How to Make Ghosts With Cheesecloth and Fabric Stiffener

Turn cheesecloth into a Halloween ghost.

Spooky Halloween ghosts come to life from the humble beginnings of cheesecloth and fabric stiffener. Make one for everyone in your family to decorate or leave a collection as is near the door on Halloween night. These little ghosts make an excellent project for classes or scout troops. You could even hang them from a front-yard tree to greet Trick-or-treaters.

Things You'll Need

• Water bottle, 1 liter
• Foam ball, 2 1/2 inches
• Craft knife
• 2 pencils
• Plastic wrap
• Wax paper
• White glue
• Disposable pan
• Cheese cloth, 24-inch by 36-inch
• Decorations

Instructions

1. Make a mold for your ghost. Start with a one-liter plastic bottle. Remove the top and push a 2 1/2-inch foam ball onto the bottle's spout. Cut slits on either side of the bottle about 2 inches from the top. Insert a pencil in each hole at an angle so one end points down into the bottle and the other up to support the ghost's sides. Cover this structure with a layer of plastic wrap, molding it until you are happy with the ghostly shape.

2. Tape wax paper over your work area. Make fabric stiffener by pouring 1 cup of white glue in the bottom of a disposable pan. Add 1/4 cup water to thin the glue and stir well.

3. Cut a 24-inch by 36-inch piece of cheese cloth. Dip the cloth in the glue mixture and soak it completely. Pull the fabric back out and use your fingers to wipe off excess glue. Open the cloth as much as possible and drape it over the form. Use your fingers to mold the fabric into the ghost shape you want. The fabric will dry stiff and stand on its own, without the form, so make sure the bottom edges are relatively even. Also be sure you don't make the neck area so narrow that you can't pull the foam ball out later.

4. Allow the cloth to dry for 24 hours or until completely dry. The fabric will be stiff enough to hold its shape. Carefully remove the mold. Decorate the ghost as desired. Left as is, it's a shadowy, spooky shape. Add googly eyes and accessories for a sillier Halloween decoration.

References

• Craft Elf: Cheese Cloth Ghost
• Cut Out and Keep: Cheesecloth Ghost
• Teacher's Corner: Cheesecloth Ghost