Easy Halloween Ghost Craft and Decoration for Kids and Adults

Here are three easy tutorials that teach you how to make a ghost in several sizes with different craft supply options, allowing you to create DIY ghost decorations that hang, float, or stand.

Get into the Halloween spirit with these easy ghost crafts and DIY decorations. If you’ve ever wondered how to make a ghost, this craft tutorial offers several easy and fun project ideas you can try. These include using different materials to create ghosts in various sizes, from small to large, that hang, stand, and even seem to float in mid-air. Making a ghost is a fun and easy Halloween craft suitable for both kids and adults.

Creating ghost crafts for Halloween is an excellent activity for all ages. These fun Halloween craft ideas are perfect for kids and grown-ups. Even toddlers, preschoolers, tweens, and teens will enjoy these spooky Halloween crafts. Making a Halloween ghost craft from tissue paper, plastic bags, tulle, or an old white sheet is a classic activity for everyone. The finished ghost crafts and decorations will add a personal touch to your DIY Halloween display. You might also enjoy these Halloween art projects and painting ideas.

Ghost Crafts Make Great Last-Minute Halloween Decorations!

Ghost crafts are a simple, last-minute Halloween decoration idea that can be made in any size, from tiny to extra large, for both indoor and outdoor use. The directions include several craft supply options, so you probably have everything you need for at least one of the DIY ghost project ideas below.

Halloween craft projects, such as the ghost ideas here, are fun and memorable activities that everyone can enjoy together at home or in the classroom. The simple step-by-step DIY ghost instructions guide you through making small or large ghosts that can hang, stand, or appear as if they are floating, using various craft supplies. With these instructions, you can transform simple materials, such as torn white sheets, pillowcases, tulle, tissue paper, or spooky fabric wrapped over cotton balls, lollipops, tomato cages, foam balls, balloons, and more, into flowing, ghostly figures of different sizes.

You can also repurpose recycled bottles and jars to make glowing ghost lanterns and other delightful Halloween lanterns, adding a festive, spooky vibe to your home or party space. First published on September 15, 2015, these Halloween ghost craft ideas, along with detailed step-by-step instructions, are regularly updated to enhance the content and keep it current. You might also enjoy Halloween Pumpkin Salt Painting.

How to Make Halloween Ghost Crafts:

Halloween ghost crafts, like these, are simple DIY decorations that even toddlers and preschoolers can make at home or in the classroom. This easy-to-follow guide contains three sets of step-by-step instructions on creating hanging ghost crafts or ghosts that stand in your yard, porch, or hang from trees and rafters. Use the directions below to learn how to make ghost crafts and decorations, ranging from small to extra large, with new or recycled materials such as tissue paper, white plastic bags, tulle, creepy gauze fabric, a pillowcase, or an old white sheet.

In other words, follow the small to medium-sized ghost craft instructions to make a small to medium-sized Halloween ghost. Or use the extra-large Halloween ghost tutorial to create even larger floating or hanging Halloween ghost decorations with an old white sheet, creepy gauze cloth, or extra-large white garbage bag. Alternatively, create gauze, tulle, or cheesecloth ghosts that stand upright with the help of a tomato cage using the third-standing DIY ghost tutorial below. Scroll down for the instructions for each of these spooky ghost crafts! You might also enjoy making this glowing Halloween ghost sensory bottle craft with a repurposed bottle or jar.

Related: Halloween Art Projects Kids LOVE!

Related: Spider Magnet Craft and Decoration

How to Make a Small to Medium Halloween Ghost Craft Directions that Hang or Stand:

Learn how to create a ghost craft or decoration of any size that floats, hangs, or stands with these easy homemade Halloween ghost tutorials. Simple DIY Halloween decor, such as the projects included here, makes decorating for Halloween parties, haunted houses, and other spooky events easy. These ghost crafts look fantastic hung in trees, displayed on a front porch, or suspended from the ceiling to give the illusion of floating. Small hanging ghost crafts like these are perfect for decorating a home, classroom, party, or haunted house for Halloween.

Alternatively, follow the step-by-step instructions in the next section to make an extra-large floating DIY Halloween ghost decoration using an old white sheet, a large trash bag, tulle fabric, or creepy cloth. You can also create standing ghosts for your yard or other outdoor space with the tomato cage ghost instructions at the bottom of this post. In other words, scroll past this first ghost craft tutorial to learn how to make giant DIY ghost decorations that hang or stand for Halloween. You might also enjoy creating spider web door decorations.

1. Prepare squares to make ghost crafts:

• Use scissors to cut two (or more) squares of paper, fabric, or plastic:
  • Small to medium-sized ghosts can be made with new or recycled white tissue paper, an old white sheet or pillowcase, tulle fabric, creepy gauze cloth, white plastic garbage bags, or a tablecloth.
  • Plastic or fabric ghosts are best suited for outdoor use, while paper ghosts should be kept indoors or on a covered porch or patio.
• Or, use white square cloth or paper napkins, which don’t need to be cut. (Paper napkins are perfect for lollipop ghosts.)
• I cut 10 to 12-inch squares of tissue paper to make the small hanging ghost crafts in the photos, but you can cut them any size you like.
• There is no need to cut perfect squares; the sloppy ones add to the ghostly appeal.
• When you use small squares to make ghost crafts, they can sit on a tabletop, while ghosts of any size look fantastic hanging from the ceiling, a porch overhang, or a tree branch.
• Experiment to determine the ideal size ghost craft for your specific needs. You may decide to make ghosts in several different sizes.

2. Lay the squares of paper, fabric, or plastic on a work surface with the filler for the ghost’s head on top:

• First, offset the tissue paper, napkin, fabric, or plastic squares to show eight points using two squares, 12 points using three squares, and so on.
  • The step-by-step photo collage tutorial illustrates this step with tissue paper below.
• Next, place one of the following ghost’s head fillers on top of the juxtaposed squares:
  • Cotton ball(s)
  • Crumpled piece of paper
  • An old sock (cut to size needed)
  • Crumpled recycled plastic bag
  • Fabric scraps
  • Lollipop
  • Small to medium-sized foam ball
• I love making lollipop ghosts with white square paper napkins, while my favorite filler for little tissue paper ghost crafts is cotton balls; however, each of the craft supply options above works great, depending on the material you are using to make ghosts and whether they will be displayed inside or outside.
  • For example, use lollipops to stand in a glass or vase on a table or windowsill, crumpled recycled plastic bags or foam balls to fill plastic ghosts, and cotton balls or crumpled paper to make hanging paper ghost crafts.

3. Wrap the Squares around the filler to make the ghost’s head:

• Gently wrap the squares of paper, plastic, or cloth around the filler to create the head of the ghost craft or decoration.

4. Shape the Head For Each ghost craft:

• First, cut a piece of monofilament (fishing) line or ribbon.
• One and a half to three feet will be long enough to hang the ghosts.
• If you will not be hanging the ghosts, cut a shorter section of fishing string or Halloween ribbon to put around the neck of the ghost craft to shape the head and secure it in place.
• Finally, tie the fishing line or ribbon around the neck of the ghost to secure the filler in place and complete the ghost’s head.
  • For lollipop ghosts, tie the ribbon underneath the lollipop to create the ghost’s head.

5. Create a face for Halloween ghost crafts:

• For each homemade Halloween ghost craft and decoration, create a face using one of the following options:
  • Draw a simple face with a black permanent marker, a paint pen, or fabric paint.
  • Alternatively, cut out shapes from black construction paper, black duct tape, foam, felt, or another type of fabric, and glue them onto the face of each ghost using glue tape, hot glue, or craft glue.
  • Create round, oval, or moon-shaped eyes, with a round, oval, or amoeba-shaped mouth.
  • You can use self-adhesive googly eyes for the ghost’s eyes (Secure them in place with glue or glue tape if needed.)
• Again, the craft supplies you use to make ghosts, and what you already have available, will determine the best choice.
  • For example, a permanent marker, paint pen, or black construction paper works well on tissue paper. Black foam and glue tape are best suited for plastic, while fabric paint or black felt with fabric tape is a good choice for cloth or fabric. The craft supplies above also provide suitable options.

6. Hang, stand, or pass out ghost crafts:

• Use ribbon or monofilament line to hang ghost crafts inside or outside the house, classroom, or workplace.
• These little ghosts make fun decorations that can be hung floating from trees outside and ceilings throughout the house.
  • Tissue paper ghosts are best for indoor use, while plastic or creepy cloth are excellent options for outdoor ghost decorations.
• Lollipop ghosts look excellent when propped up in cups, displayed at a Halloween party, or sitting in cups at individual table settings. You can also stick them into floral arrangements or plant pots.

Related: Halloween Handout Ideas: Healthy Treats and Fun Alternatives

Small to Medium Halloween Ghost Crafts Photo Tutorial:

The photo collage below shows each step of creating a ghost craft, making it easy to see how simple these homemade Halloween crafts are to assemble. As a reminder, you do not have to use tissue paper and cotton balls to make these crafts. The craft material suggestions and step-by-step instructions provide several other ghost craft supply options. Follow the easy steps below using the filler (cotton ball, lollypop, fabric scraps, crumpled paper, or plastic bag, etc.) and wrapper (tissue paper, cut-up white sheet, tulle fabric, creepy gauze cloth, plastic bag, etc.) of your choice:

Related: Giant Stick Spiderweb DIY Halloween Decoration

How to Make A Hanging Balloon Ghost: Extra Large DIY Halloween Ghost Decoration Instructions

Like their smaller counterparts, giant homemade Halloween ghosts are always a hit with the kids. This easy step-by-step tutorial teaches how to make giant hanging ghost decorations. Making creepy ghosts from various types of cloth or plastic is fun for all ages. The instructions below make it simple to create a ghost out of multiple materials to create extra-large ghost decorations. Use an extra-large plastic bag, a piece of creepy gauze fabric, a tulle roll, or an old white sheet of any size to craft extra-large homemade floating ghosts with the step-by-step directions below. (A giant ghost made with a sheet is shown hanging in the photo after the tutorial.) Alternatively, scroll to the next section to learn how to make a standing ghost decoration for your porch, patio, or yard.

1. Inflate a balloon:

• Use a balloon hand pump, or blow up a balloon the old-fashioned way!

2. Cut a small hole in the middle of an old white sheet, gauze, tulle, plastic bag, tablecloth, etc. (optional):

• First, lay an old white sheet, plastic bag, creepy cloth, or tulle fabric on the ground or another suitable surface, such as a table, and then pick it up from the center.
  • Use several pieces of overlapping layers cut into squares similar to the ghost crafts above, or a single piece of fabric.
  • Tulle fabric ghosts need several layers of fabric to create.
• Next, use scissors to cut a tiny hole in the center of the sheet, plastic bag, or overlapping layers of fabric.

3. Place the large piece(s) of fabric or plastic over the balloon:

• Find the small hole you cut in the old sheet, layers of tulle, creepy cloth, or plastic bags, and slip the knot of the balloon through it.

4. Cut a piece of monofilament (fishing string):

• Use scissors to cut a piece of fishing string that is one to six feet long, depending on the height at which you plan to hang the ghost forms and how low you would like them to hang.

5. Tie the fishing line to the balloon to hang the Ghost (optional):

• Tie the fishing string around the knot on the balloon on top of the ghost.

6. Create a cute, friendly, or spooky face on your Halloween ghost decoration:

• Put the balloon over the old white sheet, plastic, or other type of fabric on your lap or set it on a table.
  • Holding the ghost decoration with the balloon in place before you start helps ensure that you create the face in the right place once it is hung.
• Then, use a black permanent marker or fabric paint to draw a friendly or spooky ghost face onto it.
  • Draw circular half-moon, circular, or oval shapes for the eyes, and a circular, amoeba-shaped, oval, or smiling mouth.
  • The photo below shows a friendly ghost face drawn with a black permanent marker.
• Alternatively, cut circular or oval shapes from black duct tape, black felt, or another type of fabric, or use black foam if you are making the ghost from plastic.
  • Then, use fabric tape or glue to attach them to the face of the ghost decoration.

7. Hang Ghost Decoration outside or inside:

• Tie the monofilament line to a small nail, a tack, a push pin, a tree branch, a flagpole, an overhead beam, or anywhere else you’d like to hang the Halloween ghost decoration indoors or outdoors.
• Then, make a few more Halloween ghost decorations outside for even more ghostly fun!

Related: Spider Egg Halloween Decoration DIY

How to Make a Tomato Cage Standing Ghost Decoration:

Making a tomato cage ghost decoration makes it easy to make ghostly outdoor decorations that can stand in your yard for Halloween. Like the other tutorials, these creative standing DIY Halloween decorations are easy to customize with different fabrics and can be made in various sizes to fit your Halloween theme! Here’s how to do it:

1. Stand a tomato cage upside down to create a Ghost Shape:

• Turn a tomato cage upside down so the open end faces the ground.
• This will create the base for your ghost’s body.
• There are several different sizes of tomato cages available at most home and garden centers. Utilize what you have in your garden supplies, or select the best option for your specific needs.

2. Put it on Display and Weigh it Down: 

• Position your ghost in your yard or porch.
• Use camping stakes or garden staples, or place a heavy object, such as a brick or boulder, inside or on the base of the cage.
• This will prevent your ghost from blowing away or getting easily knocked over.

3. Place a foam or rubber ball on the upside-down tomato cage:

• Use duct tape or glue to secure a rubber or styrofoam ball between the tomato cage stakes so it sits on top of the upside-down tomato cage. 
• You may need to bring the stakes that are typically driven into the ground together and fasten them with a large rubber band or duct tape so the ball sits where you want it to.

4. Cover it with Fabric or plastic sheets: 

• Place a white sheet, plastic tablecloth, or spooky fabric over the rubber or foam ball and tomato cage to create a standing ghost decoration.
• Use hot glue to secure the fabric to the foam ball if desired.
• The primary idea is to drape white fabric over the tomato cage and the ball on top, ensuring it covers the entire structure.
• Arrange the fabric to hang down freely, creating a ghostly shape.
• Use as many layers of fabric as needed to fill out the ghost form. Cut them in various shapes and drape them in different directions to create a ghostly appeal.
• Apply hot glue to secure the fabric between each layer if needed.
• If you’re using a single sheet or tablecloth you may need to adjust the length to your liking. In contrast, gauze or tulle may require several layers of fabric to be placed on top to achieve the desired decorative effect.

5. Secure the Fabric in Place: 

• Use baling wire, tie twine, or monofilament fishing line to secure the fabric, cloth, or plastic to a few points on the cage to prevent it from blowing apart.
  • Depending on your chosen supplies, you might need a big-eye needle to complete this step.
  • This will help keep your DIY ghost decorations in place, especially on windy days.

6. Add Facial Features: 

• Use a black permanent marker (Sharpie) or fabric paint to draw eyes and a mouth onto the face of your ghost decoration.
• Alternatively, you can cut and glue fabric pieces in place to create the ghost’s face. 
• Draw or cut round, oval, or moon-shaped eyes, and a round, oval, or smiling mouth.
• Make your Halloween ghosts as spooky or silly as you like!

7. Add Optional Lighting: 

• Wrap small LED lights inside the cage under the fabric to add an eerie glow.
• This works incredibly well at night!

Halloween Ghost Crafts and Ghost Decoration Ideas:

Creating a hanging or standing ghost out of tissue paper, plastic bags, creepy cloth fabric, tulle, or an old white sheet is a classic Halloween craft and decoration suitable for both kids and adults. Ghost crafts and decorations like these can transform any space into a spooky, enchanting atmosphere, perfect for Halloween or themed parties. 

DIY ghost silhouettes can add a frightful or friendly touch to your home or classroom decor. Whether indoors or outdoors, these creative projects bring a playful spirit to your seasonal celebrations! Create hanging ghostly figures using the instructions above with white cheesecloth or lightweight fabric draped over balloons to give them a whimsical, floaty appearance. Incorporate glow-in-the-dark paint to make them eerie at night, or use LED lights for a soft, haunting glow. 

My daughter enjoys using the tiny Halloween ghosts she makes for imaginative play, while I use them to decorate our trees, ceilings, and windows for Halloween and Halloween parties. Try the DIY Halloween ghost decoration ideas above with the kids for a fun-filled, friendly ghostly experience! Or, make Halloween porch decor with skeletons, spiders, spider eggs, and a giant skeleton, as shown in the photograph below!

More Halloween Ghost Craft Ideas:

You may also like these gorgeous, glowing Halloween lanterns and luminaries, featuring several creative ghost lanterns and other Halloween decorations that you can make at home or in the classroom. Place ghost lanterns made from mason jars, recycled water bottles, or milk jugs along walkways to guide trick-or-treaters. The photograph of the finished projects below showcases several ghost craft ideas that you can create using the craft tutorials.

Halloween Art Ideas:

Check out this collection of Halloween art projects and painting ideas kids love for more creative ideas.

For even more fun fall ideas, check out this list of autumn activities with a printable bucket list. Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!

More fun Halloween Ideas:

• Halloween Pumpkin Salt Painting
• 13 Healthy Treats and Fun Alternatives for Halloween
• Glowing Halloween Pumpkin Sensory Bottle
• Top 10 Fall Nature Crafts (Contains pumpkin and jack o’ lantern ideas)
• Halloween Ghost Sensory Bottle DIY
• Giant Spider Web DIY Halloween Decoration
• Spider Egg Halloween Decoration
• Halloween Spider Door Decor
• Spider Craft