DIY Halloween Decorations
How do you make DIY Halloween decorations for the window?
Get creative this Halloween with a decoration that costs almost nothing and comes off the glass without a mark. The idea is to dry a thin layer of PVA wood glue into a flexible orange disc, then cut it into a pumpkin face. Make a few of varying sizes and stick them in the window.
The one thing to know before you start is that this project takes three days of drying, so it is a school-holiday activity rather than an afternoon one. Start it early in the week if you want the pumpkins up by Halloween.
What you need
- Selleys Aquadhere Interior
- A variety of plastic or metal lids — jam jar lids, Vegemite lids and the like
- Orange food colouring
- A toothpick
- Scissors
- Glitter, if you want it
How to make the decorations
- Squeeze a thin layer of Selleys Aquadhere Interior into a lid, making a nice even cover over the lid.
- Put a few small drops of orange food colouring on the glue. Less is more. If you want to get really creative you might like to sprinkle some glitter on a couple of the lids.
- Use a toothpick to mix the food colouring in with the glue.
- Leave to dry for 3 days to cure completely.
- Once the glue is dry, gently peel it away from the lid and use scissors to trim your creation into the shape of a pumpkin. Cut around the eyes and teeth too. Have an adult help with this step.
- Place your creation straight onto the glass window and spook the neighbours. They stick on easily and peel right off again.
Getting a good result
Keep the layer thin and even
Spread the glue by tilting the lid rather than adding more of it. A thick pour dries from the top down, so the surface skins over while the middle stays wet — that gives a cloudy disc that will not come out of the lid cleanly and is hard to cut. A thin, even layer dries evenly and stays translucent, which is the whole point for something that has to catch the light in a window.
Mix the colour in properly for a pumpkin
This project differs from the DIY sun catcher version in one detail: here you mix the colour into the glue with a toothpick rather than swirling it for a pattern. A pumpkin wants an even orange, so keep working the toothpick through until the colour is consistent. A couple of drops is plenty — too much dye and the disc goes dark and loses its translucency.
Why three days
PVA dries by losing water to the air, and it can only do that from the top surface because the lid seals the bottom. That is far slower than a normal glue line between two porous surfaces. If the disc is still tacky or cloudy, it is not dry — leave it longer rather than trying to lift it. A warm, dry, well-ventilated spot helps; a heater or hair dryer does not, because it skins the surface and traps water underneath.
Cutting the face
Dried PVA is flexible and slightly rubbery, so it cuts cleanly with sharp scissors but drags on blunt ones. Cut the outline first, then the eyes and mouth. Small internal cuts are easier if you fold the disc gently to start the cut rather than trying to pierce it flat. This is the step to have an adult do.
Why they stick without glue
Dried PVA is smooth and slightly tacky, so a thin disc makes close contact with the glass and holds by surface contact alone. Nothing is left behind when you peel it off — which is what makes it a good decoration for a rental.
Limitations — keep them inside
Selleys Aquadhere Interior is a PVA wood adhesive for interior use, and it is not waterproof. Put a pumpkin on the outside of the window, or on a window that runs with condensation, and it will soften and go milky. They belong on the inside of the glass, in a dry room. It is also not a structural adhesive — this project uses it as a casting material, which is fine for craft but not something to extend to anything that has to hold weight.
Making a set
Lids of different sizes give you a group of pumpkins of varying scale, which looks better in a window than several the same size. Glitter on one or two adds contrast against the plain ones. If you have leftover coloured glue in other shades, the same discs can be cut into ghosts, bats or spiders.
For other craft projects using the same technique and the same glue, see DIY sun catcher, DIY air dry clay, DIY Christmas ornaments and DIY Christmas candle holders.
Common questions about DIY Halloween decorations
What glue do I use?
Selleys Aquadhere Interior, a PVA wood adhesive. It dries into a flexible, translucent disc that can be cut with scissors.
How long do they take to dry?
Three days to cure completely. The lid seals the underside so the glue can only dry from the top.
Can I dry them faster?
Choose a warm, dry, well-ventilated spot. Do not use a heater or hair dryer — the surface will skin over and trap moisture underneath.
How much food colouring do I need?
A few small drops, mixed through with a toothpick. Less is more.
Do they stick to the glass on their own?
Yes. They stick on easily by surface contact and peel right off again without leaving a mark.
Can I put them on the outside of the window?
No. Aquadhere Interior is not waterproof, so keep them on the inside of the glass and away from steam.
Mine is stuck in the lid — what now?
If it feels tacky it is not dry yet. Give it longer, then peel gently, running a knife around the edge if needed. Have an adult do that part.
Why is my disc cloudy in the middle?
The layer was too thick, so the centre has not dried. Next time spread a thinner layer by tilting the lid rather than adding more glue.
What sort of lids work?
Plastic or metal jar lids — jam jar lids, Vegemite lids and similar. Use a mix of sizes.
Can I reuse them next year?
If they are kept dry and flat, yes. Moisture is what breaks them down.
Is it safe for kids to do?
The gluing and colouring are, but the cutting and the knife work around the lid edge should be done by an adult.
What glue do I use?
Selleys Aquadhere Interior, a PVA wood adhesive. It dries into a flexible, translucent disc that can be cut with scissors.
How long do they take to dry?
Three days to cure completely. The lid seals the underside so the glue can only dry from the top.
Can I dry them faster?
Choose a warm, dry, well-ventilated spot. Do not use a heater or hair dryer — the surface will skin over and trap moisture underneath.
How much food colouring do I need?
A few small drops, mixed through with a toothpick. Less is more.
Do they stick to the glass on their own?
Yes. They stick on easily by surface contact and peel right off again without leaving a mark.
Can I put them on the outside of the window?
No. Aquadhere Interior is not waterproof, so keep them on the inside of the glass and away from steam.
Mine is stuck in the lid — what now?
If it feels tacky it is not dry yet. Give it longer, then peel gently, running a knife around the edge if needed. Have an adult do that part.
Why is my disc cloudy in the middle?
The layer was too thick, so the centre has not dried. Next time spread a thinner layer by tilting the lid rather than adding more glue.
What sort of lids work?
Plastic or metal jar lids — jam jar lids, Vegemite lids and similar. Use a mix of sizes.
Can I reuse them next year?
If they are kept dry and flat, yes. Moisture is what breaks them down.
Is it safe for kids to do?
The gluing and colouring are, but the cutting and the knife work around the lid edge should be done by an adult.