Use Common Craft Supplies To DIY The Cutest Fall Swinging Ghost Decor That Lights Up

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It's spooky season! That means it's time for Halloween decor galore. Yes, you can buy your skeletons, ghosts, pumpkins, and more, but half of the fun of Halloween is making your decorations yourself. From creating mini witch hats from egg cartons to making cheesecloth ghost garlands and other budget-friendly Halloween crafts you can DIY, decorating your home for gatherings with friends and family is one of the best parts of the season. But the fun doesn't end there. We have another DIY for you to tackle before Halloween. Using everyday craft supplies, you can create a cute (not scary) swinging ghost that lights up. Get ready to practice your papier-mache skills, because this is one fall project you don't want to miss.

You'll need a few basic craft supplies, including black string, a pipe cleaner, a skewer, black felt, thin pink ribbon, like this Ribest Satin Ribbon, and a few types of glue. A craft glue, like Elmer's Liquid School Glue, will work well, and you'll also need hot glue. In order to create this cute ghost you'll also want to get some foil, a tissue, a piece of floral foam or a thick sponge to hold up your paper mache ghost as it dries, a small piece of cardboard, a brown marker, and something to poke a hole in the cardboard. You could use scissors or an awl. You'll also need a little lotion. You read that right. The ghost will be made of papier-mache, and the lotion helps prevent the tissue from sticking to the foil mold. One more thing — you'll also need some mini string lights. Something like this Exf Warm White Fairy Lights should do the job.

Start this spectral project by creating the body of your ghost. Take a piece of foil, make a ball that's a little smaller than a golf ball, and stick it on a skewer. Wrap the middle of the pipe cleaner around the skewer so it sticks out at right angles to the skewer. Bend the ends of the pipe cleaner until they're standing straight up. Rub a little lotion on the foil ball to prevent it from sticking, and push the skewer into the foam block.

The next step is to create your papier-mache mixture with glue and water. Mix equal parts glue and water, then dip the tissue into the mixture. Drape the tissue over the foil ball and pipe cleaner, then leave it to dry completely. Cut the piece of cardboard into a thin rectangle (the swing's seat) and poke four holes into it — one in each corner. Color the cardboard with the brown marker, and then use two equal lengths of string to create the ropes for the swing, tying them to the holes in the cardboard.

Once your papier-mache ghost is dry, remove it from the skewer in the foam block and cut two small circles from the black felt. Glue them to your ghost's head for eyes. Tie a small bow with the pink ribbon and glue that to the top of your ghost's head, too. Finally, use hot glue to attach the ghost's arms to the swing's ropes. Tuck a small bunch of twinkle lights under the hardened tissue to give your ghost a spooky glow, securing the lights with more hot glue. Turn the removed skewer into a hanger for the swing, and you're done!

Depending on how unique you want your ghost to be, you could use tissue paper instead of the kind of tissue you blow your nose with. No one said blue ghosts aren't allowed! If you go the tissue paper route, consider using a few sheets instead of just one. It is usually very thin, and a single sheet could be too translucent. Skip the bow altogether, or add a different colored bow instead. You could even make a little bowtie or pocket square for your ghost to personalize it further. Or make your swing wider to allow room for two ghosts instead of just one. Each ghost could hold one side of the swing, and they could hold hands in the middle. Too cute!

Consider also using removable hooks, like these Jinshunfa Adhesive Wall Hooks, so you can hang your swing from the ceiling or wall even if you're renting. If you're not interested in hanging fall decor, you can skip the swing. The papier-mache ghosts would also look great on a Halloween or otherwise festive tablescape. Or make an adorably spooky garland from multiple ghosts hanging from white string or ribbon. One thing to note: papier-mache can take a while to dry — sometimes a day or more. Keep this timing in mind when you start this project! If you're looking for another craft to do while you wait, use saved egg cartons to craft adorable mini ghosts. With every space covered in little ghouls, your home is about to be the spookiest spot on the block.