DIY Ghost Face Picture Frame

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Eerie ghost face picture frames are sure to scare the pants off of anyone whom encounters them this Halloween season. Created using a simple cheesecloth and starch technique, you can make a single framed ghost head or an entire set to hang and spook the halls. At night, shine a light from below or make the room dark and use a black light, and they will frightfully glow. Boo!

Advertisement

Family of spirits
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Watch the Video Tutorial

Things You'll Need

  • 3 picture frames

  • Cardboard or the existing frame backings

  • White acrylic paint or gesso primer (or use white cardboard or foam core board and omit paint)

  • #50 cheesecloth, 12 yards

  • Scissors

  • Foam head, male

  • Foam head, female

  • Small doll head

  • Hand saw or serrated kitchen knife

  • Surface protection, such as newspaper or plastic

  • Wax paper

  • Clear tape

  • Petroleum jelly

  • Heavy starch spray

  • Staple gun or glue gun

  • Hanging hardware, if needed

Gather these supplies to make this craft.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Tip

  • Find inexpensive frames at flea markets or garage sales. Any sizes will work as long as they are big enough to fit the form heads with at least 3 extra inches on all sides. The ones pictured are 8-by-10-, 15-by-15- and 11-by-20-inch frames.
  • If white cardboard is unavailable, simply paint a coat of gesso primer or white acrylic paint over regular cardboard for the same effect.
  • If a staple gun is unavailable, substitute a glue gun.

Cut the Cardboard the Same Size as the Frames

Cut cardboard to fit the inside frame dimensions, or use the existing frame backings. Paint a coat of white acrylic over one side, or save the painting step and use white cardboard or white foam core board instead.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Use white frame backings or paint cardboard white.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Cut 10 Layers of Cheesecloth for Each Board

Trim 10 single layers of cheesecloth 5 inches bigger (2 1/2 inches on each side) than each of the boards. For the frames pictured, 12 yards of 36-inch cheesecloth worked perfectly. The best cheesecloth for this project is crafting cheesecloth (#50 Size TAM) found at the craft store.

Advertisement

Cut 10 layers of cheesecloth 5 inches bigger than the boards.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Cut the Backs off of the Foam Head Forms

Use a hand saw, a serrated kitchen knife, or if available, an electric kitchen knife to cut the back of the foam heads completely off just behind the ears so they lie flat when horizontal.

Advertisement

Remove the back of the foam heads with a hand saw or serrated kitchen knife.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Cover the Cardboard with Wax Paper

Completely cover the white side of the cardboard with a single layer of wax paper. Use clear tape to loosely secure it to the back of the boards.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Cover the boards with Wax paper.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Cover the Faces with Petroleum Jelly

Petroleum jelly will keep the cheesecloth from sticking to the forms. Use your fingers to rub a thin layer over the entire surface of the three heads, including the top, sides and neck.

Advertisement

Rub petroleum jelly over the surfaces of the heads.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Arrange the Faces on the Boards

Center the heads onto the wax paper boards. Transfer the boards outdoors if weather permits. If the weather is cold and wet, cover an indoor work surface with newspaper or plastic.

Advertisement

Center the heads onto the boards.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Drape and Spray the Cheesecloth

Start by loosely draping two layers of cheesecloth over the form heads and spray with starch. Completely saturate the cheesecloth. Spray the sides of the cloth all the way to where it meets the edge of the board. Use your fingers to smooth the saturated cheesecloth over the features of the face. Begin with the nose and work down, creasing and smoothing the cloth into the tiny contours of the face.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Drape 2 layers of cheesecloth over the face and spray with starch.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Continue Adding Cheesecloth Two Layers at a Time

Add two more layers of cheesecloth and spray with more starch. Repeat this process until all 10 layers are covering the face, each time smoothing into the crevices and contours of the face. Spray and saturate the entire cloth, including the area around the head. After all of the cloth is in place, bunch the cheesecloth loosely from the base of the head out to the edges of the board to give the fabric a light, wavy appearance.

Add all the layers of cheesecloth and saturate with spray starch.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Set Aside to Dry

Drying times can vary depending on the humidity and the weather. On a hot sunny day, the forms will dry in about four hours if placed in the sun. If cool and damp, keep the forms indoors and leave undisturbed for up to 36 hours.

Leave undisturbed to dry completely.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Remove the Forms

When completely dry, carefully peel the cheesecloth away from the wax paper. Remove all of the edges first, and the face should lift easily off of the form head. Set the heads aside and remove the wax paper from the boards.

Advertisement

Remove the Forms from under the cheesecloth.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Trim the Cheesecloth

Place the ghost heads centered onto the white side of the cardboard and trim the excess cheesecloth. The cheesecloth should be exactly the same size as the boards.

Trim Cheesecloth the same sizes as boards.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Place in the Frames

Keep the ghost heads flat on the work surface and carefully place the frames over the top. If there is a wire hanger on the back, carefully slide the heads over the wire and under the frame, with the faces pointing up. Then check that the entire cheesecloth edge is under the lip of the frame. Hold the backing securely in place with your hands and raise the frames to sit vertically. Keep pressure on the backing so that the cheesecloth doesn't slip. Use a staple gun on the backside of the frame to secure the cardboard in place. If a staple gun is unavailable, a thick bead of hot glue connecting the cardboard to the frame will do the trick. Now they are ready to hang.

Tip

If the frames do not have existing hangers, add them before inserting the ghost heads. Picture-hanging supplies are available at craft stores, frame shops and online. Follow the directions on the hardware package to easily install yourself, or take the frames to a frame shop for professional assistance.

Use a staple gun to secure the heads in the frames.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Store Face Up

When your ghost heads are not hanging on the wall and scaring the neighbors, store them face up in a large box or plastic container. Make sure the lid of the box doesn't touch any part of the faces, and your spirits will haunt Halloween for many years to come.

Store face up.
Image Credit: Jessica Begum

Advertisement

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...