How to Make a Haunted Mansion Wreath for Halloween

Directions

1. Collect empty cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper and slice them into 4‑inch segments. Take one segment and fold it lengthwise in half, then unfold. Fold it lengthwise again on the opposite side to transform the round tube into a square form. From the top of each corner, measure 1½ inches down and cut along the crease. Bend the cut pieces outward, then glue two opposite top edges together to create a roof. Next, fold the two remaining opposite flaps upward to meet the roof, glue them in place, and snip off any extra. Repeat this process to craft as many tiny houses as desired.
2. When all the house forms are ready, sketch a front door and windows on the front of each house and carefully cut them out with an X‑acto knife. Cut a separate roof piece from cardboard and glue it to the top of the existing roof, leaving about ½ inch overhang on each side. Paint the entire house dark gray. After the first coat dries, apply a layer of Mod Podge over the house. While the decoupage medium is still wet, brush on a lighter gray or white paint and then use a hair dryer to dry it quickly, which will produce a cracked, aged finish.
3. While the houses dry, create some headstones to scatter among them. Glue two layers of recycled cardboard (for example, from a cereal box) together and let them dry. Cut rectangular pieces from the layered cardboard to serve as the base for each headstone. Then cut various headstone shapes from the same material. Cut wooden craft sticks into 1‑inch sections. Glue one base piece and one headstone shape to each 1‑inch stick to form a tombstone. Paint everything gray and allow it to dry thoroughly.
4. After all the recycled decorations are fully dry, begin assembling the wreath. Start with a plain grapevine wreath and use hot glue to apply different types of dried moss onto it. Next, add the remaining elements from largest to smallest. Because the houses are the biggest items, glue them onto the wreath first. Tuck in a few miniature picket fences among the houses. Then collect some small twigs from outdoors and glue one or two into the wreath to resemble trees. Optionally, adorn the twig trees with paper leaves made using a leaf‑shaped punch, or keep them bare.
5. Now fill in the scene with accessories and decorative elements. Glue the handmade tombstones into place, and add miniature figures such as spiders, bats, small pumpkins, or tiny ghosts to bring the haunted village to life. Attach them with hot glue, or for items you might want to reuse, secure them with florist’s wire. Finally, complete the wreath by wrapping fairy lights around the top (wire the battery pack to the back of the wreath frame to keep it concealed) and tie on a ribbon for convenient hanging.