DIY Halloween Ghost Garland — Easy 15-Minute No-Sew Craft

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Halloween DIY  ·  No-Sew Craft  ·  15 Minutes

DIY Halloween Ghost Garland: Easy 15-Minute No-Sew Craft (Step-by-Step Tutorial)

Updated September 21, 2026 · By [Your Blog Name] · About a 6-minute read

DIY Halloween ghost garland made of cheesecloth ghosts on twine hanging on a white mantel with mini pumpkins and black candles

Cute, spooky and made in 15 minutes — no sewing machine required!

Looking for an easy Halloween DIY that looks straight off Pinterest? This no-sew ghost garland is the one. A handful of cheesecloth, a ball of twine and a few foam balls turn into the cutest little ghosts — perfect for your mantel, doorway, shelves or a Halloween party backdrop.

Halloween is just weeks away, which makes this the perfect weekend craft. It's budget-friendly (about $6 in supplies), beginner-friendly (if you can tie a knot, you can make it), and kid-approved — my favorite kind of DIY activity for a cozy October afternoon. Let's make it!

👻 CRAFT SNAPSHOT

Prep time5 minutes
Craft time10 minutes
Total time15 minutes
DifficultyEasy — no sewing!
MakesOne 6-ft garland (8 ghosts)
Est. cost~$6 (dollar store friendly)

What You'll Need

Supplies for a Halloween ghost garland: cheesecloth, jute twine, white foam balls, black felt, fabric scissors and a glue gun

Everything here came from the dollar store and my craft bin.

  • 🧵 Cheesecloth — about 2 yards (grade 50 drapes the best)
  • White foam balls — 8 balls, 2-inch size (see FAQ for a no-foam swap)
  • 🪢 Natural jute twine — 7 feet for the garland + scraps for tying the necks
  • Black felt — one sheet, for the little faces
  • ✂️ Sharp fabric scissors
  • 🔥 Hot glue gun or fabric glue
  • 🌟 Optional: spray starch (for crisp, floaty ghosts), battery fairy lights, a large-eye needle
💡 Money-saving tip: Dollar store cheesecloth is hiding in the cleaning aisle — and their foam craft balls are half the price of the big craft chains.

How to Make a Ghost Garland: Step-by-Step

Step 1 — Cut the Cheesecloth Squares

Cutting white cheesecloth into squares with fabric scissors for a Halloween ghost craft

Cut the cheesecloth into 8″ × 8″ squares. You'll use 3 squares per ghost, stacked — so 24 squares for 8 ghosts. Don't stress about perfect edges; slightly frayed edges actually look spookier and more floaty once the ghosts are hanging.

Step 2 — Form the Ghost Heads

Draping layered cheesecloth over a white foam ball and tying twine around the neck to form a DIY ghost head

Stack 3 squares at slightly rotated angles (this gives a fuller drape). Place a foam ball in the center, gather the cloth down around it like a little cape, and tie a piece of twine snugly around the "neck." Knot it twice — that's your ghost head! Repeat for all 8 ghosts.

Step 3 — Fluff & Trim

Gently pull and arrange the cheesecloth layers so each ghost has a floaty, wispy body. Snip any corners that hang too long or too evenly — uneven edges = spooky edge. Want that crisp, holds-its-shape look? Give each ghost a light mist of spray starch and let it dry for 5 minutes.

Step 4 — Glue on the Faces

Pressing small black felt eyes and an oval mouth onto a cute cheesecloth Halloween ghost

Cut tiny felt ovals — two round eyes and one slightly longer oval for a spooky "oooo" mouth. Dab on hot glue or fabric glue and press the faces onto each head. Kid crafting? Swap the glue gun for fabric glue and let them take over this step — it's the best part!

Step 5 — String the Garland

Stringing DIY cheesecloth ghosts onto jute twine to make a 6-foot Halloween ghost garland

Thread your 7-foot length of twine through the top of each ghost head (a large-eye needle makes this easy, or just lift a layer of cheesecloth and loop the twine under, then tie in place). Space the ghosts about 6–7 inches apart, and leave a foot of twine free at each end for hanging.

Step 6 — Hang & Style

Drape your garland across the mantel, a doorway, a bookshelf or a party table backdrop. For extra magic, weave a string of battery fairy lights between the ghosts — the cheesecloth glows beautifully at night. Plug in some candles, add mini pumpkins, and your Halloween decorating is officially underway. 🎃

Tips & Fun Variations

  • Cute vs. spooky: Short round eyes = cute ghosts. Long slanted eyes + tea-stained cheesecloth = haunted mansion vibes.
  • Glow version: Skip felt and dot the faces on with glow-in-the-dark puffy paint.
  • Mini garland: Use 1-inch balls and 5″ squares for a tiny garland to style tiered trays and shelves.
  • No cheesecloth? White tissue paper or thin muslin scraps work in a pinch (tissue looks extra wispy!).
  • More DIY inspo: Pair your garland with dollar-store potion bottles or mason jar lanterns for a full mantel moment.

FAQ: Ghost Garland Questions, Answered

Can kids make this ghost garland?

Yes! It's a great Halloween DIY activity for kids 5+. Let them stuff, fluff and add the felt faces with fabric glue — just keep the hot glue gun and scissors as grown-up jobs.

I don't have foam balls — what can I use instead?

Crumple a tissue (or a few cotton balls) into a 2-inch ball and wrap it with one of the cheesecloth squares before draping the others over. Free and works perfectly.

How long does the garland take to make?

About 15 minutes for 8 ghosts once your squares are cut — around 20 if you're crafting with little helpers. It's a true same-afternoon Halloween craft.

How do I store it for next year?

Lay the garland flat in a tissue-lined box with the ghosts face-up, and don't stack anything on top. The cheesecloth re-fluffs in seconds when you hang it again.

📌 Love this easy Halloween DIY?

Save it to your Halloween board so you can find it in October!

Pin this tutorial: easy DIY Halloween ghost garland — 15-minute no-sew craft with cheesecloth
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The cutest easy Halloween DIY! This no-sew ghost garland takes just 15 minutes with cheesecloth, twine & felt. Beginner-friendly Halloween craft with step-by-step photos. Save + make it this weekend! 👻 #halloweendiy #diyhalloween #ghostgarland #halloweencrafts #easycrafts

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