DIY: 9 Ghostly Décor Ideas

Making DIY ghosts for Halloween decorations is a fun and creative way to add a spooky vibe to your home. Here are several methods you can use, ranging from super easy to a bit more crafty, depending on what materials you have on hand and how elaborate you want your ghosts to be:

1. Cheesecloth Ghosts

• Materials: Cheesecloth, fabric stiffener (or a homemade mix of cornstarch and water), balloons or foam balls, wire or empty bottles, black felt or googly eyes.
• Method:
  1. Inflate a balloon or use a foam ball to create the ghost’s head.
  2. Position it on top of an empty bottle or form a ghost “shape” using wire for arms.
  3. Drape cheesecloth over the structure.
  4. Spray the cheesecloth with fabric stiffener or dip it in the cornstarch mixture to stiffen it.
  5. Let it dry for several hours until the cheesecloth hardens in place.
  6. Add black felt or googly eyes for the ghostly face!
  7. You can then remove the balloon (if using) and hang the ghost from a string or display it as a standing figure.

2. White Trash Bag Ghosts

• Materials: White trash bags, black marker, string, newspaper or plastic bags for stuffing.
• Method:
  1. Stuff a white trash bag with newspaper or other plastic bags to form a head.
  2. Tie the neck with string to secure the head shape.
  3. Cut or tear the bottom part of the bag into strips to create a flowing, ghostly effect.
  4. Use a black marker to draw spooky eyes and a mouth.
  5. Hang from a tree, porch, or indoors for a simple, budget-friendly ghost!

3. Balloon and Gauze Hanging Ghosts

• Materials: Balloons, white gauze, glue or liquid starch, fishing line or string, black felt or paper for eyes.
• Method:
  1. Inflate a balloon to create the ghost’s head.
  2. Drape white gauze over the balloon.
  3. Use glue or liquid starch to stiffen the gauze, shaping it into a ghostly figure.
  4. After drying, pop the balloon and remove it, leaving the gauze ghost.
  5. Attach fishing line or string to the top to hang your ghost.
  6. Add eyes using black felt or paper to complete the look.

4. Floating Ghost Lanterns

• Materials: White paper lanterns, white fabric or tulle, string, black construction paper, glow sticks or battery-operated lights.
• Method:
  1. Assemble a white paper lantern as the base of your ghost.
  2. Drape a white fabric or tulle over the lantern to create a floating ghost effect.
  3. Cut out eyes and a mouth from black construction paper and glue them onto the fabric.
  4. Hang the lanterns from the ceiling or a tree branch.
  5. Optional: Insert glow sticks or battery-operated lights inside the lantern for an eerie glow at night.

5. Ghostly Handprint Towels

• Materials: White hand towels, fabric paint (black and white), paintbrush.
• Method:
  1. Dip your hand into white fabric paint and press it onto a black or dark-colored hand towel.
  2. Once dry, use black fabric paint to add small eyes and a mouth to the center of the handprint, transforming it into a ghost.
  3. Hang these in your kitchen or bathroom for a subtle, crafty Halloween decoration!

6. Styrofoam Ball Hanging Ghosts

• Materials: Styrofoam balls, white fabric, string, black felt, hot glue.
• Method:
  1. Take a styrofoam ball and cover it with a piece of white fabric.
  2. Tie the fabric around the base of the ball to form the ghost’s head.
  3. Use hot glue to attach black felt cutouts for the eyes and mouth.
  4. Attach a piece of string to the top of the ghost and hang it from the ceiling, porch, or tree.

7. Tissue Paper Ghosts

• Materials: Tissues, cotton balls, string, black marker.
• Method:
  1. Place a cotton ball in the center of a tissue to form the ghost’s head.
  2. Twist the tissue around the cotton ball and secure it with a piece of string around the “neck.”
  3. Draw a simple ghost face with a black marker.
  4. Make several of these tiny ghosts and hang them in a garland, or scatter them around for a cute ghost army!

8. Ghostly Paper Plate Masks

• Materials: Paper plates, white paint, black marker or construction paper, scissors, string or popsicle stick.
• Method:
  1. Paint the back of a paper plate white.
  2. Cut out large eye holes and a spooky mouth.
  3. Use a black marker or glue black construction paper around the eyes and mouth for a ghostly look.
  4. Attach string to wear the mask or glue a popsicle stick to hold it up for fun ghost play!

9. Mason Jar Ghost Luminaries

• Materials: Mason jars, white tissue paper or paint, Mod Podge (or glue), black construction paper, tea lights (battery-operated).
• Method:
  1. Coat the outside of the Mason jars with Mod Podge and stick on pieces of white tissue paper or paint the jars white.
  2. Use black construction paper to cut out eyes and mouths, then glue them onto the jars.
  3. Once dried, place battery-operated tea lights inside the jars to create spooky ghost luminaries to line your window or table.

Each method brings a unique take on DIY ghosts, whether you’re going for a cute, spooky, or glowing effect. You can even combine a few of these ideas for a full ghostly display! —Vita Daily