DIY Halloween Window Silhouettes

I was looking for some fun DIY decorations to give my builder-grade window panes a subtle and fun Halloween theme. That’s the beauty of decorating with these DIY Halloween window silhouettes! You can customize them for whatever theme you’re using this Halloween.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure policy and privacy policy.

Making DIY Halloween Window Decorations

If you have little kids as I do, then you probably lean heavily on the easy Halloween decorations like window clings from the dollar store. We like to put them on our front door as well as our windows. And guess what? They’re fun.

It’s definitely not a bad thing to rely on easy Halloween window ideas. And this year the easiest way to get what I want is to make my own silhouettes!

Customizable Halloween Silhouettes

Just because I’m choosing not to do any particular spooky silhouettes doesn’t mean that you can’t if that’s how you like to decorate. Here are some non-spooky and spooky silhouette ideas!

Spooky and Non-Spooky Silhouette Halloween Ideas

• Grim Reaper
• Hand Print or a whole series of arms
• Bloody Handprints
• Creepy Pumpkins
• Birds of Prey owls, crows, vultures
• A Spider Web or series of webs
• Black Cats
• The Headless Horseman or other Halloween characters
• Knife-Wielding Maniac
• Pumpkins
• Happy Halloween or other fun sayings
• Corn Stalks, Scarecrow, or other cool shapes
• Gnarled Tree Branches

Other Halloween Décor You Could Add

Don’t stop at just paper silhouettes, you could really deck it out depending on the type of window frame (bay windows), window sill, and the size of your windows. Can you say large paper silhouettes?

And who’s saying you have to keep any of this inside of your windows? Take it all the way to the front of your house or front yard!

• Plastic Spiders & Fake Spider Webs
• Pumpkins, Gourds, Cornstalks, & Hay
• Lanterns, LED Candles, Vintage Oil Lamps, Torches, etc.
• Bats hanging trees or your roof

Three Great Reasons to Use Window Silhouettes In Your Halloween Decorating

1. Trick or Treat Fun on Halloween Night
2. Perfect Party Backdrop photo-op!
3. Halloween Party themed, murder mystery, costume party
4. Add Whimsy to the Spooky Season (huge fan of whimsy here)

Supplies to Make DIY Halloween Window Silhouettes

There are several ways you can make these silhouettes, we’ll just go through a few possibilities and you can use your best judgment for which option works best for you.

• Several Sheets of Paper Black Cardboard, Black Paper, Black Poster Board, Black Construction Paper, 80 lb Cardstock, or Black Contact Paper
• Acrylic Paint Black Paint or another Dark Paint
• Paint Brushes
• Pair of Scissors or Utility Knife, Craft Knife, or X-Acto Knife
• Adhesive Transparent Tape or Double-sided Tape
• Laminator & Laminating Sheets
• Paper Cutting Machine

How to Make Halloween Window Silhouettes – Full Tutorial

Step One – Pick a Theme

Admittedly I’m not Martha Stewart, but I have a real love of themed decorating. There are plenty of different ways to get into the Halloween spirit if there is such a thing. But my favorite way to get some holiday spirit is by challenging myself with a budget-friendly design element.

My first step before I decide on any decorations for a Holiday is to choose my inspiration by picking a theme. This year I’ve made no secret of the fact that my theme is The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

How to Find Halloween Theme Inspiration

The best way to pick a theme is to choose an inspirational source.

• A Photograph
• Magazine Articles
• Pinterest my favorite
• Movies a scene, period or era, story
• Books even a particular character

Step Two – Choose Your Method

There are at least a couple of great options you can choose when deciding what method would be easiest for you to make Halloween window silhouettes.

01 Print and Cut Out

This one is the method I chose because it’s pretty simple and definitely inexpensive. Just a little time-consuming and dare I say mundane? You can print these out at home or have them printed at your local copy center.

1. Download the free PDFs I created or make your own on Canva.
2. Print them out on your choice of paper (I will use 80 lb Cardstock)
3. Cut them out using scissors or an X-Acto knife.
4. Place the Halloween window silhouettes in windows, glass doors, or even outside on your front porch just in time for trick-or-treaters.

02 Paint Them On

If you’re a little bit more daring you could always make stencils and paint the silhouettes straight onto your window panes. It actually isn’t that crazy, check out my post How to Make Stencils From a Rubbing. Plus, when you’re done you can quickly and easily scrape the paint off using a razor blade.

1. Download the free PDFs I created or make your own on Canva.
2. Print them out using 80 lb Cardstock.
3. Cut them out using an X-Acto knife.
4. Laminate the Halloween window silhouettes.
5. Use them as a stencil to create an outline.
6. And fill in using a sponge and acrylic paint, window paint, or a paint pen.

The bonus to this method is you could make them literally any color you want to. And paint will show light through it which could potentially make a really cool effect. Also, paint scrapes easily off with a razor blade!

03 Contact Paper

Using contact paper instead of normal paper or cardstock essentially makes your Halloween window silhouette stickers. Which makes them super easy to apply and take off.

1. Use the exact same process to create a stencil.
2. Use the stencil to cut out your silhouettes on black contact paper.
3. Apply them to your glass window panes, door panes, etc.

04 A Paper Cutting Machine

This would literally be the simplest way to make this, but only if you actually have one of these machines on hand. I had a cricket once upon a time, but I no longer have one, and I kind of wish I still did.

If you have one of these machines chances are you know exactly how to use it to make some really awesome Halloween window silhouettes! And I’m a tad bit jealous your hands won’t be cramping from cutting anything out.

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope I have inspired you to get creative this holiday season. And I hope I have given you some creative ideas to add a little bit of whimsy to your home and holiday decor. Even if it is dark and brooding.

Sincerely

Julie