How to Make Cheesecloth Ghosts for Your Halloween Décor

Give your home a ghoulish presence with this DIY project.

If you're looking for Halloween décor inspiration, look no further than these ghostly cheesecloth spirits. It's one of the easiest DIY fall projects you'll see this season. All you need is cheesecloth, styrofoam mannequin heads (available online, at wig shops, and craft stores), a sponge brush, and watered-down glue.

Layers of cheesecloth are applied to the heads with glue to create eerily realistic ghosts. How you display the decoration is entirely up to you. The heads are freestanding, so you can place them on an end table or mantel and let the cheesecloth dangle. To give the spirits a more realistic look, attach a screw eye with a bit of glue to the top of the head. Thread monofilament through the hook and hang your ghosts anywhere you wish—from your front door, ceiling, and any other area that has the most impact.

What You'll Need

Materials

Cheesecloth
Styrofoam mannequin heads
Sponge brush
Watered-down glue or fabric stiffener (such as Stiffy)
Screw eyes
Monofilament
Removable adhesive hooks (such as Command brand) or painters' tape, to hang

Instructions

Apply cheesecloth:

Apply a layer of cheesecloth to the head, then generously brush over the head and face with glue. Use your hands to smooth the cloth into the facial features. Don't brush down the neck; stop at chin level so the fabric is loose below that.
Add additional layers of cheesecloth:

Repeat until you have four layers (each 7 feet long) of cheesecloth. Let dry thoroughly. (No need to dry between layers.)

Use any leftover cheesecloth to create a spooky web to hang from your ceiling or drape across mirrors.
Attach a screw eye to the head:

Tatter the edges of the cloth with scissors if desired. Attach a screw eye with a bit of glue to the top of the head; thread with monofilament to hang from hooks.