How to Make a Ghost With Fabric Starch

Using only a few household supplies and materials, you can make a ghost or two this Halloween that can rival the more expensive manufactured versions available in stores. You and your kids can enjoy making a few spooky friends to add to your family's holiday décor.

Things You'll Need

• White cotton sheet
• Scissors
• Oatmeal can
• Black felt
• Mixing bowl
• Liquid fabric starch
• Hot glue gun
• Bow or ribbon (optional)

Instructions

1. Fold an old cotton sheet in half and spread it flat on a large table, or on the floor. Draw a semi-circle on the sheet, with the folded side as its bottom. Cut along the drawn outline. When you are done and unfold the sheet, it will be roughly circular in shape.

2. Find a large, empty oatmeal container and set it upright (open end up). Blow up a balloon and wedge it snugly into the mouth of the container. Secure the balloon to the container with tape.

3. Fill a large mixing bowl approximately 1/3 of the way with liquid fabric starch. Push the circular sheet into the liquid starch, allowing it to saturate the material. Pour more liquid starch over top to ensure that the sheet is completely submerged.

4. Allow the sheet to soak up the liquid starch for at least 5 -to10 minutes. Then gather up the sheet and twist out the excess starch.

5. Open the material and drape it over the balloon. Make sure the center of the sheet is positioned at the top of the balloon. Adjust the rest of the material to drape off the balloon in smooth folds.

6. Set the finished project in an open area to dry overnight. This allows the fabric starch to fully dry and the shape to set in place.

7. Detach the ghost from the balloon base once it has fully dried. To do this, simply pop the balloon, so the ghost maintains its shape. Cut out two large ovals from a sheet of black felt to serve as the ghost's "eyes." Hot-glue these eyes to your ghost's face.

8. Set the ghost on a table or by your front door to offer an eerie welcome to all who visit.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a smaller can and balloon for a smaller ghost.

• Add a bow to the ghost's head with ribbon, or use curled ribbon as hair.