Halloween Ghosts, Made Three Ways

So often, when we think about decorating for Halloween, we think of the fancy, expensive displays: moving monsters, cackling witches, boiling cauldrons. My grandfather once put a coffin on his lawn and scared people by jumping out of it. Terrorizing the neighbors was a source of pride and joy for him.

You might be looking to keep things more low-key and there are certainly advantages to that. My personal preference is to be festive, but to keep my decorations friendly and home-made or natural. If that’s your style, too, you might enjoy these simple little ghost crafts.

The Cotton Ball Ghost

Cotton balls are a great texture exploration, especially because they can be so sturdy if you tug on the whole cotton ball and so delicate if you gently peel away its layers. This method is also a great introduction to using glue appropriately and is the perfect craft for making many versions!

1. Gather large leaves and brush off any dirt clumps. These will be your background!
2. Gently pull on a cotton ball to separate out the layers, keeping the cotton ball in one piece.
3. Spread a line of school glue down the center of the leaf.
4. Glue your ghost to the leaf.
5. Using a marker or a sharpie pen, add two eyes.
6. If you’d like to make a mobile, run a needle and thread through the leaf and attach it to a stick. Hang up as many little ghosts as you’d like! They also make lovely necklaces using the same strategy.

If you make many little ghosts, you might enjoy using them as manipulatives in this math song about ghosts.

The Ghost in the Napkin

The beautiful thing about these simple little ghosts is that they are made of completely reusable materials! If you have white cloth napkins, there’s no need to store them, or even to compost them! If you use paper towels, it’s still low-waste, as chemical-free paper towels can be composted or (in most states) sent to the yard waste to decompose.

1. Place the treats of your choice in the center of the napkin. We recommend almonds or other nuts if your cloth/paper towel is small for an old-fashioned traditional treat, or an apple if you have a large cloth!
2. Twist the napkin and tie it using fishing line, string, yarn, or rubber bands to give the impression of a head.
3. If you’d like to hang up your ghost, tie extra thread to each side of the head, then tie both threads in a knot at the top of the head, then use the joined threads to hang up your ghost as a decoration.
4. If you are looking for an activity to do with these little ghosts, hide them around your home or outdoor area for other people in your family to find. What creative places can you put them?

The Banana Ghost

I don’t remember where I first saw these, but I first made these as a nanny in 2012. We needed a festive snack and these were absolutely perfect! I've been making them ever since.

1. Cut your banana in half.
2. Stand each half on the cut base.
3. Add two “eyes” and a “mouth” (three chocolate chips work well, but so could nuts! This year, I’m a fan of Trader Joe’s new nothing-but-cacao-powder unsweetened chocolate chips!)
4. Enjoy fresh or freeze for an hour for a cold treat!

Which ghost will you make this year?

• arts and crafts
• simple crafts
• inexpensive crafts
• seasonal craft
• student
• grades pre-k - 5
• Halloween