These adorable pet ghosts are so easy to make and bring out the creative side of your guests. I love having crafts with personality, and the ghosts certainly have that, and they’re perfect for guests to create and take home.
A lot of the prep work I did ahead of time, which isn’t necessary. It adds about an hour of work to the guests, but isn’t overly difficult, otherwise. What I did ahead of time are the first three steps, essentially leaving just the decorating stages for guests.
A lot of the prep work I did ahead of time, which isn’t necessary. It adds about an hour of work to the guests, but isn’t overly difficult, otherwise. What I did ahead of time are the first three steps, essentially leaving just the decorating stages for guests.
Items Needed
Mason jar, preferably smooth and designed for crafts
Black paint
Grey paint
Paintbrush
Glue gun
X-Acto knife
Scissors
White thread
White gauze
Wooden letter ‘H’
Assorted decorative papers
Preserved moss
LED flickering tea light candle
Hammer
Flathead screwdriver
Directions
1. Prepare Mason jar by removing any stickers/advertisement. Puncture the lid using the flathead screwdriver and the hammer to create a hole for the tea light’s on/off switch to be accessible. This may take a few strikes to create a large enough gap. Using hot glue, attach just the base of the electric tea light to the underside of the lid. Unscrewing the tea light will assist in this process. Let dry.
2. Measure and cut the backdrop of the habitat using your choice of a decorative paper (the sturdier the stock, the better). Size and shape vary by jar, but the inserted advertisements usually are a good starting place. Otherwise, there’s nothing wrong with trial and error.
3. Using an X-Acto knife, carefully cut the legs of the wooden letter ‘H’ to create small tombstones. Evenly coat with grey paint. Let dry. Using black paint, stencil on epitaphs and crosses.
4. Decorate background of habitat to desired fashion, and insert into jar. For added security, put a small dot of hot glue on the corners of the backdrop to help hold it in place. Hot glue the inside bottom of the jar, and add chunks of preserved moss. Add props to the habitat, including tombstones, but can also include rocks, trinkets, or beads.
5. Create the ghost by wadding a small section of gauze and surrounding it with a square piece of gauze. Stitch up to create a secured head and free-flowing body. Paint a face on the ghost, and let dry. Stitch a small section of white thread out the top of the ghost’s head for hanging. Using hot glue, attach the free-hanging end of the string to the electric tea light or the underside of the lid, checking to ensure placement is good within the habitat.
6. Connect electric tea light back to its base. Put lid back on the jar. Add ribbon, tape, and tags as desired to decorate the outside of the jar. Flip on the tea light, and enjoy your ghostly friend!
