1. Home
  2. Parenting & Family
  3. Family Crafts

Paper Mache Ghosts

By Sherri Osborn, About.com

Instructions for making ghosts using paper mache' techniques. Make many of them in all shapes and sizes!

Materials Needed:

Instructions:
Make sure you cover you work surface well. I usually set down newspaper first and then wax paper on top of the newspaper. This is a very messy project!

Decide what size and shape of ghost you want and choose the appropriate sized balloon. The ones I like the best are long thin balloons! Blow up the balloon and tie it closed. Find a bowl or cup your ballooon can sit in while you work on it. Completely cover the cup or bowl with plastic wrap so the paper mache does not stick to it. Also cover the table or work surface under the cup with the plastic wrap. Set your balloon in the cup or bowl and set it aside.

Tear several newspaper pages into strips. You will want them 1 inch wide and about 6 - 8 inches long. Set them aside.

Use a large bowl to prepare your paper mache paste Pick a recipe here). The paste will be sticky! I would suggest using a bowl that is easy to soak and clean (glass perhaps) or even a disposable bowl. Now you are ready to start with the paper mache!

Dip the newspaper strips into the glue and spread them onto the balloon. Completely cover the balloon. At the bottom of the balloon, by the cup or bowl, let the paper mache hang freely and even lay flat on the plastic wrap covered table. This will be the bottom of your ghost. Set aside and let this first layer dry.

Add atleast two more layers of paper mache to your balloon. Allow each layer to dry completely before putting on the next layer. Once it is dry, pop the balloon and remove it through the opening left at the bottom (If you cannot get the balloon out, don't worry about it too much - No one will see it).

You can now paint and decorate your ghost as desired. Attach fishline to the top to hang it, or trim the bottom so it can sit on a table.

Go To Main Paper Mache Page

                | Craft Project Index | Receive a Free Gift |

Explore Family Crafts

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. Parenting & Family
  3. Family Crafts
  4. Crafts by Holiday - Event
  5. Halloween Craft Projects
  6. Creepy Halloween Creatures
  7. Ghost Crafts
  8. Paper Mache Ghosts - Free Paper Mache Projects

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.