Get Spooky with Satin Ribbon for Halloween Crafts

The evenings are already drawing in. Booooo! At least on the upside, though, we have toffee apples, cosy nights in rewatching seasonal favourites—Over the Garden Wall, anyone?— and the Halloween festivities to look forward to. I can even smell a hint of…pumpkin spice(?) on the air. So, despite the gloom, there are certainly treats, alongside the tricks, to look forward to.  

Here’s where a little creativity wouldn’t go amiss. To make the most of the incoming rainy days, and spend precious bonding time with the kids, or your besties, why not get your claws on these satin ribbon Halloween crafts?  

Simple enough for tweens to get involved in or your adult guests to sip on a spooky-themed cocktail whilst sewing away, these 12 entry-level DIYs are accessible and affordable. Without the, often, tacky look of mass-produced crafting kits or premade decorations, that is. 

Get your scissors and glue guns to the ready, because the inspiration is about to come hard and fast. 

Why Satin Ribbon Handicrafts Are Popping Off This Year 

Sorry for immediately walking things back, but I simply couldn’t continue without getting you sold on the irreplicable impact satin ribbon, as a crafting material, has on your Halloween projects. Here’s the tea. 

Satin ribbon is unique in that it neatly straddles budget-friendliness and beauty, with a surprisingly luxe appearance for the price tag. Made from either silk or polyester, the stuff has a shiny, high-end finish, packaged in a tight weave responsible for its robustness. 

Satin ribbon is also… 

• Wrinkle-resistant 

• A brilliant candidate for ribbon embroidery, since it is so pliable 

• Pretty durable (although be careful of snagging it) 

• Available double-sided for extra resistance against unwanted wear 

• Widely obtainable at any crafts shop or ribbon supplier worth its salt, even in bulk. 

12 Halloween Crafts Using Satin Ribbon to Sink Your Fangs Into 

No more dilly dallying; let’s get into the inspirational portion of this article. From Halloween costume enhancements to getting your home suitably spooky for trick-or-treaters, there’s a little something for everyone. 

1. Take a Stab at Decorative Bat Bows 

A spooktastic take on the traditional ribbon bow, these bat-shaped alternatives revel in the whimsy of Halloween. 

Simply create a card stencil with your bat outline (here, you might wish to print out a reference to trace the wings more precisely), then use it to transfer the shape onto wide satin ribbon with a pen or piece of embroidery chalk. The rest is cutting each strip into shape and assembling it into the familiar bow shape, using some wire or hot glue to hold it all together. 

These look exceedingly gorgeous perched on a wall sconce or tied around doorknobs, but I particularly love the idea of adorning your sweets basket handle for a polished albeit nostalgic look. 

2. Drape Autumnal Ribbon Chains from the Rafters 

You’ve heard about paperchains, but what about ribbon chains? Well, the same principles apply for crafting them, except you’ll need to dial up the adhesive, so the satin loops stick together properly.  

Unlike paper, which has its charm but easily gets worse for wear, ribbon stays sleek and colourful for years, gleaming under the cool autumn sun every time October rolls around.  

Plus, you can add an almost sculptural dimension by mixing and matching your colours so one side POPs. I’m thinking a faded apricot paired with bold, purple and white stripes. 

3. Get Trick-or-Treat-Ready with a Halloween Ribbon Wreath 

You heard it here: wreaths are not just for Christmas. In fact, in making your own satin ribbon wreath you won’t simply be bucking the trend but joining the early participants of a burgeoning Halloween tradition. 

The beauty of this craft, besides giving visitors an appropriately spinetingling welcome, is the sheer versatility. There are so many aesthetic routes to take: tongue-in-cheek and cutesy with novelty trinkets; regal and vampiric, flush with plummy, wine purples, ‘blood drop’ gems and black lace; a classic Beetlejuice palette; something more considered that borrows organic colours from autumnal woodlands; or a Frankenstein’s monster of them all. 

4. Ghost Garlands (Need I Say More?) 

Got some old bedding lying around or a bunch of old doilies you were planning to clear out? Before you fast track them to landfill, allow me to introduce you to the concept of ghost garlands.  

Instead of a simple bow or strip of ribbon, you have a string of ghosties floating from the string. And, best of all, they’re ridiculously easy to rustle up. Just stuff squares of fabric to form the head and then tie your satin strips around the ball shape. From there, you can curate the vibe with a pair of button eyes and/or a gaping mouth. 

5. Complement Historical Costumes with a Handmade Ruffle Collar 

Stuck on costume party ideas? That’s all about to change when you see the potential that A ream of white satin ribbon and a glue gun can unlock. 

Rather than buying an expensive neck ruffle to cosplay as an Elizabethan ghost or killer clown, this is a much more budget-friendly and satisfying option. The bulk of the graft comes in the form of pleating your ribbon, gluing each section carefully into a figure of eight, for the classic, layered shape. 

6. Pumpkin Ribbon Wraps 

Sometimes a pumpkin, even when carved, looks a little plain. The solution? Giving them a chic, feminine makeover, with a ribbon belt secured neatly with a bow. Or if you’re after a more complex look, play around with crisscrossed or spiralling ribbon. 

7. Doll Up the Kids with Bat Hairbows 

Is there anything cuter than the little ones getting all dressed up for trick or treating? These bat hair bows, maybe. A micro version of my first idea, they make the perfect centrepiece for a pretty updo.  

8. DIY Your Own Flouncy Witch’s Broom 

Not partial to an actual broom taking up space in your home? I get it. Besides, this whimsical broomstick looks so much better. 

With just a foraged branch, a bundle of black or brown fabric, ribbon to tie off the ‘bristles’ and a few charms, you can create a witch’s broom full of the wide-eyed magic of Kiki’s Delivery Service or Meg and Mog.  

9. Cap Off Your Costume with a Pierrot Hat / Princess Hennin… 

If Chappel Roan could pull off both looks, I’m sure you could too.  

Whether the Mid-West Princess inspired hennin (the conical hat medieval aristocrats wore) or the clownish headgear topped with a pompom, the components are simple: some construction paper folded into a cone, fabric as the covering, and then ruffled or flat ribbon trim for embellishment. Again, this is a glue-gun heavy project! 

10. … And Then Accessorise with a Baton or Wand 

Consider yourself a papier-mâché connoisseur? Then, it’s about time you level up your Halloween attire with a matching parade baton or wand. For this craft, you’ll need a dowel piece for the shaft and then a foam ball to build out the decorative head for painting. The tassels are where the satin ribbon comes in; pick two contrasting varieties to build up texture.  

11. Put a Macabre Spin on Ribbon Rosettes 

Rosettes make out-of-the-box present toppers, but there’s nothing stopping you from incorporating them into your costume. Although they’re a little more hassle to make than a standalone bow, the layered, handmade appeal is a lovely touch.  

And if ‘lovely’ isn’t exactly what you’re going for, bring on the fake blood. All you need is a paint brush and a splash of scarlet and you have the prize for creepiest costume. I’m sure there’s plenty of unhinged lore you could come up with to bring the concept to life. 

12. Elevate Your Halloween Tablescape with Ribboned Candle Décor 

If you’re wining and dining guests this Halloween, take notes. A flourish of themed ribbon, perhaps printed with skeletal hands or a black cat pattern, is enough to turn a tired candelabra into a mini showstopper – be warned, though, not to let the bows droop towards the flame. Here, wired satin ribbon might be your best bet. 

Halloween Décor Needn’t Come with a Terrifying Price Tag 

October 31^st is already hair-raising enough, without a drain on your budget to contend with. Luckily, by opting for one of these satin ribbon crafts, you’ll conserve some of the cash you’d otherwise spend on impersonal, cookie-cutter décor, all the whilst shrinking your consumption habits. Yep, no Halloween tat to be seen here!  

So, gather the troops (i.e., the little ones and your craftiest friends), prepare for a fun time, experiment with colour, and let lose your creative energy. After all, the holiday prep should be a treat, not a chore you’re tricking yourself into. 

Explore more with Crave, your lifestyle magazine in the UK for food, wellbeing and travel inspiration.