Let’s put some of my favorite things together! Fun and simple Halloween crafts? Check. Inexpensive dollar store materials? Check. Terrariums and fairy gardens? Check and check! I first heard of cemetariums (spooky terrariums) a while back, and I thought it was such a clever and cute idea that I had to make some of my own. This DIY dollar store cemetarium tutorial will let you make an adorable Halloween project quickly and easily. This is a great project for a Halloween craft night with the girls!
DIY DOLLAR STORE CEMETARIUM
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A CEMETARIUM
You can find all of the items needed to make a spooky fairy garden at Dollar Tree this month. If you would like to make a cemetarium when it’s not spooky season, you will have to source different Halloween minis. I will list some options from Amazon below and I will also give you more ideas at the end of the post.
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- Glass jar, bowl or vase
- Base material: aquarium gravel, river rocks or soil
- Variety of mosses
- Floral picks
- Halloween miniatures (Dollar Tree, Amazon, Amazon, Amazon)
Want to know which craft supplies I always keep in my craft room?
Visit the Mad in Crafts Amazon Storefront to learn more and to buy your own supplies!
DIY DOLLAR STORE CEMETARIUM TUTORIAL
This is such a fun Halloween project to put together. I will share the basic steps below, but you can customize your cemetarium to look however you would like! Add fairy lights or glow-in-the-dark elements for additional spooky details.
HOW TO PUT A HALLOWEEN FAIRY GARDEN TOGETHER
- Start by selecting a glass bowl or jar for your cemetarium.
The size and shape is totally up to you.
- Add a base layer for the terrarium.
Aquarium gravel, river rocks, or soil would all work.
- Place moss on top of the base layer.
If you’re using a larger jar or a deeper vase, you may want to use a pencil or a chopstick to get that moss into exactly the right spot.
- Clip small pieces off of floral branches to create miniatures of dead trees. Stick them into the base layer at the back of your cemetarium.
- Nestle your Halloween miniatures into the rocks and moss.
You can glue the elements in place with hot glue if desired.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I CAN’T FIND THE DOLLAR STORE MINIS?
Because these Halloween minis are seasonal items, you might not be able to find the Halloween miniatures sets in stock outside of September or October. Don’t worry! You have options!
Repaint Standard Fairy Garden Pieces
If you can’t find Halloween fairy garden minis, turn regular fairy garden pieces spooky with a coat of paint. Dollar Tree has regular fairy garden pieces out most of the year. Repainting fairy garden statues is a pretty fun project to begin with, and it’s an even better time when you turn a cutesy fairy house into something sinister. Replace the bright colors with Halloween colors. Paint cracks in any windows or scary eyes looking out from them! Let your imagination run wild to customize the pieces however you like.
Make Your Own Minis from Clay
If you can’t find any fairy garden mini that will work, you can craft tiny gravestones out of air dry clay or polymer clay. Look up old tombstones online for inspiration for shapes and decorations for the headstones. Add moss or grime with watered-down craft paint or paint on spooky (or punny) names and epitaphs.
Search Online for Alternatives
Finally, you can always hit up Amazon or a big craft store for dollhouse miniatures. This might be the least cost-effective solution, but it also saves the most time and effort.
HALLOWEEN TERRARIUM CRAFT NIGHT
This project is simple and cheap enough for a super fun girls’ night of crafting. You can let each participant bring her own glass container that will be customized at the party. The host can provide a variety of supplies and lay them out on a big table, then everyone can spend a fun evening socializing and designing their individual cemetariums.
You might like these other dollar store Halloween DIYs:
COLOR CHANGING DOLLAR STORE POTION BOTTLES
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