to stain, then air dry for 30 minutes.
- Paint 5 wispy ghosts with diluted gray watercolor, letting strokes trail off like smoke.
- Add tiny orange pumpkin silhouettes beneath each ghost using a single curved stroke.
- Wrap stained burlap around the wreath and secure the ends with raffia tied tightly with a clothespin knot.
4. Yarn-Wrapped Pumpkin Ghost Garland Wreath
Bright orange yarn wraps form plump pumpkins while knotted yarn ghosts dangle from the bottom. This textured wreath invites touch and looks cheerful in daylight.
Materials Needed
- 9-inch foam wreath
- Orange bulky yarn (one 100-yard skein)
- White bulky yarn (one 50-yard skein)
- Scissors
- Cardboard (6×6 inch piece)
- Craft knife
- Ruler
How to Make It
- Wrap orange yarn tightly around the foam wreath, covering it completely, and tie off with a double knot hidden in back.
- Cut 12 strands of white yarn, each 10 inches long, from the skein.
- Wrap a 1-inch wide strip of cardboard with white yarn 20 times, then slide it off and tie one end tightly to make a tassel.
- Cut the looped end to create a fluffy ghost shape, then glue three small knots below for drifting movement.
- Attach six yarn pumpkins and four yarn ghosts around the lower half using glued yarn tails, spacing evenly.
5. Mini Paper Lantern Ghost Wreath
Tiny rice paper lanterns become glowing ghosts when lit, paired with flat paper pumpkins on a twig base. Hang it where indoor light shines through for a soft evening glow.
Materials Needed
- Handwoven willow wreath (10 inches)
- White miniature rice paper lanterns (6, 1.5-inch diameter)
- Red LED tea lights (6)
- Orange cardstock (A4 sheet)
- Circle punch, 2-inch
- Glue dots
- Floral wire (12-gauge, 12 inches)
How to Make It
- Punch 6 pumpkin shapes from orange cardstock using the circle punch and fold each slightly down the middle for dimension.
- Twist floral wire into small loops and glue one inside the top of each lantern for hanging.
- Place a tea light inside each lantern and test the glow in a dark room.
- Attach pumpkins to the wreath front with glue dots spaced evenly around the upper half.
- Dangle lantern ghosts from the bottom rim using wired loops, adjusting height so they hang 2–3 inches below.
6. Button Pumpkin Face Wreath
Mismatched buttons form jack-o'-lantern faces against a curtain of sheer white ribbons as ghost trails. It’s a clever way to use old sewing kits and add sparkle.
Materials Needed
- 12-inch Styrofoam wreath
- Assorted orange buttons (18, varying sizes from 0.5 to 1 inch)
- Black buttons (12, 0.25 inch)
- Sheer white organza ribbon (25mm wide, 3 yards)
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
- Pinch bow maker
How to Make It
- Cut organza ribbon into 12 strips, each 9 inches long, and fan out the edges with scissors for a wispy look.
- Glue one ribbon vertically at the bottom of the wreath, then layer 11 more overlapping slightly to form a ghost veil.
- Arrange three orange buttons in a triangle on the wreath front to make a pumpkin face base.
- Glue a small black button above each orange one for eyes and nose, pressing firmly for 5 seconds.
- Make five full faces total, spacing them across the top half, and let glue set for 15 minutes.
7. Popsicle Stick Pumpkin Frame Wreath
Crayon-colored popsicle sticks build tiny shadow boxes for ghost drawings and pumpkin cutouts. This rustic project suits family craft time and uses basic supplies.
Materials Needed
- 10 unpainted popsicle sticks per frame (150 total)
- White drawing paper (5×7 inch sheet)
- Orange crayon
- Black marker
- White glue
- Foam brush
- Clothespins
- Jute twine (3 feet)
How to Make It
- Lay 10 sticks side by side and glue two sticks horizontally across the back to form a frame, clamp with clothespins for 10 minutes.
- Repeat to make 15 frames, then let dry overnight on a flat surface.
- Cut 15 rectangles from drawing paper, each 1.5 x 2 inches, and draw a ghost with marker on five of them.
- Color ten with orange crayon and cut into pumpkin shapes using small scissors.
- Slide each drawing into a frame, tie all together with jute twine in a circular bundle to form the wreath.
8. Chalkboard Paint Ghost Sign Wreath
A round chalkboard panel becomes a friendly ghost sign, surrounded by hand-stamped pumpkins on kraft paper leaves. Write new messages each week for seasonal fun.
Materials Needed
- 8-inch wooden embroidery hoop
- Chalkboard paint (small bottle)
- Foam brush
- White liquid chalk marker
- Kraft paper (half sheet)
- Pumpkin rubber stamp
- Brown ink pad
- Glue stick
- Artificial maple leaves (6)
How to Make It
- Remove inner hoop and paint the outer ring with two coats of chalkboard paint, drying 20 minutes between coats.
- Stamp six pumpkin shapes onto kraft paper using the rubber stamp and brown ink pad.
- Cut out each stamped pumpkin and glue one onto each maple leaf, matching centers.
- Reassemble the hoop and place it flat, then glue the leaf-and-pumpkin pieces around the edge.
- Write 'Boo!' on the chalkboard center with the white marker and hang with twine threaded through the screw.
9. Pom-Pom Pumpkin Cluster Wreath
Fuzzy orange pom-poms cluster like real pumpkins beside cloud-like white ones shaped into ghosts with embroidered faces. It's irresistibly soft and simple to assemble.
Materials Needed
- 9-inch wire wreath frame
- Orange wool yarn (50g)
- White wool yarn (25g)
- Pom-pom maker (large size)
- Black embroidery thread
- Tapestry needle
- Floral picks (6)
- Wire cutters
How to Make It
- Use the pom-pom maker to create 10 orange pom-poms and 6 white ones, wrapping yarn tightly and trimming evenly.
- Sew two black dot eyes on each white pom-pom using short running stitches and thread doubled on the needle.
- Slide a floral pick into the center knot of each pom-pom and twist the wire closed.
- Insert pumpkin pom-poms into the front half of the wreath frame, clustering in groups of three.
- Place ghost pom-poms among them, angling slightly outward, and bend pick wires to secure.
10. Salt Dough Ghost and Pumpkin Ornaments Wreath
Homemade salt dough shapes, baked and painted, hang from twine loops on a bare willow ring. These keepable decorations carry the scent of cinnamon when handled.
Materials Needed
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 3/4 cup water
- Cinnamon essential oil (10 drops)
- Rolling pin
- Ghost-shaped cookie cutter (2 inch)
- Pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter (1.5 inch)
- Straw
- Acrylic paints: white, orange, black
- Paintbrush set
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Twine (6 feet)
How to Make It
- Mix flour, salt, water, and cinnamon oil in a bowl until a smooth dough forms, knead 3 minutes on a floured surface.
- Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick and cut 8 ghosts and 6 pumpkins, using a straw to poke a hole at the top of each.
- Place shapes on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 250°F for 2 hours, turning once halfway.
- Paint ghosts white with black dot eyes and pumpkins orange with green stems, let dry 30 minutes.
- Thread twine through each hole to make a hanger, then tie all to the willow ring in an even circle.
11. Washi Tape Pumpkin Vine Wreath
Stripes and patterns of washi tape turn a plain foam ring into a winding pumpkin vine with ghost accents made from torn tissue paper. It’s fast, no-mess, and great for renters.
Materials Needed
- 10-inch foam wreath
- Orange washi tape (1 roll, 15mm wide)
- Green striped washi tape (1 roll, 10mm)
- White tissue paper (one sheet)
- School glue
- Small paintbrush
- Black fine-tip pen
How to Make It
- Wrap orange washi tape around the foam wreath in a spiral, slightly overlapping each turn to cover completely.
- Cut 6 short pieces of green washi tape and attach diagonally as pumpkin vines near the front.
- Tear tissue paper into 5 irregular cloud shapes, each about 2 inches wide.
- Brush a thin layer of glue on the back of each ghost and press gently onto the wreath behind the pumpkins.
- Draw two black eyes on each ghost with the pen after the glue dries, about 5 minutes.
12. Embroidered Hoop Ghost Wreath
Five small embroidery hoops hold ghost cross-stitches and pumpkin satin stitches, linked together with chain stitch vines. Hang them in a circle for a modern textile wreath.
Materials Needed
- 5-inch embroidery hoops (6)
- White cotton fabric (fat quarter)
- Embroidery floss: black, orange, green
- Size 5 embroidery needle
- Scissors
- Fabric marker
- Iron-on adhesive webbing (4×6 inch sheet)
- Chain stitch tutorial printed
How to Make It
- Cut fabric into 6 squares, each 7 inches, and stretch one in each hoop tightly.
- Cross-stitch a ghost shape using black floss on three hoops, following a simple grid pattern.
- Satin-stitch a pumpkin on the other three using orange floss, outlining first with the fabric marker.
- Add a green French knot stem on each pumpkin and let stitches anchor overnight.
- Link hoops together with green floss chain stitches between adjacent hoops, forming a ring, and hang with ribbon.
13. Cork Pumpkin and Driftwood Ghost Wreath
Upcycled wine corks become stacked pumpkins while bleached driftwood pieces serve as abstract ghosts. Natural textures give this wreath earthy calm.
Materials Needed
- 12 wine corks
- Driftwood pieces (4, palm-sized)
- Hot glue gun
- Glue sticks
- 10-inch grapevine wreath
- Acrylic paint: orange, green
- Paintbrush
- Sandpaper (120 grit)
How to Make It
- Sand rough edges of driftwood lightly and lay them on the wreath base to plan placement.
- Stack three corks vertically and glue together to make one pumpkin, repeat for three more.
- Paint each cork stack orange and add a green dot stem on top, let dry 20 minutes.
- Glue cork pumpkins to the front left and right of the wreath, then attach driftwood pieces opposite as ghosts.
- Press firmly for 10 seconds per piece and let the entire wreath cure for 1 hour before moving.
14. Crayon-Resist Pumpkin Sky Wreath
White crayon drawings of ghosts resist watercolor washes, revealing themselves above hand-rolled paper pumpkins. The dreamy effect looks like a moonlit patch.
Materials Needed
- A4 watercolor paper
- White crayon
- Watercolor set with blue and purple
- Round paintbrush size 6
- Glue stick
- Orange construction paper
- Pencil
- 9-inch foam wreath
How to Make It
- Draw 5 ghost shapes on watercolor paper with the white crayon, pressing hard to leave wax ridges.
- Wet the brush and apply a light wash of blue and purple watercolor over the entire sheet, let dry 30 minutes.
- Cut orange construction paper into 1-inch strips and roll each into a tube, gluing the seam.
- Fan the ends of each tube with scissors to create pumpkin ridges and glue flat side down.
- Glue dried watercolor sheet to the foam wreath, then arrange paper pumpkins along the bottom edge.
15. Knit Pumpkin and Lace Ghost Wreath
Tiny hand-knit pumpkins sit beside vintage lace doilies trimmed to look like floating ghosts. Knitters and non-knitters can team up on this heirloom-style piece.
Materials Needed
- Size 6 knitting needles
- Orange worsted yarn (one 50g ball)
- White lace doilies (4, 4-inch diameter)
- Fabric scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Green embroidery floss
- Tapestry needle
- 10-inch straw wreath
How to Make It
- Knit 4 pumpkin squares using garter stitch, each 2 inches square, bind off and weave in ends.
- Sew up three sides of each square, stuff lightly with yarn scraps, then close the top and add a green floss stem.
- Cut the center from each doily, leaving a lacy ring, then trim outer edge into soft wavy points to suggest arms.
- Glue each knit pumpkin to the wreath front, spacing evenly, and press one lace ghost above each.
- Hold each ghost in place with a dab of glue at three points and let dry for 45 minutes.
You’ve got everything you need to start today, from yarn and glue to paper and paint. Pick one idea that makes you smile and gather your supplies tonight.
