If You Have Yarn And A Pumpkin, You Can Make A No-Carve, Funky Craft

Carving pumpkins is a timeless Halloween tradition, but it can sometimes be more of a hassle than it's worth. For one, you're bound by how long a carved pumpkin will last, which, typically, is five days at most. And don't get us started on the squishy, rotten mess those Halloween decorations can leave behind on your porch after the holiday's over. Still, though, if you feel like Halloween isn't complete without a pumpkin or two around the house, we've got a simpler, no-carve alternative for you: yarn spider webs.

The idea comes from Evite on TikTok, who wraps yarn around a small gourd to create the cutest (and easiest) holiday display. The best part? This eye-catching craft only requires a few supplies — and you might already have some of them at home. Specifically, you'll need a pumpkin, white yarn or string, black ribbon, and a package of plastic spiders.

It's a fairly affordable DIY, since you can pick up the craft supplies from a low-cost retailer like Walmart or Dollar Tree. On Amazon, for example, this package of Jialwen plastic spiders costs less than $7 for 120 pieces. Altogether, the yarn, ribbon, and spiders may total under $15 (if you need to get everything new), which you can then use for multiple no-carve pumpkins, each of which can cost between $3 to $9, depending on the size.

Ready to get to work? Grab your ball or skein of yarn and tie a knot around the pumpkin's stem. Next, to create the spider-web look for your Halloween décor, wrap the yarn around the pumpkin as many times as you'd like. You might have to play around with it to figure out the design you prefer. In the video, the creator mainly uses vertical threads, but they also make a few horizontal ones, too. When you're happy with the result, tie the end of the yarn around the stem again. If you're having trouble getting the yarn to stay in place, you can use hot glue to secure it.

@evite

it's no-mess, kid-friendly, you only need four supplies – and bonus, you'll be proud to have it sit on your porch 🕸️🎃🕷️ #evite #spookyseason #halloween #halloween2023 #halloweenparty #halloweendecor #halloweencraft #spooky #witchtok #halloweentiktok #getspooky #pumpkin #pumpkinparty #halloweenidea #pumpkinidea

♬ original sound – Evite

To further hide the ends of the yarn and create a more polished look, you could tie a black ribbon or bow around the top. (Purple or green ribbon could also work well, especially if you'd like an even funkier Halloween color scheme.) Finally, to attach the fake spiders to the yarn web, you have two options: hot glue them to the pumpkin or tuck them between the strands of yarn. And you're done!

Aside from how simple and inexpensive it is, there are a couple other reasons we love this budget-friendly DIY Halloween craft. For starters, it's a fun and safe activity for kids of all ages (especially younger ones). Not only does the DIY let them express their creativity and enjoy Halloween festivities without making a mess, but it also doesn't require any sharp tools like carving a pumpkin would. You can also work on the pumpkin(s) at any time, not just within a few days of displaying them. Finally, it's versatile. You can add the finished product to your dining room table or pop it outside the front door, on the kitchen counter, or anywhere else you like to show off your crafts.