13 Days of Halloween- DIY Cute and Spooky Ghosts

 Welcome to day 3 of my 13 days of Halloween DIY party special! Today I have a special DIY for you to make, spooky ghosts! These little cuties are pretty easy to craft and they make adorable decor items to add to your mantle or bookshelves! I made mine to stand on sticks but you could easily make them to hang instead. You can also customize their faces to your own style. I have always been a fan of Tim Burton, and so I made my ghosts with sunken eyes and sketchy pen outlines. I only made two, but I think a whole group of them on a mantel or hanging from the ceiling would be oh so adorable! They are pretty easy to make, so I may just attempt to do some more if I have the time.

Here’s What You Need:

*Wooden Block(s)

*Small Dowel

*Small to medium sized styrofoam ball

*Cheesecloth

*Scissors

*Air Dry Clay (model air, or paperclay)

*Water

*Modge podge

*Paint

*Paintbrush

*Fine tip pen (sharpie or micron)

*Drill

*Glue

Step 1: Make base- Drill a hole in the middle of your block the size of your dowel. Cut your dowel to the height you wish it to be plus a little extra. Glue the dowel into the wood block. Once the glue is dry, paint your wood block and dowel.

 Step 2: Form the Head- Pinch off bits of the model clay and smooth it over your styrofoam ball. You can use a little water on your fingers when smoothing it out to make it a little easier and more uniform. If you are going to do sunken eyes you need to have a nice thick layer of clay on your ball. To make the eye sockets, first decide where you want them. Then, press into the clay with your thumb and rotate to make a sunken circle. Repeat for other eye. Poke a hole in the bottom for your dowel to fit in later. Let the clay dry according to the package instructions.

 Step 3: Add the Gauze- Cut squares of cheesecloth for your ghost. I just eyeballed it. Put your heads on the dowels and push onto dowel until firm and not wobbly. Paint a layer of modge podge onto your dry ghost head. Lay one layer of cheesecloth over the wet head and gently press into eye sockets and around top of the head. Repeat with other layers of cheesecloth, painting modge podge down before each layer. I used three layers for mine. Let the modge podge dry.

Step 4: Finish- You can add a little bit of grey paint to the inside lids of the eye sockets if you like. I think it gives it a little extra oomph. Then draw in the eye outlines and pupils and add the other facial features you like. Mount your ghost on the dowel and you are finished.

I really like how my little ghosties turned out! They make me smile! I had a lot of fun making these, and I hope you will too! Be sure to tune in tomorrow for more exciting Halloween fun!

Happy Crafting!