✨ After countless hours covered in glitter and fabric scraps, I’ve mastered the art of creating adorable spooky decor—testing, fixing fails, and discovering solutions that actually work. As a crafting expert, I live for these simple projects that bring so much joy.
😅 But I know the struggle: How do you make Halloween decorations that are cute, easy, and don’t cost a fortune? I’ve been there, trying to make my home festive without spending all day on a complicated project.
👑 That’s why in this post, I’ll show you exactly how to create these charming ghost lanterns. Stick with me, and you’ll learn how to make the cutest DIY party decor while creating magical memories with your loved ones! 🎃
Tutorial At-a-Glance
Time Required: Approx. 30-45 minutes per lantern
Budget Level: Low-Cost
Skill Level: Beginner / Kid-Friendly
What You’ll Need for Your Spooky Ghost Lanterns 🎃
After testing dozens of materials for DIY party decor over the years, I’ve found this simple list gives you the best-looking ghosts with the least amount of fuss.
✅ White fabric (cheesecloth, old t-shirts, or thin white sheets work best)
✅ Small plastic or foam balls (e.g., styrofoam balls, ping pong balls)
✅ String or fishing line
✅ Black permanent marker
✅ LED tea lights or battery-operated string lights (👑 Nancy’s Pick: Opt for warm white LED tea lights for a cozy glow and longer battery life, especially if displaying outdoors.)
✅ Scissors
✅ Craft glue or hot glue gun (with adult supervision)
✅ Optional: Glitter, googly eyes, small twigs for arms
Creating Your Ghost Lanterns: Step-by-Step Guide 👻
As a visual storyteller, I believe the best tutorials are the ones you can see. I’ve broken this down into super clear steps with photos to guide you, so you can see exactly how these little ghouls come to life. Let’s get crafting!
Step 1: Prepare Your Ghostly Forms
First, cut your white fabric into squares. A good starting size is about 12×12 inches, but you can make them larger or smaller depending on how long you want your ghosts’ “tails” to be. Drape a fabric square over one of your plastic or foam balls, centering the ball right in the middle to form the head. This is the basic shape for all your cheesecloth ghosts!
[Image Placement Instruction: image-1: All materials laid out, with a plastic ball and a piece of white fabric ready to be draped.]
Step 2: Bring Your Ghosts to Life with Faces & Lights
Now for the fun part! Pinch the fabric around the base of the ball to create a “neck” for your ghost. Gently pop an LED tea light up into the head from underneath, so the “flame” is pointing down. The fabric will hold it in place. Using your black permanent marker, draw a face on the head. You can go for a classic “O” mouth or give them cute, happy, or even worried expressions.
⚠️ Safety First: Only use battery-operated LED lights for this project. Never use real candles or any light source that produces heat, as it creates a serious fire hazard with the fabric.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-2: Close-up shot of hands drawing a ghost face onto the draped fabric, with an LED tea light visible inside.]
[Video Placeholder: A short, sped-up video showing the process of draping the fabric over the ball, drawing a simple face, and inserting the LED tea light.]
Step 3: Add Hanging Loops and Finishing Touches
To hang your lantern, poke a small hole through the top of the fabric and the foam ball with a needle or the tip of your scissors. Thread your string or fishing line through the hole and tie it into a secure loop. If you want to add arms, use a dab of hot glue to attach small twigs to the sides. For a little sparkle, you can brush on some craft glue and sprinkle with glitter.
💡 Pro-Tip: For the most convincing “floating” effect, use clear fishing line instead of regular string. From a distance, the line will be nearly invisible, especially at night, making your ghosts look like they are truly hovering in the air.
[Image Placement Instruction: image-3: A finished ghost lantern hanging by its string, with the LED light glowing softly.]
Variations & Customizations for Unique Ghost Lanterns 🎨
One of my favorite parts of being a crafting expert is showing people how to put their own unique spin on a project. After you’ve mastered the basic ghost, try these fun variations to create a whole family of ghouls!
- Textured Ghosts: Experiment with different white fabrics like lace, tulle, or even cheesecloth for varying levels of transparency and texture.
- Glittering Specters: Add a touch of spooky sparkle by applying craft glue to the fabric and sprinkling fine glitter before the glue dries.
- Mini Ghost Garland: Create smaller ghosts using cotton balls and string them together with fairy lights for a charming garland.
- Googly-Eyed Ghouls: Instead of drawing faces, glue on different sized googly eyes for a playful, whimsical look.
Safe Outdoor Display Tips for Your Ghost Lanterns 🌙
A question I get all the time on my Instagram is how to make DIY decorations last outside. My go-to trick for outdoor Halloween lighting is to focus on placement and weather-resistance from the start.
- Weatherproofing: If using outdoors, ensure your LED lights are rated for outdoor use. Consider a light spray of clear acrylic sealant on the fabric to help repel light moisture, though they are best brought inside during heavy rain.
- Secure Hanging: Use strong fishing line or weather-resistant string. Tie them securely to branches, porch railings, or shepherd hooks. Avoid hanging directly over pathways where they could be easily knocked down.
- Placement: Hang them away from open flames (like candles or fire pits) and out of reach of pets or small children.
- Battery Check: Always ensure batteries are fresh before displaying, especially for outdoor use, to guarantee a full night’s glow.
DIY Ghost Lanterns FAQs 🤔
Q1: What kind of fabric works best for the most ethereal look?
For that classic, wispy, see-through ghost look, my top recommendation is cheesecloth. Its open weave allows the light to glow through beautifully and the edges fray naturally, which adds to the spooky vibe. For a cleaner, more solid look, an old white t-shirt works great.
Q2: How can I make my ghost lanterns glow brighter or last longer?
To boost the glow, you can carefully place two LED tea lights inside the head instead of one. For longer-lasting light, always start with brand-new, high-quality batteries. I’ve found that the name-brand batteries really do last significantly longer for outdoor Halloween lighting projects.
Q3: Can I use these ghost lanterns indoors as well, and how should I display them?
Absolutely! They are perfect for indoor DIY party decor. You can hang them from the ceiling at different heights to create a floating ghost effect, string them together to make a garland for a mantle or doorway, or even use them as a centerpiece on your Halloween party table.
And there you have it—the easiest, cutest ghost lanterns to light up your Halloween! This is one of those simple projects that delivers a huge impact and is so much fun to make with family.
What kind of faces will you draw on your ghosts? Let me know in the comments below
