HALLOWEEN HOME DECOR: CHEESECLOTH GHOSTS

Cheesecloth ghosts are a well loved part of my childhood memories. Today we’re going big (literally) by making large ghosts using just a few items and your imagination!

CHEESECLOTH GHOSTS

When I was a child my Mom made miniature ghosts every year to give away to friends and neighbors. I remember her excitement at creating something unique and new with every creation, and am lucky to have my own collection of her “ghosties”! This year I wanted to try to make home decor sized cheesecloth ghosties – and the result is this blog post with a full set of instructions and lots of tips and tricks! {FTC Disclosure: This post is sponsored by JOANN but the project and opinions are mine all mine! This post also contains affiliate links which means I may make a commission on any sales at no additional cost to you.}

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Foam balls (or balloon – see below)
Cheesecloth
Vase or jar
Plaid Stiffy Fabric Stiffener
Spray bottle
Cooking spray (optional)
Sticks (optional)

HOW TO MAKE CHEESECLOTH GHOSTS:

1. Use a foam ball and a vase/jar to create the form of your ghost. You CAN use a balloon for the head, just be careful when applying Stiffy to the ghost. I tried a balloon and it popped under the weight of the cheesecloth once it got wet.

2. Want to add arms? Press a stick into each side at the base of the foam ball.

3. To make clean-up easier, use cooking spray to coat the vase/jar.

4. Unroll cheesecloth (do not unfold yet) and drape across form. Make sure cheesecloth reaches to the ground on both sides, then cut.

foam ball covered with cheesecloth for ghost decor

5. Unfold cheesecloth and drape over form. Make sure cheesecloth pools at the base of the form – when the ghost hardens this “base” will allow the ghost to stand upright.

woman covering foam ball with cheesecloth

6. Pour Stiffy in to spray bottle. If it is too thick to spray, add a small amount of water and shake well. NOTE: you CAN soak the cheesecloth in Stiffy instead of using the spray, but with such a large piece of cheesecloth be prepared for a bit of a mess! 🙂 See tips and tricks below for more info.

7. Spray Stiffy over entire form until cheesecloth is fully wet. In this case – more is better! You are probably going to have to repeat this process at least once, so don’t get too worried that you’ve missed a spot in the beginning.

woman spraying Stiffy on cheesecloth ghost

8. Let dry (depending on temperature/humidity/etc times vary). Test stiffness of form and reapply Stiffy as needed until form feels sturdy enough to stand on its own.

9. Gently remove from form (it may stick a little to the foam ball) and display!

Check out our Instagram Reel below to see a quick video of this project!

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A post shared by Beth • HOME + DIY + CRAFTS (@thekingstonhome)

OTHER FUN HALLOWEEN SUPPLIES I FOUND AT JOANN FROM THE PLACE & TIME COLLECTION (all spray painted with Rustoleum)

Artificial Carveable Pumpkins

Halloween Spiderweb Cake Stand

Halloween Metal Haunted House

TIPS AND TRICKS

Looking to make your ghosts a little “friendlier”? Cut eyes out of black felt and adhere to your ghost once it has fully hardened.

Want to make miniature cheesecloth ghosts? You can use mini liquor bottles and ping pong balls/wood beads. Since it is such a small piece of cheesecloth you should soak the material in Stiffy rather than using a spray bottle. They will dry much harder/stiffer and will last multiple years!

DO NOT keep the large ghosts outside – especially if you live in a humid area. We took these photos on the front porch and then (of course) got distracted and left them out there overnight. When we opened the door in the morning they had both deflated! Ha! Display these INSIDE!