Trash Bag Ghosts – Kid Friendly DIY Halloween Project

These SUPER easy and inexpensive trash bag ghost Halloween decorations would look good during the day but also at night with a little LED tea light illuminating them from the inside!  What do you think?  This project was submitted by 11 year old Sophie Perrins of Boise ID.  What a fun family activity that even the youngest child can participate in!  Here’s what Sophie and her mom did to create these spooky decorations.

Sophie:  I love decorating for Halloween. This year my mom and I thought of a great idea to make ghosts when we were putting away some wire tomato cages. I saw one that was shaped funny and said to my mom, “This one is shaped like a ghost.” and she thought it would be a great idea to use trash bags to make them into decorations.

Sophie’s mom:  These ghosts are super fast, easy, and very, very cheap! They turned out way cuter than I was expecting for so little effort. When the sun shines on them they look like they are glowing, and they flutter and dance in the breeze. We have had people that are walking by just stop and watch the ghosts.

 Submitted by Sophie Perrins  Age 11  from Boise, ID

Materials:

• Cheap tall white kitchen trash bags—the ones without a drawstring
• Tomato cage
• Black permanent marker

 

 

 

1. Draw a ghost face on your trash bag. We found that placing a magazine on the inside of the trash bag made it easier (sorry Oprah).  Also, larger features work better so you can see them from a distance.

2. If your tomato cage has legs on the smaller side of the cage bend the legs down to create a domed top, then use something to anchor the cage in place, wire, a rock, etc. If your tomato cage has legs on the wider side of the cage just station them in the ground in the position where you want your ghost to be located. Poke a few small holes in the top to let rain and dew run out.

3. Place garbage bag over the cage and situate. Use a bit of double sided tape on the top and at the back in a couple of spots so that your bags will stay put, but still move with the breeze. We used carpet tape because that is what we had on hand and it worked great as it is super sticky!  At night you can place a battery operated tea light or glow stick inside them to create an eerie glow.

They are like a bunch of little ghostie friends, dancing and playing on the lawn.

Happy Halloween!!!

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What a great project Sophie!  I bet these would look awesome at night too if you put a battery powered candle under them.  Can’t wait to try myself.  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!