The Easy DIY That Gives Dollar Tree Wooden Ghosts A Major (& Affordable) Upgrade

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When you start to feel a crisp autumn breeze and your coffee shop order switches from iced to hot, you know that fall is here. With the urge to cozy up for the cooler months also comes the desire to change up your space. To some, that may mean making it feel warm and comfortable, but for others, that can mean embracing a different part of the fall vibes: Halloween. Balancing the two can be tough, but there are some creepy-cute Halloween decor ideas that aren't just black and orange if you're looking for a middle ground. Whether your preferred fall look leans more homey or eerie, there is one DIY project, in particular, that can upgrade a simple piece of decor and make it suitable for your style. This DIY lets you transform a wooden cutout of a ghost and a skein of yarn into a sweet wall art piece that can soften a creepy room while staying on theme or add some festivity to a cheerful autumn home.

By wrapping a wooden ghost cutout in a soft yarn, you bridge the gap between scary and cozy. Plus, the materials are affordable and can all be purchased at Dollar Tree, and the process is quite simple. All you need is a ghost-shaped wooden decor piece, like this DIY hanging Halloween decor at Dollar Tree. Additionally, Dollar Tree sells Premier Just Yarn white worsted yarn that should work just fine for this project. With just your cutout and a skein or two of yarn, you can get started on your ghost. 

To get the desired effect, you will need to cover the ghost completely in white yarn, leaving no part of the wood visible. You can also use other materials, like strips of gauze or white fabric torn into strips. While it is possible to do this by randomly wrapping, you can get a much better effect by having a more systematic approach. As you go, wrap the yarn in the same direction for quite a few loops so that the lines of the yarn look more intentional. This also has the added bonus of making your ghost have a mummy-like appearance. Make sure that the wrap is tight enough to not slip around or droop when completed. If you are worried about loose pieces, you can use hot glue to stick yarn to the wooden board or other pieces of yarn.

Getting the yarn through the smaller holes of the eyes and mouth on your cutout may be difficult, but you can make it far easier by looping the yarn around a pen or another small and narrow object that will fit through the eyes and mouth. Push the pen through the holes rather than having to thread the yarn through each time. Also, if you make any mistakes or want to move to a different section, you can cut the yarn, tuck in the end, and begin again. Once you have completely covered the wood (or run out of yarn), tuck in the final tail of yarn securely, using glue or knots to hold it in place. Then, you can hang up your cozy ghost for everyone to enjoy. Use the hanger that comes with the ghost, or create a decorative hanger from wire, ribbon, or rope.

If you love the way your yarn-covered ghost turns out, then you can repeat the steps on other shapes for more indoor Halloween decor that will transform your space. Buy the Crafter's Square Halloween icon ornaments in a pack of eight from Dollar Tree to create some smaller pieces, or try cutting out your own shapes from thin sheets of wood or thick cardboard. For a classic look, wrap pumpkins in orange and their stems in green, and wrap a witch's hat and cat in black. Alternatively, adjust the colors to fit your decor's color palette. Glow-in-the-dark yarn costs around $7 and can make your ghosts and other shapes even more fun while staying within budget. Or spray them with glitter spray after you're done wrapping for a sparkling effect.

Another way to upgrade your shapes is to add a layer or two of cheap batting to the wood before wrapping to create a more three-dimensional shape. To finish off the decor, consider adding some little accessories. Plastic spiders, like the KOMIDK 100 Pieces Plastic Spiders on Amazon for $5.99, can be glued to the yarn. Those plastic spider rings that show up every Halloween might even stay in place if you push the ring between pieces of the yarn. Or tie a ribbon around the ghost's neck or the pumpkin's stem for a decorative touch. Even with some of these modifications, you should be able to complete the project for under $10, making it the perfect budget-friendly choice. With a potential total price of just a couple of dollars for this project, you can even create a matching DIY cute ghost frame with a few affordable Dollar Tree finds to complete your decor.