Halloween is one of my favourite times of year to get creative with the kids! Between spooky decorations, silly costumes, and fun crafts, there are so many ways to make the season special without spending a fortune. If you love simple, budget-friendly activities as much as I do, this easy DIY spider craft is a perfect addition to your Halloween crafting list.
Using styrofoam balls, pipe cleaners, and string, you can create adorable little spiders that are perfect for decorating your home, classroom, daycare, or Halloween party. Make them creepy and realistic, or give them colourful legs and googly eyes for a cute, kid-friendly look!
The best part? You probably already have some of these supplies in your craft cupboard.
Why You’ll Love This Halloween Spider Craft
This is a fantastic Halloween activity for families, daycare providers, and teachers because it is inexpensive, easy to customize, and doesn’t require a long list of supplies.
You can make an entire family of spiders in different sizes and colours. Hang them from the ceiling, dangle them in doorways, attach them to Halloween displays, or use them to decorate your seasonal craft table.
I love crafts that let kids use their imaginations without needing everything to look perfect. Every spider can have its own personality!
Supplies You’ll Need
To make your own spooky styrofoam spiders, gather the following materials:
- Styrofoam balls in your preferred sizes
- Black, orange, purple, green, or other colourful pipe cleaners
- String, yarn, or thin cord
- Googly eyes
- Black paint or markers
- Craft glue
- Scissors
- A toothpick or skewer for making small holes (adult use only)
- Optional: glitter, pom-poms, felt, or other decorations
You can use one styrofoam ball for each spider. Smaller balls create cute little spiders, while larger ones make excellent statement decorations.
Budget-friendly tip: Check your existing craft supplies before buying anything new. Leftover pipe cleaners, yarn, and googly eyes from previous projects are perfect for this activity.
How to Make a Spider Out of Styrofoam Balls, Pipe Cleaners, and String
Step 1: Prepare the Spider’s Body
Choose a styrofoam ball for your spider’s body.
If your ball is already black, you’re ready to start decorating. Otherwise, use black craft paint or a black marker to colour it.
Allow painted balls to dry completely before continuing. You can also use orange, purple, green, or glittery colours if you want a more playful Halloween spider.
For younger children, an adult can prepare the balls ahead of time so everyone can get straight to the fun part.
Step 2: Make Eight Spider Legs
Cut four pipe cleaners in half to create eight pieces. These will become your spider’s eight legs.
Choose black pipe cleaners for a traditional spider, or mix and match colours for something more whimsical.
Gently bend each piece into a leg shape. You can make the legs straight, slightly curved, or bent at the joints to give your spider a realistic appearance.
If you’re making a silly Halloween spider, try extra-long legs or alternating colours!
Step 3: Attach the Pipe Cleaner Legs
Carefully insert four pipe cleaner pieces into each side of the styrofoam ball, spacing them out so the spider has four legs on either side.
Push each piece in just far enough to hold securely.
If the pipe cleaners don’t stay in place, an adult can use a small amount of craft glue to secure them. Allow the glue to dry before handling the spider.
Bend the legs into position so your spider can stand on a flat surface or look as though it is crawling.
Safety note: Adults should handle sharp tools and any hot glue. For younger children, pre-poke the holes and supervise the assembly process.
Step 4: Give Your Spider Some Eyes
Now it’s time to bring your spider to life!
Glue two googly eyes onto the front of the styrofoam ball. You can add more eyes if you’re going for a funny, cartoon-style spider.
Try giving each spider a different expression. A pair of oversized eyes can make a spooky spider look surprisingly adorable!
If you don’t have googly eyes, draw eyes using markers or cut small circles from paper.
Step 5: Add the String
The string is what makes this craft especially fun because it allows you to turn your spider into a hanging Halloween decoration.
Cut a length of string or yarn to your desired hanging length.
Tie the string securely around a pipe cleaner where it meets the body, or attach it to the top of the spider using a suitable adhesive and a small piece of lightweight craft material as an anchor.
You can also make a small hole in the top of the styrofoam ball and insert a knotted loop of string, securing it with craft glue. An adult should handle this step.
Make sure the string is firmly attached before hanging your spider.
Step 6: Decorate Your Spooky Spider
This is where everyone gets to show off their creativity!
Try adding:
- Glitter for a sparkly Halloween spider
- Coloured pom-poms for a silly, fluffy look
- Stripes or spots using paint or markers
- Orange and purple legs for a festive colour scheme
- Extra yarn or felt details for a unique design
You can even make a whole collection of spiders with different personalities and names.
Step 7: Hang Your Halloween Spiders
Once everything is dry and secure, your spiders are ready to decorate!
Hang them at different heights to create the illusion of spiders crawling down from the ceiling. You can also attach them to a Halloween tree, decorate a doorway, or place them around a spooky display.
For a party, suspend several spiders above a table or near a Halloween backdrop for an inexpensive decoration that makes a big impact.
Keep hanging decorations away from lights, candles, heaters, and walkways. Use secure hooks and keep loose string and small craft pieces away from young children and pets.
Fun Ways to Customize Your DIY Spiders
One of the best things about this project is that there isn’t just one way to make it.
Make a spooky black spider: Use a black styrofoam ball, black pipe cleaners, and small eyes for a classic Halloween look.
Make a colourful classroom spider: Let each child choose their own colours and decorate a spider to take home.
Create a hanging spider family: Make several spiders in different sizes and suspend them at different heights.
Make a silly spider: Use oversized googly eyes, bright pipe cleaners, and a funny expression.
Create a Halloween party display: Combine your spiders with fake cobwebs, paper bats, and other spooky decorations.
The possibilities are endless, and you can use whatever supplies you already have available.
More Halloween Crafts and Activities From Funky Frugal Mommy
If you love getting crafty for Halloween, there are more ideas to explore on Funky Frugal Mommy!
Here are a few places to start:
- 16 Ideas for Celebrating Quarantine-O-Ween — Find Halloween celebration ideas, decorating inspiration, costume activities, and ways to enjoy the spooky season at home.
- 7 Simple Fall Printable Crafts for Kids — Explore the October 2017 archive, which includes easy seasonal craft inspiration and printable activities for kids.
- How to Make a Rainy Day Umbrella Craft for Daycare Kids — Another simple craft using everyday supplies to keep little hands busy.
- Funky Frugal Mommy’s Home Page — Browse the latest family activities, DIY projects, recipes, and seasonal inspiration.
You can also explore the blog’s older posts for more ideas to make holidays fun without spending a fortune.
Final Thoughts: A Simple and Affordable Halloween Craft
This DIY styrofoam spider craft is proof that you don’t need expensive supplies or complicated instructions to create something fun for Halloween.
With a few styrofoam balls, pipe cleaners, string, and some imagination, you can make a collection of unique spiders to decorate your home or classroom. It’s an easy way to spend creative time together while giving your Halloween decorations a personal touch.
Whether you choose creepy black spiders or colourful little creatures with googly eyes, let everyone make their own designs and enjoy the process.
I hope this craft inspires you to pull out your craft supplies, get a little messy, and make some spooky memories this Halloween!
Happy crafting from Funky Frugal Mommy!