From Little Hands to Lasting Keepsakes: A Step-by-Step Tutorial for Making Adorable Clay Ghost Ornaments

Are you looking for a fun Halloween craft to do with your kids, but worry it will end in frustration and a big mess? 👻

It’s so disappointing when a craft project doesn’t turn out like the picture, leaving you with lumpy, cracked creations instead of treasured keepsakes. You want an activity that creates happy memories, not stressful moments. 😟

This tutorial is the solution! I’ve designed it for total beginners and their young assistants. We will go through every single action, step-by-step, to make sure you create a boo-tiful collection of handmade ghost ornaments you’ll be proud to display. Let’s make some memories! ✨

Prerequisites: What You’ll Need Before You Start 📚

Before we conjure up our friendly ghosts, let’s get our magical workshop ready. From my experience, having everything prepared and within reach is the secret to a smooth and fun crafting session, especially with little ones!

Requirements Checklist:

• White Clay: You can choose either Air-Dry Clay (like Crayola Model Magic) for simplicity or white Polymer Clay (like Sculpey or Fimo) for more durability. Each type has its own benefits for simple craft projects like this one.
• Work Surface: A sheet of parchment paper or a silicone craft mat. This is great for preventing sticking and makes cleanup super easy.
• Shaping Tools: A small rolling pin is helpful but not required. A smooth glass cup or jar also works perfectly.
• Detailing Tool: A wooden skewer, a toothpick, or the end of a thin paintbrush. We’ll use this for making the eyes and the hanger hole.
• Finishing Touches: A thin black permanent marker (like a Sharpie) or black acrylic craft paint with a tiny brush.
• Hanging Material: Thin ribbon, twine, or fishing line.

Initial Setup:

First, cover your table or work area with newspaper. Then, place your sheet of parchment paper or craft mat on top.

Next, it’s very important to wash and thoroughly dry your hands (and your little helper’s hands!). This step helps keep the white clay looking clean and pristine.

Important Note: If you are using polymer clay, go ahead and preheat your oven according to the directions on the package. This way, it will be ready to go when you are done shaping your ghosts.

Finally, I like to pre-cut my ribbon or twine into 6-8 inch lengths for each ornament we plan to make. It saves time later!

Step-by-Step Tutorial 🛠️

Step 1 – Prepare and Condition the Clay

Objective: To soften the clay, making it pliable and easy to shape while preventing cracks later on.

Start with a small chunk of clay, about the size of a large gumball for one ornament. Knead and roll the clay between your palms and with your fingers for about 2-3 minutes. You’ll feel it become soft, smooth, and very easy to work with. If it starts to feel sticky, just let it rest for a minute.

Important Note: This conditioning step is the most important part for preventing cracks as the clay dries or bakes. Please don’t skip it!

Step 2 – Form the Basic Ghost Shape

Objective: To create the classic ghost silhouette.

First, roll your conditioned clay into a smooth ball. Try to roll it until you don’t see any creases. Now, gently pinch the bottom half of the ball and pull it downwards. This will elongate the clay into a teardrop or bell shape. The top should stay rounded for the head, and the bottom should be wider. I suggest slightly flattening the very bottom so the ghost can stand up on its own while you work.

Step 3 – Create the Spooky, Wavy Bottom

Objective: To give your ghost a floating, ethereal appearance.

Gently pinch and wiggle the bottom edge of your ghost shape. This simple motion creates that classic, wavy sheet-like effect. You can make some waves bigger than others to give it a more natural, spooky look. Remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. The unique waves are what give each ghost its character!

Step 4 – Add the Hole for Hanging

Objective: To create a clean hole for the ribbon before the clay hardens.

⚠️ Warning: Do not forget this step! You cannot easily add a hole after the clay is baked or has fully dried.

Carefully hold your ghost. Use your toothpick or skewer to poke a hole straight through the top of the ghost’s head. You can go from side-to-side or front-to-back. Gently wiggle the skewer in the hole to make sure it is large enough for your ribbon or twine to pass through easily later.

Step 5 – Bake or Air-Dry Your Ghosts

Objective: To harden the clay, making your ornament permanent and ready for decorating.

• For Polymer Clay: Place your finished ghosts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake them according to the manufacturer’s instructions on the package. This is usually around 275°F (or 130°C) for 15 minutes for every ¼ inch of thickness. After baking, let them cool completely.
• For Air-Dry Clay: Place your ghosts on a clean, dry sheet of parchment paper in a well-ventilated spot. Let them dry for 24-48 hours. I recommend flipping them over gently about halfway through the drying time so they dry evenly.

Your ghosts are ready when they are hard to the touch. If you used polymer clay, it should be solid white, not translucent.

Step 6 – Decorate and Finish Your Keepsake

Objective: To bring your ghost to life with a face and a hanger!

Once your ghosts are completely cool and hard, it’s time for the best part. Use your thin black permanent marker or black paint to draw on two simple ovals for eyes. Then, add a larger oval for a spooky mouth. Finally, thread your pre-cut ribbon or twine through the hole you made earlier and tie it in a loop.

Important Note: If you want to add some sparkle, you can brush a thin layer of Mod Podge onto the ghost and sprinkle it with fine white or iridescent glitter. Let it dry completely before you add the ribbon.

The Secret to Perfect, Smudge-Free Ghost Shapes 🤫

Many tutorials show a perfect final product but skip the little tricks that get you there. This section tackles the most common frustrations. Here is how I get that smooth, clean finish every time.

• The Fingerprint Problem: After shaping the ghost, you might see your fingerprints. To fix this, you can very gently roll the ghost on your clean sheet of parchment paper to smooth it out. For polymer clay, you can also wipe it gently with a baby wipe before baking to erase prints.

Pro Tip: It’s tempting to poke the eyes in with a toothpick, but this can create raised, messy edges. Instead of poking, I recommend you gently press and roll the tip of your toothpick on the surface. This creates a smooth, indented oval for the eyes and mouth because it compacts the clay instead of pushing it out of the way.

Pro Tip: Kids’ hands get grimy fast! I always keep a pack of baby wipes on the table. Have everyone wipe their hands right before they touch the white clay, every single time. This one small step makes a huge difference in keeping your ghosts bright white.

Troubleshooting & FAQs ❓

Q: My air-dry clay is starting to crack as it dries. What did I do wrong?

A: This usually happens for two reasons. First, the clay might not have been “conditioned” enough before you started shaping it. Make sure you knead it very well to remove air bubbles and create a uniform texture. Second, it might be drying too quickly. I suggest moving it away from direct heat sources like vents or sunny windows.

Q: My white polymer clay turned brown or got discolored in the oven.

A: This means the oven temperature was too high. Many home ovens don’t heat to the exact temperature they’re set to, so I always suggest using a separate oven thermometer to check the real temperature. Baking your ghosts on parchment paper on a light-colored metal or glass pan can also help prevent browning on the bottom.

Q: Can we paint the ghosts instead of using a marker?

A: Absolutely! This is a great idea, especially for air-dry clay. Once the clay is completely dry, you can use any acrylic craft paint. You could even paint the whole ghost with glow-in-the-dark paint before adding the black face details for an extra spooky effect!

Next Steps & Further Customization 🎨

Congratulations on mastering the basic clay ghost! Now that you have the skill, here are a few fun ways my family and I take it to the next level.

• What to Do Next: Make a whole family! Create ghosts of different sizes—a big parent ghost and some tiny baby ghosts—to hang together as a mobile or a garland.
• Customization Tips:
  • Add Texture: Before the clay hardens, you can gently press a piece of lace or a textured fabric onto the ghost’s body to give it a cool pattern.
  • Add Accessories: Use a tiny bit of orange clay to make a miniature pumpkin for your ghost to hold. Or, use a small piece of black clay to create a little witch’s hat to place on its head.
• Advanced Applications: You can try making other simple Halloween shapes using these same basic techniques. A rolled orange ball with lines pressed into it becomes a perfect pumpkin. A flattened black circle with two pinched triangles on top becomes a cute cat head.

You did it! You and your little artist have not only learned a new skill but have created a collection of boo-tiful ghost ornaments that are filled with personality and charm.

These aren’t just decorations; they are snapshots of a fun afternoon. You can bring them out every Halloween to remind you of the creative memories you made together. We hope you had a blast watching these simple lumps of clay transform into spooky, friendly faces. Now that you’ve got a whole ghost family, where will you hang them first? Share your creations with us in the comments below!

Sources & References 📚

• Polymer Clay Council. (2024). *Baking Polymer Clay*. Sculpey. Retrieved from https://www.sculpey.com/blogs/how-tos/baking-polymer-clay
• Fiegl, D. (2024). *Why You MUST Use an Oven Thermometer for Baking Polymer Clay*. The Blue Bottle Tree. Retrieved from https://thebluebottletree.com/baking-polymer-clay-oven-thermometer/