DIY Cheesecloth Hanging Ghosts for Halloween Decor

Floating, wispy, and just spooky enough — cheesecloth hanging ghosts are the Halloween decorations that make neighbors stop and stare. They look like they drifted straight out of a haunted mansion, but they are one of the easiest seasonal crafts you can make. A few sheets of cheesecloth, some fabric stiffener, and balloons are all it takes to create ethereal little ghosts that glow softly over your porch or in your yard.

What You’ll Need

• Cheesecloth (1–2 yards per ghost)
• Round balloons
• Fabric stiffener (or a 50/50 mix of white glue and water)
• Black felt or construction paper
• Small plastic cups or bottles (to stand the balloons on while drying)
• Scissors
• String or fishing line
• Battery-operated LED tea lights
• A large bowl or tray for the stiffener dip

Step 1: Build the Ghost Form

Blow up a balloon to the size you want your ghost’s head to be, and set it upright on a plastic cup or bottle so it sits steady. This balloon is your mold — the ghost will take its shape.

Step 2: Dip the Cheesecloth

Pour fabric stiffener into a large bowl. Cut your cheesecloth into a large circle or square, then fully submerge it in the stiffener and squeeze out the excess. The cloth should be damp, not dripping.

Step 3: Drape and Shape

Lay the damp cheesecloth over the balloon, centering it so the fabric falls evenly on all sides. Gently arrange the folds so they look natural and flowy — these wrinkles become the ghost’s floating “body.” Let a little extra cloth pool at the base for a wispy tail.

Step 4: Let It Dry Completely

Set the form aside in a well-ventilated spot for 6–8 hours (overnight is best). The cheesecloth will harden and hold its shape on its own. Resist the urge to peek early — a half-dry ghost will sag.

Step 5: Pop the Balloon and Add a Face

Once fully dry, pop the balloon through the bottom and pull it out. Cut two round eyes and a small oval mouth from black felt, and glue them onto the hardened cheesecloth. Simple faces look the spookiest.

Step 6: Hang and Light Them Up

Tie string or fishing line around the ghost’s neck area, tuck a battery LED tea light inside, and hang your ghosts from porch beams, tree branches, or shepherd’s hooks. At night, the soft glow makes them look like they are floating.

Styling Tips

• Make a family of three in different sizes — a big ghost, a medium one, and a tiny one — for the most eye-catching display.
• Hang them at staggered heights over a walkway so guests pass underneath a ghostly gauntlet.
• Mix in a few cobweb strands between the ghosts for a full haunted-porch effect.
• Try tinting the stiffener dip with a few drops of black or grey fabric dye for moodier, smokier ghosts.

Safety Note

Never use real candles inside cheesecloth ghosts — even dried stiffener is flammable. Battery-operated LED tea lights give the same glow with zero fire risk, and they are safe to leave on all evening.

Conclusion

Cheesecloth hanging ghosts are proof that the most haunting Halloween decor does not have to be expensive or complicated. One afternoon, a handful of cheap supplies, and your porch will have a floating ghost family that glows every night until Halloween. Try them once, and you will be making a bigger ghostly crowd every October.