Paper Mache Ghosts

The secret to making fabric ghosts hold their shape is a little flour and water. These are loads of fun to make and look great displayed as a group or on festive Halloween wreaths.

You will need: 

• Flour
• Water
• Sugar
• A saucepan
• Paintbrush
• White fabric
• Balloon or fish bowl
• Black marker
• Cheesecloth

To begin, you will have to make the paper mache paste. Adding 8 parts water to 1 part flour, boil the two ingredients together in a saucepan. When it reaches the boiling stage, remove the pan from the heat and stir in a tablespoon or 2 of sugar. Let mixture set until it is cool, it will thicken into a paste as it does. When it has completely cooled, it can either be used immediately or stored in the refrigerator. It will usually last about a week before it starts to mold.

Cut a square of white material; muslin or another similar material works well. Adjust the size according to what you want to use the ghost for. These are equally fun as tiny ghosts to decorate a wreath or as large ghosts to suspend from the ceiling. Paint the mache paste onto both side of the material. Prop the balloon or fishbowl up on a box and drape the mache covered fabric over it. (If making smaller ghosts, use an aspirin bottle to drape the fabric over.)


As the fabric is drying, cut a square of cheesecloth. Don’t worry if the ends fray, as it adds to the ghostly effect. Paint the cheesecloth with mache paste. Drape the cheesecloth over the white fabric, turning it so the ends fall in between those of the white fabric.

Let the ghost dry completely. The white fabric and the cheesecloth will stick together as they dry. Once the ghost has completely dried, remove it from the balloon it was draped over. It will hold its own shape now. Using the black marker, draw two eyes, and the ghosts are ready. The eyes can also be painted on. They can be reused year after year.