It’s pretty terrifying to learn how much people are prepared to spend on Halloween.

From spooky sweets and horrifying health bars to scary spider decorations and magnificent monsters, it was estimated the USA national spend on the spooktacular event topped two billion dollars last year.

Australia is fast catching up too, with a 1.5 million dollar spend on pumpkins alone last year.

If the thought of spending a truckload of money to celebrate sends shivers up your spine, these fun ways to make ghosts for Halloween are just what you need.

5 FUN WAYS TO MAKE GHOSTS FOR HALLOWEEN – 1. THE CHEESECLOTH MAGIC FLOATING GHOST

The most expensive part of this project is the cheesecloth, so it’s guaranteed not to break the budget.

MATERIALS

• Cheesecloth
• White Glue
• Water
• Plastic Bottle
• Tape
• Black marker
• Form for the head. I used a foam ball. If you don’t have one, think outside the box. Scrunch up some newspaper into a ball shape and cover with foil or plastic wrap.

METHOD

• Use sticky tape or masking tape to attach the head form to the plastic bottle.

• Drape the cheesecloth over the form and cut off any excess material.
• Mix the one part water with one part glue ( I used about two tablespoons of each to make one ghost).
• Place the cheesecloth in the water/glue mixture, ensuring all of it is covered. Squeeze out any excess liquid.
• Drape the cheesecloth over the form and allow to dry completely.
• Once it is dry, the ghost will ‘stand’, on its own and there is room to add a battery tea light candle or glow stick for an extra eerie effect.
• Use the marker to draw on eyes and mouth.
• You could also add fishing line to the top of the ghost is you want it to ‘float’ from the ceiling.

5 FUN WAYS TO MAKE GHOSTS FOR HALLOWEEN – 2. THE STUFFING GHOST

When I think of ghosts I picture them with an indistinct outline so you can use all kinds of materials to create the appearance of ghosts.

A handful of pillow stuffing can easily be transformed into a ghost.

MATERIALS

• Pillow Stuffing
• Spray Starch
• Black marker

METHOD

• Shape the stuffing into a ghost form and spray with the starch. This will help it stay in shape.
• Use the marker to draw on eyes and mouth once it’s dry.
• Couldn’t be easier and it’s a less scary version for the little ones.

5 FUN WAYS TO MAKE GHOSTS FOR HALLOWEEN – 3. THE CLAY GHOST

This is a great excuse to play with some air dry clay and you can buy a packet for less than $10. That’s a lot of little ghosts.

MATERIALS

• Air dry clay – white
• Pencil
• Battery tea light candle (optional)

METHOD

• Grab a small handful of clay and shape it into a ball shape about the size of a golf ball.

• Flatten the ball between the palms of your hands.

• Pinch the clay around the edges to flatten it out more.

• Drape the clay over something (a soup ladle works well) to keep its shape while drying.
• Carefully use the pencil to punch out holes for the eyes and mouth.
• Once it’s dry, you can put a tea light candle inside it.

5 FUN WAYS TO MAKE GHOSTS FOR HALLOWEEN – 4. THE FOAM GHOST

This one should cost you nothing if you tend to hang onto packaging as I do.

Those foam sheets used for packaging make perfect little ghosts.

• Simply draw a ghosty shape on the foam and cut it out.
• Use a marker to draw on eyes and mouth.

5 FUN WAYS TO MAKE GHOSTS FOR HALLOWEEN – 5. THE PAPER TOWEL GHOST

Paper towels – it’s that easy. You can even use tissues for this one.

METHOD

• Scrunch up one square of paper towel into a tight ball.
• Place the ball in the centre of another square of paper towel.
• Twist the second sheet of paper towel around the ball and secure with sticky tape.
• Use a black marker to draw on eyes and mouth.

Add a craft stick and a foam or paper cup and you can make this adorable pop-up ghost.

With a little creative imagination, you can fill your home with ghostly ghouls without breaking the bank.

What’s your favourite way to make ghosts?

Happy crafting and have a gleeful week, Tamuria.