DIY 3D Mini Ghost: Cute Halloween Craft in 15 Minutes
This little ghost is all treat, no trick. With just a foam ball, white tissue paper, and a dab of glue, you can make an adorable 3D mini ghost that floats on your mantel, bookshelf, or Halloween party table. It’s an easy project for kids and adults alike — no sewing, no special tools, and the whole thing takes about fifteen minutes.
What You’ll Need
- 1 foam craft ball (about 3 inches wide)
- White tissue paper (2–3 sheets)
- White craft glue or a glue stick
- Black felt or construction paper for the eyes and mouth
- Scissors
- A short length of fishing line or thin thread (optional, for hanging)
- A small stand, candlestick, or jar lid to display it on
Step 1: Prep Your Foam Ball
If you want a floating ghost, push one end of the fishing line through the foam ball with a needle, or glue a small loop of thread to the top. For a tabletop ghost, skip this — just place the ball on your stand or jar lid later.
Step 2: Cut the Tissue Paper
Stack two or three sheets of white tissue paper and cut a large circle, roughly 12 inches across. The circle should be about four times the diameter of the foam ball so it drapes nicely into a ghostly skirt.
Step 3: Drape and Shape
Center the foam ball on the tissue paper circle, then gather the paper up and around the ball. Smooth it gently over the top so the ball forms the ghost’s rounded head, and let the rest of the tissue flow down like a classic sheet ghost. Pinch the paper lightly just under the ball to define the neck.
Step 4: Add the Face
Cut two oval eyes and a small oval mouth from the black felt or paper. Dab a tiny spot of glue on each and press them onto the ghost’s face — eyes slightly wide-set, mouth open in a happy “boo.” This is where the personality comes in, so have fun with it.
Step 5: Secure and Fluff
Put a small dot of glue where the tissue meets under the ball to hold the shape, then gently fluff the bottom edges of the tissue so the ghost looks like it’s floating. Let the glue dry for about five minutes, then set your ghost on its stand.
Styling Tips
- Make a whole family of ghosts in different sizes — use 2-inch and 4-inch foam balls for baby and parent ghosts.
- Hang three ghosts from a branch or a curtain rod with fishing line for a floating-ghost garland.
- Pair them with the DIY Spooky Mason Jar Lantern for a mantel that glows and floats at the same time.
A Quick Safety Note
This craft uses only scissors and craft glue, so it’s kid-friendly — just supervise little ones with the scissors and keep glued pieces away from mouths. If you hang ghosts with fishing line, place them out of reach of small children and pets.
The Takeaway
Fifteen minutes, a foam ball, and some tissue paper — that’s the whole recipe for one of the cutest Halloween decorations you’ll make this year. Whip up a whole haunted family and watch them steal the show on your Halloween table.
