Halloween Ghost Crafts: 15 Glowing Ideas That Make Your Home Spooky in One Evening

Halloween ghost crafts are the fastest way to make your home feel magical when the nights get dark and chilly. You do not need a big budget or special skills. Most of these ideas use tissue paper, cheesecloth, milk jugs, paper cups and a few battery LED lights. So every ghost glows softly without a single flame. Some take ten minutes, and others make a fun family project for a weekend night. The kids can draw the faces, while grown ups handle anything hot or sharp. Also, many of these ghosts cost almost nothing because they start as things you were about to throw away. Pick one tonight, turn the lights down and watch your little ghost crew come to life..

Halloween Ghost Crafts Start With a Tissue Paper Night Lamp

This little lamp is the one that started a craze. A DIY Halloween night lamp video on Facebook pulled in more than 300,000 reactions, and it is easy to see why. You wrap a glass jar in white tissue paper, add a sweet face and drop in a battery LED light. Then the paper glows like a soft cloud. Because it uses no flame, it is safe on a windowsill, a nightstand or a kids’ shelf. Make two or three in different sizes and line them up for a cozy ghost family..

You will need: Clean glass jar, white tissue paper, decoupage glue or white school glue mixed with a little water, foam brush, black paper or felt, battery LED tea light or fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. First, brush a thin coat of glue on the jar. 2. Then press on torn tissue paper pieces in two or three layers and let it dry. 3. Next, cut out black eyes and a mouth and glue them on. 4. Finally, drop in a battery LED light and switch it on.

Plastic Bottle Halloween Ghost Crafts That Glow

Empty water bottles make perfect little ghost bodies, and of all the Halloween ghost crafts here, this one is the best way to reuse them. Each bottle gets a cozy layer of tissue paper or cheesecloth, a pair of big black eyes and a glowing LED inside. Group them by height and they look like a ghost family waiting for trick or treaters. Kids love drawing the faces, so give each ghost its own mood. One can look surprised, another sleepy, another silly. How many bottles are hiding in your recycling bin right now?

You will need: Clean plastic bottles with labels removed, white tissue paper or cheesecloth, decoupage glue, black paper, scissors, glow sticks or battery LED tea lights.

How to make it: 1. First, peel off the labels and dry the bottles. 2. Then cover each bottle with glue and white tissue paper or cheesecloth. 3. Next, glue on black paper eyes and mouths. 4. Finally, drop a glow stick or LED light inside and twist the cap back on.

Tomato Cage Yard Ghosts, the Halloween Ghost Crafts Everyone Copies

This yard ghost blew up on YouTube, where one short video passed 12 million views in a month. The trick is simple. Turn a wire tomato cage upside down, tie the top together and you have a tall ghost frame. Then drape it in white fabric and cheesecloth so the edges float in the breeze. A string of battery LED lights inside makes it glow after dark. Three of them on the lawn will stop neighbors in their tracks. Ready to raid the garden shed?

You will need: Wire tomato cages, zip ties, a foam ball for the head, an old white sheet, cheesecloth, black felt, outdoor battery LED string lights, garden stakes.

How to make it: 1. First, flip the cage upside down and zip tie the legs together at the top. 2. Then attach the foam ball as a head and wrap the cage with LED lights. 3. Next, drape the sheet and cheesecloth over it and glue on felt eyes. 4. Finally, stake it into the lawn so the wind cannot tip it over.

Cheesecloth Floating Porch Ghost

A floating ghost on the porch looks like real magic, yet it is only cheesecloth and a little fabric stiffener. You shape the wet cloth over a simple form, let it dry hard and then lift it off. The ghost keeps its flowing shape with no wires showing. Hang it from the porch ceiling with clear fishing line and it seems to drift in the air. Add a few LED fairy lights inside and it glows for every visitor. Which corner of your porch needs a friendly ghost?

You will need: Cheesecloth, fabric stiffener or glue mixed with water, a balloon taped on a tall bottle as a form, plastic wrap, black felt, clear fishing line, battery LED fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. First, cover the form with plastic wrap. 2. Then soak the cheesecloth in stiffener and drape it over the form. 3. Next, let it dry for a full day, lift it off and glue on felt eyes. 4. Finally, tuck in the fairy lights and hang it with fishing line.

Pillowcase Tree Ghosts

Old pillowcases and worn out sheets get a fun second life as tree ghosts. Stuff a few plastic bags into one corner for a head, tie it off with string and let the rest hang loose. Then draw or glue on big black eyes and a long surprised mouth. Hang a few from low branches and they sway gently when the wind picks up. Of all these Halloween ghost crafts, this one costs nothing and takes minutes, so it is perfect for a last minute idea. Do you have an old pillowcase you can spare?

You will need: White pillowcases or old sheets, plastic grocery bags or newspaper, string or ribbon, black felt or fabric marker, scissors.

How to make it: 1. First, stuff one corner with bags to make a round head. 2. Then tie string tightly under the head. 3. Next, add felt eyes and a mouth or draw them with fabric marker. 4. Finally, hang the ghost from a branch and cut the bottom into wavy strips.

Pastel Cheesecloth Halloween Ghost Crafts

Who says ghosts must be white? Dye your cheesecloth in soft pastel colors and you get a rainbow ghost crew that feels sweet instead of spooky. This version is perfect for little kids who get scared easily. Mint, lilac, pink, yellow and blue look lovely hanging from a branch by a sunny window. Plus, the fabric dries stiff, so each ghost holds its shape all season. Hang them in a playroom or nursery for gentle Halloween fun. Which color would your ghost be?

You will need: Cheesecloth, fabric dye or watered down acrylic paint, fabric stiffener, small foam balls, black felt, white string, a sturdy branch, battery LED fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. First, dye the cheesecloth pieces and let them dry. 2. Then dip each piece in stiffener and drape it over a foam ball. 3. Next, let them dry overnight and glue on tiny felt faces. 4. Finally, tie them to the branch at different heights and wrap the branch with lights.

Swinging Hoop Ghost

Two embroidery hoops can become a ghost that sways softly every time someone opens the door. Long strips of cheesecloth and gauze hang from the hoops like a flowing skirt. Then a round fabric head on top gives it a cute, friendly face. Weave LED fairy lights around the hoops and the whole ghost glows in a dark hallway. It looks like it took hours, but it really takes about forty minutes. Where would your swinging ghost hang?

You will need: Two wooden embroidery hoops, white ribbon, cheesecloth and white gauze fabric, a foam ball, a white fabric scrap, black felt, battery LED fairy lights, a ceiling hook.

How to make it: 1. First, tie the two hoops together with ribbon, one above the other. 2. Then knot long fabric strips all the way around both hoops. 3. Next, cover the foam ball with fabric, add felt eyes and tie it on top. 4. Finally, wrap the lights around the hoops and hang it from the hook.

Paper Cup Ghost Garland

This garland is one of the most loved Halloween ghost crafts for kids because every cup gets its own silly face. Small white paper cups slide right over the bulbs of a battery LED string light. So each little ghost glows from inside. Drape it across a mantel, a bookshelf or a window and the room feels festive right away. It is cheap, quick and easy to store for next year too. How many funny ghost faces can your family draw?

You will need: Small white paper cups, black marker, a sharp pencil, battery LED string lights.

How to make it: 1. First, draw ghost faces on the cups with black marker. 2. Then have an adult poke a small hole in the bottom of each cup. 3. Next, push one bulb through each hole. 4. Finally, hang the garland and switch it on.

Milk Jug Halloween Ghost Crafts for the Front Path

Milk jugs are the secret to the brightest ghosts on the block. The thin white plastic spreads light beautifully, so one LED inside makes the whole jug glow. Draw on big round eyes and a surprised mouth, then line them along your front path. Trick or treaters will follow the glowing ghosts right to your door. Better still, this craft turns trash into decor in about five minutes per jug. Have you started saving your milk jugs yet?

You will need: Clean empty white plastic milk jugs, black permanent marker, battery LED tea lights or puck lights.

How to make it: 1. First, rinse the jugs well and peel off any labels. 2. Then draw ghost faces with the marker. 3. Next, have an adult cut a small flap in the back for the light. 4. Finally, slip in an LED light and set the jugs along your path.

Bat and Ghost Shadow Jar Lamp

This little lamp throws giant bats and ghosts across your walls, and kids think it is pure magic. Tape black paper cutouts inside a clear glass jar, then place a small LED light in the middle. The shapes spread out as big shadows the moment you turn off the room lights. It makes a fun night light for a Halloween sleepover. If you love jar projects, our mason jar crafts have plenty more ideas. Want to see the shadow show tonight?

You will need: Clear glass jar, black cardstock, scissors, clear tape, battery LED puck light or tea light.

How to make it: 1. First, cut small bats and ghosts from black cardstock. 2. Then tape them inside the jar, facing out. 3. Next, set a battery LED light in the center. 4. Finally, turn off the room lights and move the jar closer or farther from the wall to change the shadow size.

Paper Bat Window Silhouettes

Black paper bats are the easiest way to make your windows look spooky from the street. Cut a stack of bats in different sizes and arrange them as if they are flying in a swirl. On a lit window at night, they turn into crisp dark shapes that everyone can see. You can also tape them on an orange wall or door for a bright daytime look. Mix in a few paper ghosts and you have simple Halloween ghost crafts for every window. How big will your bat swarm be?

You will need: Black cardstock, a bat template, pencil, scissors, removable poster putty or painter’s tape.

How to make it: 1. First, trace bats in small, medium and large sizes. 2. Then cut them out and fold the wings up a little. 3. Next, arrange them in a swirl on the window. 4. Finally, stick them on with poster putty so they peel off cleanly later.

Glowing Ghost String Lights

Little ghost lights strung across a room make everything feel cozy and fun. You can upgrade a plain string of fairy lights by adding small ghost covers to each bulb. Shape them from white felt or stiff white fabric, and draw happy faces on the front. Then hang the string over a doorway, bed frame or shelf. The warm glow is spooky but sweet, so even little ones love it. Which room in your home needs a ghost glow?

You will need: Battery LED string lights, white felt or stiff white fabric, black marker or black felt, scissors, fabric glue.

How to make it: 1. First, cut two small ghost shapes for every bulb. 2. Then glue the edges together, leaving the bottom open. 3. Next, draw a face on the front of each ghost. 4. Finally, slip one ghost over each bulb and hang the string.

Hanging Fabric Ghost Row

A row of fabric ghosts hanging by a door or along a fence makes people stop and smile. Each one is a simple square of white fabric draped over a ball, tied at the neck and given a doodled face. Because every face is different, the row looks like a crowd of curious little spirits. Hang them at the same height for a neat look or stagger them for fun. They work on porches, balconies and fences. What faces will you give your ghost crowd?

You will need: White fabric squares or old sheets, foam or plastic balls, string, black fabric marker, a rope or rod to hang them.

How to make it: 1. First, drape a fabric square over each ball. 2. Then tie string tightly under the ball to form a head. 3. Next, draw a different face on each ghost. 4. Finally, tie them along a rope or rod and hang the row.

Painted Ghost Gourds and Pumpkins

White gourds and small white pumpkins already look like ghosts, so they make easy Halloween ghost crafts with only a painted face. A few dots of black paint turn them into the cutest no carve decor on your shelf. Because there is no carving, there are no knives, and little kids can join in. Tuck them into crates, bookshelves or a fall table display. Then add a strand of LED fairy lights around them for a soft evening glow. How many ghost gourds can you fit on one shelf?

You will need: Small white pumpkins or pale gourds, black acrylic paint or a paint pen, a small brush, battery LED fairy lights.

How to make it: 1. First, wipe the gourds clean and let them dry. 2. Then paint two eyes and a small mouth on each one. 3. Next, let the paint dry fully. 4. Finally, group them on a shelf and weave fairy lights between them.

Glow in the Dark Clay Halloween Ghost Crafts

These tiny clay ghosts charge up in daylight and glow softly when the lights go out. You can buy glow in the dark clay, or mix glow powder into white air dry clay. Then roll small cone shapes, pinch out little arms and press in tiny eyes. Kids love hiding these Halloween ghost crafts around the house for a ghost hunt after dark. Just keep these small pieces away from toddlers and pets. Are you ready to make your own glowing ghost crew?

You will need: Glow in the dark air dry clay, or white air dry clay plus glow powder, a toothpick, black paint, a small brush, a sunny windowsill.

How to make it: 1. First, knead the glow powder into the clay if needed. 2. Then shape small cones and pinch out tiny arms. 3. Next, poke eyes with a toothpick, let them dry and dot in black paint. 4. Finally, set them in bright light so they charge up, then enjoy the glow.