When it comes time to decorate for the holidays, I like to go all out. Each year, I look at my past decorations and decide what I love (and repeat that). What I’m not excited about, I switch up. My past Halloween mantel was a little too plain, so this year I decided to jazz it up with a Colorful Halloween Mantel! My goal? Make it bright, fun, and festive — withoutspending more than $10.

Here’s my old Halloween mantel. I was tired of the big mash of pumpkins.

To keep it budget-friendly, I challenged myself to spend $10 and use decor and supplies I already had on hand. The result is a playful, pastel-inspired Halloween display that feels sweet instead of spooky.

Colorful Halloween Mantel

SUPPLIES

Dollar Store bats (3)
Toilet paper (1 roll)
Elmer’s white glue
Flour and salt (from my kitchen)
Newspaper
Acrylic paint (in pastel colors)
Paintbrushes
Kite string
Dollar Store pumpkins on skewers (2 packs)
Long doll’s head needle
Hair bows (for the rainbow garland)
Ceramic haunted house (from my stash)
Glitter
Pink cotton fabric
Interfacing and wired ribbon
Gold iron-on vinyl
Cricut machine
Iron
Cake stand
Faux florals (from my Easter mantel)
Pack of Dollar Store spiders ($1.25)
Fabric pumpkins
Halloween-themed nutcrackers

Project 1 – Paper Mache Bats

I started with one of my favorite Halloween DIYs ever — paper mache bats!

These began as Dollar Store decorations with shiny fringe, which wasn’t quite the look I wanted. I loved the bat shape though, so I decided to give them a makeover.

Here’s how I made them:

Prep the base: Leave the fringe on for structure. Use masking or painter’s tape to smooth the edges and cover any gaps.
Make the paper mache:

Submerge a roll of toilet paper in hot water (it’ll start to fall apart immediately!).
Remove the cardboard center. Pull the tissue into smaller pieces.

Strain out excess water in a colander.

Mix in:
- ½ cup Elmer’s glue
- 1½ cups flour
- 3 tablespoons salt

Cover the bats: Use masking tape around the edged of the bat to cover the fringe and as a frame for where the paper mache should go. Apply the paper mache over the bat form, smoothing it as flat as possible.

Note, I ran out of masking tape and later used green painters tape and it was annoying to paint over later, so I recommend masking tape.

Refine the texture: I didn’t love the pulp texture, so I added a layer of torn newspaper with Elmer’s glue over top.

Dry completely: Mine took a full week to dry because they were thick (next time, thinner layers!).

Paint and decorate: Once dry, I painted them a soft grey and added cute pastel details — blushing cheeks and little eyes.

To hang them, I used kite string and small nails above my mantel. The three bats cost about $1.50 each, bringing my total up to $4.50. They’re whimsical and perfectly match my Colorful Halloween Mantel vibe.

Project 2 – Pumpkin Garland

Next up: a cheerful pumpkin garland!

At the Dollar Store, I found small foam pumpkins on skewers (meant for floral arrangements). I knew they’d be adorable once painted.

Steps:

Keep them on the skewers for easy painting.
Paint each pumpkin in a different rainbow color using acrylic paints.
Stick them into a cardboard box to dry.
Once dry, use a long doll needle to string them onto yarn.

I hung the pumpkin garland alongside a rainbow bow garland I made earlier in the year (from Valentine’s Day decor). That one is simply made from hair bows glued together end-to-end, with yarn loops at each end for hanging.

The two packs of pumpkins cost $1.25 each, which brings the total up to $7 out of $10!

Project 3 – Pastel Haunted House

I love using little houses in my decor, so this project was a must!

Years ago, I bought a ceramic haunted house from Michaels, but it had been sitting in my Halloween box untouched. This year, I finally gave it a makeover to match my Colorful Halloween Mantel theme.

Here’s what I did:

Used acrylic paint in soft, pastel tones (lavender, mint, blush).
Added glitter to the trim for a sweet, sparkly finish instead of something spooky.

Once the house was dry, I placed it on top of a cake stand to elevate it and give it a little more presence. Around the front of the cake stand, I stacked some fabric pumpkins I’d made years ago for extra texture and color.

To balance the look, I added florals I had thrifted for my Easter mantel to each side of the house. They weren’t very spooky, so I tucked in a $1.25 pack of plastic spiders from the Dollar Store to give them a Halloween twist.

The result? A perfectly pastel “haunted” centerpiece that feels sweet, not scary!

Project 4 – DIY Halloween Banner

To finish off my mantel (and hide the hooks from my Christmas stockings), I wanted a custom Halloween banner that felt whimsical — almost like something from a fairytale.

Here’s how I made it:

Cut the fabric:

Use a 9” x 48” rectangle of pink cotton fabric.
Trim the ends at an angle for movement.

Sew and turn right-side out:

Fold the fabric lengthwise, right sides together.
Sew around the edges, leaving an 8” opening.
Turn it right-side out and press it flat with an iron.

Add structure:

Stuff it with interfacing and wired ribbon to help it keep its shape.

Add lettering:

With my Cricut, I cut “This is Halloween” from gold iron-on vinyl.
The phrase is from The Nightmare Before Christmas, one of my favorite Halloween movies!
Iron the letters onto the fabric.

Attach it:

Clip the banner to your mantel (I used my stocking hooks).

This added a final polished touch to my Colorful Halloween Mantel — it ties all the pastel elements together and makes everything feel intentional and cohesive.

The Final Look

To complete the top of the mantel, I added a few Halloween nutcrackers for a final pop of personality. The combination of pastel bats, rainbow pumpkins, glittery haunted house, and whimsical banner creates a setup that’s more sweet than scary — and it works perfectly with the rest of my home’s decor.

Here’s the full cost breakdown:

Paper Mache Bats: $4.50
Pumpkin Garland: $2.50
Spiders for Florals: $1.25
Haunted House, Banner, and Other Decor: Free

Grand Total: $8.25 (plus tax!)

It’s proof that you don’t need a big budget to create something special — just creativity, paint, and a few basic supplies.

💡 Pro Tip:

If you want to recreate this look:

Stick to pastel or muted tones for a softer, sweeter Halloween aesthetic.
Add glitter, bows, and playful touches to keep it whimsical.
Mix old decor with handmade crafts — it makes your mantel feel layered and meaningful.

Whether you’re on a tight budget or just want to try something new, this Colorful Halloween Mantel is the perfect way to celebrate the season in your own style.

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