Cute Little Ghosts, Zero Glitter Regrets
Stitch, Please · Let’s make things
Some Halloween decorations require a ladder, an extension cord, and the confidence of a person who understands outdoor electrical ratings. These ghosts require paper. We like their energy.
A paper ghost garland is an easy afternoon project for the kitchen table. Make it sweet, silly, or just a little spooky. The ghosts do not need matching faces. Frankly, a ghost with one eyebrow has a lot going on, and we should respect that.
Gather the little things
- White paper or thin cardstock
- A pencil, a black marker, and optional colored pencils
- Scissors appropriate for the people using them
- Painter’s tape suitable for your surface
- Optional: a paper bag or scrap sheet for protecting the table
Kids who aren’t ready for scissors can handle the faces while an adult cuts. You can also tear the bottom edges for a wobbly ghost shape.
Make a tiny ghost committee
- Draw the shape. Start with a rounded top and two sides, then give the bottom a few gentle waves. Aim for about the size of your hand. Cut one out and use it as a tracing guide if you want a consistent size.
- Cut a handful. Six to ten ghosts makes a nice little parade. A smaller batch is also completely valid. We are not filling a haunted convention center.
- Add personalities. Two dots and an oval mouth work beautifully. Try glasses, freckles, a mustache, or a tiny bow drawn on the paper.
- Arrange before taping. Lay them in a row on the table. Mix the heights a little so they look like they’re floating.
- Put them up. Use a small loop of tape behind each ghost to make a garland-like row on a suitable wall, door, or cabinet. Test the tape in an inconspicuous spot first.
Give everyone a job
One person draws, one cuts, and one handles the faces. If you have a very enthusiastic art director, let them name the ghosts. Gerald. Snack Ghost. The One Who Knows Where Your Other Sock Is.
Keep decorations out of reach of babies and toddlers and away from heat sources. For this project, skip loose string: the tape-only version keeps the supply list simple.
The cleanup shortcut
Keep one scrap-paper pile and one finished-ghost pile. Put the scissors and markers away before hanging your masterpiece. That’s it. No glitter to discover on your person in February.
Want a little Halloween personality for your outfit, too? Take a peek at the Spooky Shop, or simply enjoy your excellent ghost committee.
Tiny challenge: Make one ghost that looks like it has already answered too many emails today.
Milkweed, baby!
Slow-made, high-vibe, not your basic stitch.
Free printable: a little help for your next small project
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