Upcycle Thrifted Frosted Glass Globes Into Halloween Decor With An Easy DIY

Halloween is one of the best times of year for decorating. Sure, you could go out to any old department store and pick up the latest plastic decor, put it up for the month of October, and then toss it into storage to maybe use next year. But you could also take the opportunity to make something special of your own. Crafting your own Halloween decor can help you stick to a budget, get the exact style you want, and make something high quality that lasts. If you want to make some cheap and easy DIY Halloween decorations, then the thrift store will be your best friend. One genius DIY project is to turn a frosted glass lampshade into an adorable little glowing ghost. The process is incredibly simple and can be done for just a few dollars in total.

To make this cute little ghost, you need a frosted glass lampshade of any size or shape, a black permanent marker or black paint, a battery-powered tea light, black felt, scissors, and glue. Frosted glass bulb covers, globes, or lampshades can be found at many thrift stores, or they can be bought online for only a couple of dollars each. You may even have a spare around the house from an old fixture. Add a couple of dollars for a multi-pack of battery-powered tea lights, a dollar or two for a permanent marker if you do not have one, and under a dollar for a sheet of black felt, and you can easily make your little ghost for under $15. You will also probably end up with enough materials to make multiple.

Once you have your materials, the project is very simple. Use your permanent marker or paint to draw a face on the frosted lampshade. Two oval eyes and one oval mouth are classic, but you can customize the ghost face in any way. If you make any mistakes, you can remove permanent marker using a common household staple, rubbing alcohol, and start over. 

Since the top of the shade is open, you'll want to cover it. In this case, it's with a felt witch's hat. Trace the narrow end of the globe on your felt. Then, draw another circle outside of the traced one to create the brim of a witch hat. Cut another piece of felt to roll into a cone shape for the top of the hat, and glue it together. Place the brim on the ghost, and glue the cone in place on the brim. You can get creative with other ways to cover the hole on top of the ghost, such as a mini pumpkin or a layer of white fabric over the entire shade. Finally, turn on the battery-powered tea light and set your ghost on top of it for a glowing effect.

While a bell-shaped bulb cover is similar to a ghost, any shape will do. You can also try different designs, like a pumpkin with a rounded glass globe shade. Frosted glass diffuses the light nicely, but you can also use transparent glass or learn how to safely use frosted glass spray if you don't find the exact style you want. Or, have fun with it by painting the shades an array of colors or adding a layer of spray glitter. You can also add other embellishments, like bows or sequins, to personalize your ghost.