To make your own Halloween decorations, you don’t need to overspend. Even if you are on a tight budget, you can still create some impressive special effects.

Doll Parts: Ask your kids to dig up any old toys they may have that they no longer play with. Take arms, legs and heads of toys that are just large enough, and either partially bury them in dirt in the side yard along with some fake tombstones, or set them out in strange places across the room. Imagine the fright factor of one of those Barbie Styling Heads.

Ghosts: Blow up balloons. Tie the ends of several pieces of string to the ends of the balloon. Cut holes in the middle of plain white sheets, and run the strings through the holes. The balloons will puff out the sheets, with the rest of the sheets draping down for a ghostly effect. Hang the ghosts from the ceiling and along the walls. Let your kids draw faces on each balloon.

Gravestones: Save up any large, sturdy cardboard shipping boxes you may receive. Cut up each side of the box, cut it into the slightly rounded tombstone shape and spray paint each piece silver. Then paint “RIP” or write on the individual gravestones in marker. An alternative to the cardboard shipping box is to use sheets of Styrofoam that are available from the craft store.

Scarecrows: A scarecrow is one of the best Halloween props of all time. Take an old shirt, preferably plaid, and an old pair of pants. Stuff both with more old clothes, and tie off the ends of the armholes and leg holes. Using safety pins, attach the top to the bottom. Then use a hollow jack-o-lantern, and either attach that to the head with wire, a stake or a dowel that connects the shirt to the head. Give your scarecrow a straw hat, and prop him on the porch or in the corner of a room.

Spooky Shadows: Cut out shapes, such as a bat or a cat, and tape it to the front of a large lantern flashlight. Shine the light in a hallway or an unexpected place so guests think something is coming from around the corner.

Spider Webs: Pull apart thin cotton batting, taping the edges to corners. You can pick up plastic spiders to tape inside.