If you get a pile of empty milk jugs waiting to be tossed, hold on. Those plastic containers are about to become the stars of your Halloween decor.
With a little creativity, you can turn them into glowing ghosts, grinning pumpkins, spooky monsters, or even quirky candy holders.
Upcycling these jugs isn’t just smart, it’s satisfying. You get festive flair without spending a fortune, and there’s something extra fun about transforming trash into treasure.
These 15 ideas are perfect for kids, eco-conscious crafters, and anyone who loves handmade holiday charm.
#1. Life-Sized Skeleton Made From Milk Jugs
If you’ve ever wanted a skeleton hanging in your yard without buying a plastic one from the store, this milk jug version is your creepy, eco-friendly answer.
Each bone is cut from different parts of repurposed gallon jugs, giving the finished figure a delightfully bony silhouette. It sways eerily in the breeze, perfect for spooking trick-or-treaters or guests.
Specially, a clever combination of cutting and stringing brings this skeletal friend to life in the most playful way.
Materials Needed
- 5-6 empty gallon milk jugs (clean and dry)
- Scissors or utility knife
- Hole punch
- White string, fishing line, or twine (around 8-10 ft)
- Black permanent marker (optional)
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Sketch out your skeleton parts on each jug including head, ribcage, arms, hands, pelvis, legs, and feet, then cut them out carefully.
Step 2: Use a hole punch to make small holes at the joints where each piece will connect like shoulders, elbows, knees, etc.
Step 3: Tie the parts together using string or fishing line, adjusting the length for natural limb movement.
Step 4: Hang your skeleton from a tree, porch, or ceiling where it can move with the wind and cast spooky shadows.
#2. Sugar Skull Milk Jug Lanterns
Wow, these hauntingly beautiful sugar skull lanterns are a tribute to both Halloween and Día de los Muertos.
Created from upcycled gallon milk jugs, they feature hand-drawn floral patterns and bold facial details that bring the iconic skull design to life. Hung in a cluster with bead-threaded strings, they make a stunning display on any wall or porch.
Soft and colorful, yet symbolically powerful, this project is perfect for honoring tradition with a playful twist.
Materials Needed
- 6 clean gallon milk jugs
- Permanent markers or paint pens in assorted colors
- Craft knife
- Beads (approx. 60-80 pcs)
- Thin twine or string (approx. 10 ft)
- Hole punch
- Optional: LED tea lights for glowing effect
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Cut out face openings (eyes, nose, mouth) from the jugs and smooth any rough edges with sandpaper.
Step 2: Use colorful markers or paint pens to decorate with floral designs, hearts, vines, and swirls inspired by traditional sugar skulls.
Step 3: Punch small holes in the top corners of each jug and thread them with string and colorful beads to form a mobile.
Step 4: Finally, tie all strings to a central point, like a hoop or ring, and hang where it catches light and attention.
#3. Colorful Mummy Milk Jug Family
Look at this cheerful crew of quirky mummies! It adds a splash of personality to your Halloween decor.
Wrapped in white gauze and topped with playful yarn hairstyles, each milk jug becomes its own adorable character. The bold paper feet and oversized googly eyes give them cartoonish charm, making them ideal for kid-friendly parties or mantel displays.
You’ll love how simple they are to make, and kids can design their own spooky-silly mummy persona!
Materials Needed
- Empty plastic milk jugs (1 gallon size, 1 jug per mummy)
- White gauze or toilet paper rolls (1-2 rolls)
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Yarn (various colors, about 20-30 strands per mummy)
- Craft foam sheets
- Large googly eyes
- Scissors
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Wrap each clean milk jug tightly with gauze or toilet paper. Secure the ends with hot glue.
Step 2: Cut out two feet from colored foam or paper and glue them to the base.
Step 3: Glue on large googly eyes or layer paper circles for a bolder cartoon look.
Step 4: Add yarn hair in any style like braids, bangs, curls and glue to the top of the jug for personality.
#4. Hanging Witch Milk Jug Decoration
This spooky hanging witch turns a plain milk jug into a wickedly charming Halloween piece. With a green-painted face, drawn-on lashes, and draping black streamers for hair and cloak, this craft has all the classic witchy details.
You can top it off with a crooked hat, and you’ve got a haunting figure ready to guard your porch or door.
She looks like she just flew in on her broom and decided to stay awhile. Great for kids and adults alike, she’s eerie but not over-the-top creepy.
Materials Needed
- 1 plastic milk jug (1-gallon size)
- Green acrylic paint (2 oz)
- Black crepe paper or streamers (approx. 6-8 feet)
- Black marker or paint pen
- Decorative witch hat (store-bought or handmade)
- Hot glue gun
- Optional: white paint or stickers
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Paint the entire jug green and let it dry completely.
Step 2: Draw facial features like eyes, brows, and a nose using paint pens or markers.
Step 3: Cut strips of crepe paper and glue them along the top and sides of the jug for flowing hair.
Step 4: Finally, attach the witch hat securely on top and hang the jug using string or a hook.
#5. Recycled Snowy Owl Milk Jug
Interestingly, this striking snowy owl is crafted entirely from a humble milk jug, but its personality soars beyond the plastic.
Painted a clean white with delicately hand-drawn feather markings, this owl’s intense golden eyes are made from repurposed bottle caps and paper circles. The folded top of the jug becomes its sharp brow, giving the creature a serious, wise look.
With carefully cut wings and feet, this DIY owl is perfect for classroom projects or Halloween decorations that give off magical vibes, think Hedwig from Harry Potter.
Materials Needed
- 1-gallon milk jug (clean and dry)
- White acrylic paint (approx. 2 oz)
- Black permanent marker or paint pen
- 2 plastic bottle caps (1.5-inch diameter)
- Yellow paper circles or googly eyes
- 2 plastic forks
- Hot glue gun and scissors
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Paint the entire jug white and let it dry fully. Then use a black marker to draw feather patterns and outline wings.
Step 2: Cut the jug spout to create a beak and glue the black-painted tip in place.
Step 3: Attach bottle caps with yellow paper inside for eyes and glue onto the jug.
Step 4: Cut slits for wings and attach them outward; glue forks as clawed feet underneath.
#6. Hanging Frankenstein Jug Monster
This Frankenstein-inspired decoration is both hilarious and eerie, a combo that never fails for Halloween.
Made from a recycled milk jug turned upside down, it’s been transformed with bold green paint, spooky stitches, and oversized googly eyes.
Bonus, the felt hair and silver bolts on the sides complete the look, giving it that unmistakable Frankenstein charm. You hang it from your porch or ceiling and watch this goofy ghoul swing with every breeze!
Materials Needed
- 1-gallon milk jug (clean, label removed)
- Green acrylic paint
- Black felt sheet (for hair)
- 2 bottle caps or similar (for bolts)
- Googly eyes (large)
- Black and white craft paper or paint pen (for mouth)
- Craft glue or hot glue
- Twine
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Paint the entire jug green and let it dry fully.
Step 2: Glue on googly eyes, felt hair, and bolts (bottle caps) on each side of the jug.
Step 3: Draw or glue on a stitched mouth and eyebrow detail.
Step 4: Now you just poke a hole in the top and thread twine through to hang your monster high!
#7. Glitter Monster Milk Jug
This dazzling, one-eyed monster proves Halloween crafts can be as glamorous as they are spooky. Made from a repurposed milk jug, this creature is decked out in a whirlwind of glittery green foam, purple pom-poms, coiled pipe cleaners, and feathery green fluff.
Plus, the oversized googly eye gives it a goofy charm, while the gold mini pumpkin crown steals the spotlight.
Whether you’re crafting with kids or looking to jazz up a party display, this eccentric monster is bursting with personality and sparkles.
Materials Needed
- 1-gallon milk jug (cleaned and dry)
- Large googly eye (2-inch diameter)
- Green glitter foam sheet (1 sheet)
- 10 purple pom-poms
- 6-8 pipe cleaners in assorted colors
- Mini glitter pumpkin (about 3 inches)
- Feathers and felt (green and purple)
- Hot glue gun and scissors
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Glue the large googly eye in the center of the jug. Then cut out eyebrow and mouth shapes from the glitter foam and glue them in place.
Step 2: Add pom-poms and glitter puff balls to decorate cheeks and hair.
Step 3: Twist pipe cleaners and glue them on top with feathers for crazy monster hair.
Step 4: Attach the glitter pumpkin crown for the finishing touch.
#8. Goofy Monster Milk Jug Craft
This zany green monster is all personality with goofy grin, wild eyes, and hair that looks like it just got out of bed!
Using a recycled milk jug, some bright paint, and clever add-ons like googly eyes and a bath pouf, you can turn basic recyclables into a hilarious Halloween decoration.
I believe kids will love designing the face, and adults might find themselves grinning just as wide. This creature isn’t scary, it’s the life of the party.
Materials Needed
- 1 plastic milk jug (gallon size)
- Lime green acrylic paint (2 oz)
- Googly eyes or bottle caps (2)
- 1 mesh bath pouf
- 5-6 colored pipe cleaners
- White paper
- Black marker or paint pen
- Hot glue gun
- Cardstock (approx. 5″x7″)
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Paint the jug entirely lime green. Let dry thoroughly.
Step 2: Cut and glue on arms and ears from green cardstock. Then use black marker to outline the ears for cartoon effect.
Step 3: Glue on googly eyes or caps for a playful gaze. Next, you add white teeth shapes for a big silly grin.
Step 4: Hot glue the bath pouf and pipe cleaners to the top for a wild monster hairdo.
#9. Witchy Lamp Head Jug Decor
Wow, this quirky witch head is made from a recycled milk jug and instantly turns your everyday lamp into a ghoulish Halloween character.
With its vibrant green skin, dramatic painted eyes, and wildly exaggerated features like the toothy grin and big lashes, it’s full of cheeky charm.
Long strands of white yarn make up her witchy hair, spilling down past the lampshade like she’s about to cast a spell. It’s the kind of DIY decor that brings laughter and a dash of fright to any room with minimal effort.
Materials Needed
- 1-gallon milk jug (cleaned and dried)
- Green acrylic paint
- White yarn (about 50 strands, 18-24 inches)
- Paint pens or markers (black, red, blue, white)
- Glue gun
- Scissors
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Paint the jug green and let it dry thoroughly. Then use paint pens to draw exaggerated eyes, brows, lips, and a signature witchy mole.
Step 2: Cut long pieces of white yarn and hot glue them to the top for hair.
Step 3: Place the jug over a lamp base (unplugged) or set it as a standalone centerpiece.
Read more: 22 Wickedly Fun DIY Witch Crafts to Enchant Your Halloween
#10. Glowing Milk Jug Monsters
Don’t toss those empty milk jugs just yet, they’re your ticket to spooky, glowing fun! With just a splash of paint and some creativity, you can transform them into charming Halloween characters like a ghost, Frankenstein, or a goofy pumpkin.
You set them along your porch or windowsill, and they’ll greet trick-or-treaters with a cheerful glow that feels homemade and full of heart.
This is one of those crafts that lets kids dive right in, no perfection required. Plus, it’s a great way to light up the night without using candles.
Materials Needed
- 3 empty 1-gallon plastic milk jugs (clean and dry)
- 1 set of LED string lights or 3 battery-operated tea lights
- Acrylic paint: green, orange, and white (1-2 oz each)
- Black permanent marker
- Paintbrushes (1 medium, 1 fine-tipped)
- Craft knife or scissors (adult use only)
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Rinse the milk jugs and peel off any labels. Let them dry completely.
Step 2: Paint each jug a solid color including green for Frankenstein, white for the ghost, and orange for the pumpkin. Let dry.
Step 3: Use a black marker or paint pen to draw on silly or spooky faces. Then cut a small flap in the back (bottom corner works well) to insert the lights.
Step 4: Pop in the lights, close the flap, and place them where they can shine!
#11. Wild-Eyed Monster Milk Jug
Funky, freaky, and fabulously fun, this alien-inspired monster jug is an unforgettable addition to your Halloween decorations.
The milk jug is turned on its side and painted purple, then transformed into a wide-mouthed creature with spiky paper teeth, bulging eyeballs, and wild yarn hair.
Moreover, foam balls on striped pipe cleaners stick out like wacky antennae, while neon pipe cleaner arms add a splash of extra color. It’s got just the right balance of silly and spooky to delight kids and catch every visitor’s eye!
Materials Needed
- 1-gallon milk jug (clean, label removed)
- Purple spray paint
- White paper
- 2 plastic eyeballs (or ping pong balls with painted eyes)
- Pipe cleaners (2 striped, 2 neon)
- 2 foam balls (1.5-2 inches)
- Cardboard or plastic for ears
- Yarn for hair
- Hot glue gun
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Paint the jug purple and let it dry completely. Then you cut out a wide mouth and glue in jagged paper teeth on top and bottom.
Step 2: Attach plastic eyeballs above the mouth, and add yarn on top as wild hair.
Step 3: Insert pipe cleaners with foam balls for antennae and shape two more for ears or arms.
#12. Grinning Monster Milk Jug Mask
This wacky, toothy monster looks like he walked straight out of a cartoon and onto your kitchen counter. With its exaggerated grin, oversized eyes, and wild blue hair, this craft is perfect if you want to surprise guests or entertain little ones.
It’s a great way to turn recycling into something hilariously creepy. You don’t need fancy tools or a degree in monster-making, just a milk jug, some craft foam, and a splash of creativity.
And then, set it on your porch or kitchen island, and it’ll definitely grab attention and laughs.
Materials Needed
- 1 empty 1-gallon plastic milk jug
- Spray paint or acrylic paint in purple (approx. 4 oz)
- 2 large googly eyes or white bottle caps with drawn pupils
- Black craft foam (3″×5″)
- White foam squares (about 1″×1″, at least 10)
- 2 purple cardstock ears (3″ tall, triangle-shaped)
- Blue pom-pom
- Glue gun
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Paint the outside of your clean milk jug purple and let it dry fully.
Step 2: Cut out a wide, curved mouth shape from the black foam. Then glue it near the bottom front.
Step 3: Attach the white foam squares to form crooked teeth across the mouth.
Step 4: Stick on your googly eyes or bottle-cap eyes just above the mouth area.
Step 5: Finally, glue the cardstock ears to each side and fluff up the pom-pom on top for hair.
#13. Spooky-Faced Milk Jug Lineup
Looking for a no-fuss Halloween project that’s still packed with character? Grab a few empty milk jugs and a black marker, you’re about to create an entire spooky squad.
These hand-drawn monster faces are delightfully imperfect, which only adds to their charm.
You line them up on your porch or kitchen counter for a playful and ghostly vibe. This is the kind of craft that’s stress-free, budget-friendly, and perfect for family night.
Materials Needed
- Empty 1-gallon milk jugs (clean and dry, 4-6 jugs for variety)
- Black permanent marker
- Scissors or craft knife (optional)
- LED tea lights or fairy lights (optional)
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Rinse your milk jugs and let them dry completely.
Step 2: Use a black permanent marker to draw spooky or silly faces, try ghosts, mummies, Jack-o’-lanterns, or stitched-up monsters.
Step 3: For an extra glow, cut a small hole in the back and place an LED light inside.
#14. Frankenstein-Inspired Milk Jug Lantern
Why not meet your new favorite Frankenstein, charming, goofy, and entirely made of recycled plastic. This green monster is painted to perfection with thick black hair, stitched scars, and the signature bolts sticking out the sides.
The glass bead nose and rosy cheeks add a playful touch, making it less spooky and more adorable.
It’s an ideal project for kids who want something festive but not too frightening, and you’ll love how it adds quirky personality to your Halloween display.
Materials Needed
- 1 gallon-size milk jug
- Green and black acrylic paint (2 oz each)
- 1 clear glass gem or marble for nose
- 2 large googly eyes or white/black paint for eyes
- 2 medium-sized nails (3-4″)
- Hot glue
- Paintbrushes and fine-tip black marker
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Paint the milk jug green and let it dry completely.
Step 2: Use black paint to create spiky hair across the top. Then add eyes, cheek swirls, a stitched smile, and scar lines with paint or marker.
Step 3: Glue the glass gem to the center for the nose.
Step 4: Carefully glue one nail or dowel on each side to mimic Frankenstein’s bolts.
#15. Pumpkin Patch Milk Jug Crew
These glowing orange pumpkin pals are proof that Halloween magic can come from the recycling bin. Crafted from used milk jugs and painted a brilliant pumpkin orange, each one has its own silly or spooky expression drawn in black paint.
Twigs serve as rustic stems, and green paper leaves add a charming finishing touch.
Clustered together, they create a playful “mini pumpkin patch” vibe that works perfectly for porches, classrooms, or kitchen counters.
Materials Needed
- 1-gallon milk jugs (cleaned and labels removed)
- Orange acrylic paint (2 oz per jug)
- Black paint or permanent markers
- Green construction paper (1 sheet per 2 jugs)
- Small twigs (1 per jug, 2-4 inches long)
- Hot glue gun
- Scissors
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Paint the entire outside of each milk jug orange and let them dry.
Step 2: Draw or paint different jack-o’-lantern faces on the front of each jug.
Step 3: Cut out leaf shapes from green paper and glue them around the jug opening.
Step 4: Finally, glue a twig into the spout to mimic a pumpkin stem.
See also: 20 Kid-Friendly Halloween Paper Crafts That Are Too Cute to Spook
