A Guide to Creating a "Green" Ghost Halloween Decoration

One of the easiest and most inexpensive Halloween decorations or costume ideas is that of the ghost. Ghosts have been a symbol of Halloween forever since they are supposed to be spirits of the dead, so they have become an important part of any Halloween decorating scheme. With today's economic climate, celebrating Halloween with all the accompanying decorations of pumpkins, witches and ghosts can be an expensive undertaking, especially if you love to go all out with over-the-top Halloween decorating.

I have created a step-by-step guide to help you to create your own simple ghost Halloween decorations by using recyclable materials that you can find easily around your home. This will help your wallet by being inexpensive or even free and will help to lessen your footprint on the earth by being green through the use of recycled items.

Step-by-Step Directions on Creating a Ghost from Recycled Materials, Step #1: Find Your Materials

What do you want to make your ghost out of; fabric material or plastic? You can choose to use either fabric or plastic as your ghost material. A ghost is traditionally white in color and I find that it is best to have a white ghost so it is more easily recognizable to everyone.

White fabric can be easily found around the house. You can use white sheets, pillow cases, t-shirts, blouses or any other fabric you may have. Does your white ghost have to be made from spot-free fabric or can you use an old t-shirt that is off-color with age and may have some stains on it? I think a ghost would look good even with the addition of a few stains but it is up to you and what you have on hand to create your ghost.

White plastic can also be easily found around the house. We all seem to end up with white plastic bags from the grocery store or even white plastic trash bags. These can make excellent ghosts.

The size of fabric material or plastic depends upon the size of ghost you want to create. Will your ghost be used for a table top decoration or will it be hung from a hook or tree branch outside?

In addition to white fabric or plastic, you will need to find something to use as your ghost "body." This can be anything whatsoever that you have around your house. You need to use your imagination but a ghost can be created simply and easily by using a "body" made from a white bucket, gallon milk jug, cardboard, stiff paper bag, balloons and anything else you can think of that can be covered with your white fabric or plastic. The other two items you will need to create your ghost Halloween decoration is either black paint or a black felt pen with permanent ink and thin wire or fishing line for hanging your ghost.

Step-by-Step Directions on Creating a Ghost from Recycled Materials, Step #2: Put Your Ghost Together

To create my first Halloween ghost, I chose to use a white plastic grocery bag over a small white trashcan. I used a black felt pen to make eyes and a mouth and put the bag over the trash can. It was as simple as that and I didn't need the fishing line because it can be placed on a table top anywhere since it is free standing.

I created a second ghost by using a white plastic grocery bag over a white paper bag. I added the face with my black felt pen and put the plastic bag over the upside down white paper bag. This gave me a slightly taller ghost and a lightweight one that can be easily hung with fishing line from the ceiling or anywhere else.

To create a more substantial ghost, you can use a plastic milk jug that has a few small rocks added to give it some weight. Cover the milk jug with white fabric that you have added a face to with either paint or felt pen. You may need to add a small drop or two of glue to the top of the milk jug to help hold the fabric in place. Slip your thin wire or fishing line through the fabric and tie it around the handle of the milk jug. Now your ghost can be hung from a tree in your yard where it should swing eerily for the enjoyment of your Halloween visitors.

Another simple recycled ghost idea would be to use one of your children's stuffed animals or dolls and simply drape white fabric over it after you add a ghost face with a felt pen or you have cut out eye holes for the doll to "see" through.

As you can see, a Halloween ghost can be created simply and easily from almost anything you have around the house and it doesn't take much. Your ghost can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish it to be. This is one of those situations where you are only limited by your imagination and what you may have on hand. Plus by using recycled materials, you are helping our planet for the next generation.