The Celts celebrated Halloween to buffer the power of the lord of the dead, who called forth the evil spirits to roam about the earth and congregate among the living. Gradually, the flowing white sheet of a ghastly ghost had become a part of Halloween tales, costumes, candy and decorations, as the celebration of Halloween has grown among children and adults. A shrouded ghost calling at the door on Halloween night evokes an evening filled with plenty of thrills and spine-tingling chills.
Even though you may not be in costume, you still can conjure up a few gasps and screams from some unsuspecting trick-or-treaters. One way to give a real fright is to decorate your doorway or walkway for Halloween. And, with a simple solution of laundry starch and water, a few Styrofoam balls, and some cheesecloth, you can craft an easy and eerie Halloween decoration.
These homemade Halloween ghosts add the right element of surprise and shock to your Halloween decor. You can either stand these ghosts upright on top of a table, or you can hang them from the ceiling (or outside from tree branches) by attaching a piece of white cotton thread to the top of the ghost's head. Be sure to attach them securely to the branches if you're expecting high winds on Halloween evening (you don't want them escaping into the night before all of the fun of Halloween has ended).
TECHNIQUE
Making Cheesecloth Ghosts
Materials:
- 3- or 5-inch Styrofoam balls
- Jars
- Powdered laundry starch
- Cheesecloth
- Scissors
- Sewing needle
- White cotton thread
Directions:
- In an open, safe work space (this project can be messy), hold the Styrofoam balls steady by placing them on top of jars with necks that are narrower than the balls.
- Mix a solution of 3 parts laundry starch to 1 part water.
- Cut the cheesecloth into squares that fit over the balls with enough extra cheesecloth to hang down below the balls for a true ghostly appearance.
- Dip each cheesecloth square into the starch mixture, squeeze out the excess, and drape it over a Styrofoam ball. Repeat the process for each ball.
- Allow the ghosts to dry for about 4 hours before removing them from the jars.
- Use a sewing needle to sew a piece of white cotton thread into the center of each ghost's head, tying a knot on top. Hang the ghosts, or stand them up.
 |
