DIY Ghost Lights are the cutest addition to your Halloween decorations. My Ghost String Lights are both easy and fun to make and you can customize their faces!
These lightweight strand lights are perfect for spooky season and look great inside on your fireplace mantel or on your front porch.
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Supplies Needed for Halloween Ghost Lights:
- Cheesecloth or Gauze pads (opened up) or lightweight white fabric
- 20 ct. light set (white corded Christmas Lights work great!)
- Black Felt or fabric (or Black Vinyl for Silhouette/Cricut if you have one)
- Mod Podge
- scissors
- tacky glue
- popsicle molds or small dixie cups or a small jar
How to Make DIY Halloween String Ghost Lights
I started out by unfolding my cheesecloth. It came in a big folded ribbon. I ended up using 2 layers of it cut in roughly a 7″ x 7″ square. Repeat for as many ghosts as you want.
Next I draped the cheesecloth over my Popsicle mold. Using a paintbrush, I applied a thin layer of Mod Podge over the top half of the ghost head.
Note: I mixed a *very* small amount of water into my Mod Podge. I wanted to thin the Mod Podge out a bit so that it didn’t leave dried glue clumps on the openings of the cheesecloth.
While the glue was drying I cut faces and mouths out of black felt. Get creative! UPDATE: If you have a Silhouette Cutting Machine you can grab the ghost faces from my Boo Bowling and they would work perfectly for this project as well!
Once the ghosts were dry, I carefully pulled the cheesecloth off the molds and using tacky glue, glued on the felt pieces for the face. I tried hot glue but it was really, really hard to keep the cheesecloth layers separated with the hot glue. The front wanted to glue to the back!
Insert a light through the top of the cheesecloth. Some of mine just poked right through and others I had to help by cutting a small slit in the top.
Here they are with a ghost on every other light!
Here are the Ghost Lights with a ghost on every light. You can do what you like better!
The pictures don’t even do them justice when they are hung and lit!
I couldn’t resist making one of these little guys with a mustache! Mustaches are so popular right now and I wanted one of my little ghosts to be cool and popular! ;-)
I also really like this angry guy! The options for faces are endless!
Hang and enjoy! Note: These are recommended for indoor use only!
If you like Ghost Projects, I invite you to check out these projects!
You can also browse my complete collection of Holloween projects here
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Comments & Reviews
Kristy says
This is so cute! Thanks for sharing the how-to!
lindyharnarain says
Love! I’d love for you to link up to my Wickedly Creative Halloween Ideas Link Party!
http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com
Cheryl says
Thanks Lindy…I will head over!
Audra says
You’ve been featured! Thanks for linking up! Check it out here: http://www.thekurtzcorner.com/2011/09/link-party-features-no-7.html
Cheryl says
Thanks Audra!
Rachel @ Lines across my face says
Haha these are too cute. I love the face on that last one. It cracks me up!
thegunnysack says
So cute…the various faces on the ghosts are so funny! Thanks for this sharing this at last Monday’s “What In The Gunny Sack?” link party!
Macy says
Thanks for linking up to my Tuesday Confessional party last week. You’ve been featured so stop by and grab a brag button! http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/09/it-is-almost-time-for-this-weeks.html
I hope to see you at this week’s link party which starts tonight.
~Macy
Cheryl says
Woo Hoo! Thanks Macy! :)
Jennifer says
These are too cute! I like how you did different faces!!
Thanks for partying with us at Show & Share!!
Amanda says
What a great project! :) I’ve featured this post on Craft Gossip here:
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/cheescloth-ghost-lights/
If you would like a “featured by” button, you can grab one here:
http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/grab-a-craft-gossip-button/
Cheryl says
Thanks Amanda! I appreciate it!
Vicki Johnson says
Love it… what a fun touch and so inexpensive too! Thanks! Vicki
Bethany says
I know I’ve already commented on these, but I liked them so much I needed to come back and invite you to my Monster Mash Bash Halloween Link Party that is now up! http://afishwholikesflowers.blogspot.com/2011/10/lets-do-monster-mash.html
Hope to see you there!
Cheryl says
Thanks Bethany! I headed over! I also was able to fix your code to get your button to work on my {Che} Parties page :)
AJ says
This is super cute. I made these with my son who just had surgery and has to stay pretty still. I’m having a hard time keeping them on my lights though. I used the 50/50 glue/water mix and let them dry on my molds. When I tried to put it over my light the hole got too big and wouldn’t stay on, it just slipped off. Any suggestions?
Cheryl says
AJ, I would just use a bit of hot glue if you have it to tack it on the plastic part of the light. Otherwise you can put a piece of clear scotch tape over the existing whole that is too large and try again through the scotch tape. I hope that helps!
AJ says
Thanks for your prompt response! The hot glue is awesome. I used a bit of white thread on a couple that just wanted to be stubborn and loosely tied them around the cord. That helped too. This is just spooktacular and it was such a fun way to spend some quality time with my boy while he’s on the mend. Thank you so much for your great idea. I look forward to finding more gems!
Cheryl says
Yay! I am so glad you love them! I hope your son recovers quickly! But also glad you got some good quality time in with him!
Chun Thorstenson says
made my way to your site from aol and and am glad i found it, hope you keep up the good work
Dominique says
Thanks so much, I linked this with my facebook as I think it is a super idea for the young ones. This is my nephews first Halloween and I want it to be fun not scary and with these lights I know he will just be amazed (he’s 6mo. old). I love how you can personalize these with the faces, it gives me ideas to do lots more with them. Thanks again~Aloha
Cheryl says
Yes, we do “fun” Halloween in my house. Not yet to the scray Halloween just yet! I am sure someday when teh boys get older we will be to “scary!” Thanks for stopping by, I hope you come back and visit soon!
Christina says
Adorable! Thanks for linking up at my Bewitching Craft link party at http://igottacreate.blogspot.com!
Karen says
These are great I featured them @ WorkShop Wednesday!
Cheryl says
Thanks Karen! I appreciate it!
Megan says
Those are so cute! What a great way to spruce up basic white lights! :)
Cheryl says
Thanks Megan. I love your blog!
Iffy aka Cameron says
Good morning! I wanted to let you know you are in My Stay At Home Nation Spotlight this week! Stop by & check it out. I can’t wait to see what you link up next! Thanks so much!
XoXo
~Iffy~
StayAtHomeNation.blogspot.com
Cheryl says
Yay! Thanks Iffy! I appreciate it!!!