DIY Witch Crash Landing Decoration for Halloween

This DIY witch crash landing decoration turns a black trash bag, a witch hat, and a broom into a funny Halloween display. The witch looks as though she flew straight into the house, which was exactly the kind of Halloween joke Charlotte loved when we first made it.

Our original project used supplies we already had and a few inexpensive additions. It is a simple decoration to plan with kids, with an adult handling the attachment, hot glue, and final placement.

When Charlotte was five, she thought this witch was the greatest idea ever. I liked that we could make something memorable without building an elaborate prop or buying a whole new collection of decorations.

Jump to the supplies, step-by-step instructions, or troubleshooting tips. For more hands-on October projects, explore our 31+ Halloween STEM and STEAM activities.

A Funny Halloween Decoration with a Simple Design

The trick is the arrangement rather than a complicated construction method. A flat cape against a wall, a hat at the top, and a broom across the back give the impression of a witch who had a very unfortunate landing.

You do not need to make a face or a complete body for the joke to work. Keep the shape easy to recognize, then step back and see whether the hat, cape, and broom read as one character.

We enjoy making a new Halloween decoration to celebrate the season and our birthdays. In past years, that has meant paper pumpkins, spider magnets, ghost plates, leaf art, and our plastic pumpkin tower decoration.

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Witch Crash Landing Decoration Supplies

Gather the main pieces before choosing a display spot. A hat with attached hair saves a step, while a plain hat gives you the option to add your own tinsel hair.

Black witch hat, with or without hair; tinsel for optional hair; and a black trash bag for the cape are the main materials. You will also need a decorative witch broom and an attachment method suited to your display surface.

Our original project used duct tape. Before using any tape on a house, door, or painted surface, check that it is suitable for that material and test an inconspicuous area; strong adhesives can leave residue or damage a finish.

Keep scissors nearby if you need to adjust the bag or tinsel. An adult can use a hot glue gun to attach hair inside a plain hat, but you can skip that step by using a hat that already has hair.

What Did Our Original Witch Decoration Cost?

When we made this decoration in 2018, I spent $2 on a hat with hair and $0.99 on a broom at Dollar General. We already had black garbage bags, which helped keep our original project below $5.

Those amounts describe our original purchase, rather than current store prices. Check what you have at home first, then compare the cost of the few pieces you still need before deciding on a budget.

A reused costume hat or an existing Halloween broom may be all you need to finish the design. The funniest part of this decoration is the crash-landing pose, so the materials do not have to match a particular brand or look expensive.

Choose the Display Spot Before You Start

Look for a spot where the full silhouette will be visible and the broom can be secured independently. A sheltered wall or a display board can be easier to manage than a surface exposed to wind and rain.

Check the attachment plan before placing anything high or near a walkway. Keep the decoration away from doors that need to open, vents, lights that give off heat, and places where someone could catch clothing on the broom.

If you are unsure about attaching materials to the house, assemble the design on a separate lightweight display board. You can arrange the pieces at a table and then choose a secure way to display the completed board.

How to Make a Witch Crash Landing Decoration

1. Arrange the Black Bag into a Cape

Lay the black trash bag out and decide which end will sit beneath the hat. Spread the lower portion so the overall outline resembles a cape, with a narrower top and a wider bottom.

Hold the shape in place against your chosen surface before attaching it. Kids can help judge the silhouette from a few steps away while an adult checks the placement and attachment points.

Use your surface-appropriate attachment method to secure the cape. Keep the bag out of children’s reach during unattended play and use it only as a display material, rather than a costume to wear.

2. Prepare the Witch Hat and Hair

If the hat already has hair, arrange it so some strands will show beside the cape. Hold the hat at the top of the bag and check the proportion before attaching it.

For a plain hat, cut tinsel to the length you want and arrange it near the inside edge. An adult can attach the strands with hot glue, allow the glue to cool fully, and then check that the hair is secure.

You can make the hair neat, uneven, or wonderfully messy. Charlotte’s enjoyment came from the silly character, so there is no need to spend the afternoon making every strand line up.

3. Attach the Hat Above the Cape

Place the hat at the top of the cape so the two pieces look connected. Let the hair fall along either side of the black bag rather than disappearing behind it.

Secure the hat with an attachment method appropriate for both the hat and the display surface. Do not depend on a tiny piece of tape to hold a bulky hat, especially if the decoration will be outside.

4. Add the Broom Across the Back

Position the decorative broom across the witch’s cape to suggest that she flew into the wall. Try a slight angle or a straight horizontal placement and choose the version that makes the joke clearest.

An adult should secure the broom separately instead of relying on the trash bag to carry its weight. Check that both ends are stable and that the handle does not extend into a walking path.

5. Step Back and Check the Whole Display

Look at the witch from the place where visitors will first see her. Adjust the cape, hat, or hair if a piece blends into the background or makes the character hard to recognize.

Gently check each attachment and remove any loose scraps or unused materials. For an outdoor display, check it again after windy or wet weather and bring it inside if the materials are not holding up.

Troubleshooting Your Homemade Witch Decoration

If the cape looks like a plain bag, spread the lower corners farther apart and bring the top closer together. A clear outline does more for the character than adding lots of small decorative details.

If the hat tips forward or falls, take it down and reconsider the support rather than repeatedly adding tape to a delicate surface. A separate display board may give you a more useful place to secure the pieces.

If the hair is hidden, move a few strands to the sides before reattaching the hat. Keep the strands short enough that they will not trail onto the ground or tangle around the broom.

If wind pulls the cape loose, move the display to a more sheltered location or bring it inside. A thin plastic bag and lightweight costume pieces are better suited to a temporary seasonal decoration than an all-weather installation.

Let Kids Help with the Design

Children can choose the hair color, compare cape shapes, and decide how the broom should tilt. Give them a real design decision while keeping the mounting and tool work with an adult.

Ask what makes the decoration look like a witch and what makes it look like a crash landing. Their answers can help you decide which details matter and which ones you can leave out.

You can also make a small paper version at a table before arranging the larger display. Cut or draw a hat, cape, and broom, then move the pieces around to test different poses.

As a software engineer and Maker Mom, I love projects that give us a chance to try an idea, look at the result, and make an adjustment. Here, that process is as simple as changing the cape shape or broom angle and asking whether the design is easier to recognize.

Make a Halloween Afternoon of It

Pair the decoration with a project children can complete more independently, such as our cereal box mummy craft. The mummy gives younger kids wrapping and face-design choices while the adult finishes the larger witch display.

For a quieter activity afterward, print our Halloween bingo game or try cotton swab pumpkin art. Choose one extra activity instead of turning a simple decoration into an overflowing to-do list.

Our family also enjoys coordinated Halloween costumes. We have shared our Frozen family costumes and Star Wars costume ideas if you want inspiration for another part of the celebration.

You Might Also Like

Find more science, coding, art, and building projects in our Halloween STEM and STEAM activity collection. Our Halloween crafts, treats, and costumes roundup organizes more seasonal ideas by category.

Try Halloween crayon resist optical illusions for an art activity that explores patterns. The pumpkin tower tutorial offers another larger decoration project.

For Descendants fans, we also have a DIY Mal costume tutorial and personalized Descendants tote bags. These were included in the original related-project list and give you more ways to create for the season.

Save this DIY witch crash landing decoration for your next Halloween craft day!