DIY Haunted Branch Tree

Some Halloween decorations start at the store. This one starts with a walk outside.

A handful of crooked branches, an old vase or pot and a few homemade decorations are all you need to create your own haunted Halloween branch tree.

I love projects like this because there really aren't any rules. Your tree can be big and dramatic, small enough to sit on a table, completely natural or dark and witchy. And because the branches are gathered outside, no two trees will ever look exactly alike.

Even better, you can decorate it with other Halloween crafts you've made yourself — mini witch brooms, twig spiderwebs, paper bats, moons, ghosts and anything else your imagination comes up with. So grab a basket and let's go find ourselves a haunted tree.

What You'll Need

You probably already have most of what you need.

• —4–8 bare branches
• —A sturdy vase, crock, pitcher, jar or planter
• —Small rocks, gravel or sand to weigh down the container if needed
• —Pruning shears
• —Jute twine or string
• —Homemade Halloween ornaments
• —Dried leaves, moss or other natural materials, optional
• —Black craft paint, optional

For decorating, try using:

• —Mini witch brooms
• —Twig spiderwebs
• —Paper bats
• —Little ghosts
• —Witch hats
• —Crescent moons
• —Potion bottle ornaments
• —Dried leaves
• —Small Halloween tags

You don't need all of these. Sometimes keeping the tree simple makes it even more beautiful.

Add a Little Bit of Nature Back In

Your haunted tree doesn't have to be completely black and spooky. Tuck in a few dried leaves. Add a little moss around the base. Hang a tiny pinecone. Tie on a sprig of dried herbs. Even a few pieces of dried grass can look beautiful.

Mixing Halloween decorations with real things gathered outside gives the tree a much more interesting, old-world feel. Almost like it belongs in the corner of a witch's cottage.

Make Tiny Hanging Witch Brooms

If you've already made our DIY Mini Witch Brooms, make a few extra-small versions for your tree. Simply tie a loop of jute around the broom handle and hang them from the branches. You could even attach one of the printable broom tags.

Imagine a tiny broom hanging from the tree labelled:

• —Broom No. 13
• —The Midnight Flyer

Little details like that are what make the whole thing fun to look at.

Make It With Kids

This is such an easy Halloween project to turn into an afternoon activity. Start with a walk outside and let the kids hunt for branches. Give them the mission of finding:

• —The crookedest branch
• —The spookiest branch
• —The tiniest branch
• —A branch shaped like a witch's finger
• —An interesting fallen leaf
• —A pinecone
• —Something strange enough to belong on a haunted tree

Bring everything home and build the tree together. Then print the Halloween ornaments and let everyone decorate their own. Kids can colour them, write messages on them, add glitter, draw faces or invent completely new ornaments.

There really isn't a wrong way to decorate a haunted tree.

Make a Mini Haunted Tree

You don't need a huge arrangement. Find three or four small branches and put them in an old bottle or mason jar. Add one tiny spiderweb, a miniature witch broom and a few paper bats. That's it.

A little haunted tree would be adorable on a bookshelf, kitchen counter, bedside table or Halloween party table. You could even make several tiny trees and scatter them throughout the house.

Or Make It Big and Dramatic

If you've got the space, go big. Use taller branches in a heavy floor planter or crock and create a Halloween tree for an entryway or covered porch.

• —Hang larger twig spiderwebs among the branches
• —Add dozens of bats
• —Hang mini witch brooms at different heights
• —Add wisps of torn cheesecloth
• —Place pumpkins around the bottom
• —Position battery-operated candles nearby to cast shadows from the branches onto the wall

Suddenly a pile of sticks you found outside becomes a pretty spectacular Halloween decoration.

Three Haunted Tree Looks to Try

Where to Display Your Haunted Branch Tree

Your finished tree could work almost anywhere. Place it:

• —In the centre of a Halloween table
• —On a kitchen island
• —On a mantle
• —On an entryway table
• —On a covered porch
• —Beside the front door
• —On a buffet for a Halloween party
• —On a bookshelf
• —In a child's bedroom
• —In a large floor planter

And when Halloween is over? Take off the spooky decorations and keep the branches. They can easily become an autumn, Thanksgiving or even Christmas arrangement.

Make It Your Own

The best part about this project is that your haunted tree will never look exactly like anyone else's. Your branches are different. Your container is different. Your homemade decorations are different. And that's exactly the point.

Seasonal decorating doesn't always need to mean buying something new. Sometimes it's much more fun to wander outside, find something ordinary and imagine what else it could become.

So grab your basket. Find the strangest branches you can. Bring them home. And build yourself a little haunted tree.