How To Make a Haunted House With a Milk Carton

By Sheniece Chappell
Photographs by Michael Roytek

Craft a boo-tiful haunted house that will light up your Halloween. You just need a milk carton and some paints!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE A HAUNTED HOUSE

Milk carton (washed and dried)
Large trash bag or newspaper
Black acrylic paint
Battery-operated tealight candle
Craft foam or construction paper
Craft glue
Shape stencil (optional)
Halloween shape stencils (optional)
Craft knife
Gloves
Paintbrushes
Paint pens
Paint tray
Pencil
Sharpie or marker
Scissors

WHAT YOU’LL DO

STEP 1. Rinse and thoroughly dry your empty milk carton. Cover your work surface with a trash bag, newspaper or another protective covering to keep paint off your table.

STEP 2. Use a marker to draw windows and a door on the carton. Then, with the help of an adult if needed, carefully cut them out using a craft knife. Optional: Use a shape stencil to help create evenly sized windows and doors.

STEP 3. Paint the entire carton with one coat of black paint. Set it aside to dry completely for about 2 hours.

STEP 4. While the paint is drying, trace your Halloween-themed stencils onto the foam paper. Cut them out. Set the pieces aside until you’re ready to decorate.

STEP 5. Once the first coat is dry, apply a second coat of black paint. Let it dry completely.

STEP 6. When the paint is fully dry, it’s time to decorate your haunted house! Use paint pens to add a fence, grass, spiderwebs or other spooky details. Then glue on your Halloween foam shapes.

STEP 7. Turn on a battery-operated tealight candle and place it inside the haunted house through the front door. Close the door to let the light shine through the windows.

STEP 8. Your haunted house is complete and ready to display! Place it on a shelf or tabletop to add a spooky glow to your Halloween decor.