How to Make Spooky Cheesecloth Ghosts with Stiffy DIY

Learn how to make spooky cheesecloth ghosts using cheesecloth or fine netting and Mod Podge Stiffy.

Mod Podge Stiffy makes fabric and cloth hold its shape, making it the perfect medium for ghostly haunting decor.

This fun Halloween craft just takes a few supplies and less than an hour, plus drying time, to make the perfect ghosts.

I made these ghosts back in 2016 and thought it was time for an updated post--Let's get started!

This fun craft is a great one to create with the family.

I enlisted the help of my 14, 12, and 8 year old (at the time in 2016) kids.

They loved making these and were very impressed with the ghostly results.

These ghosts are 16 inches tall and are quite large, they are great for table centerpieces, window displays, entry way greeters, and coffee table spookers.

You can make your cheesecloth ghosts any size you want, just follow the process and it's simple to scale them bigger or smaller.

BASIC SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR CHEESECLOTH GHOSTS:

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• CHEESECLOTH
• MOD PODGE STIFFY
• OLD GLASS BOTTLE (MARTINELLI'S OR SIMILAR)
• WIRE (and wire cutters) (OR ALUMINUM FOIL)
• PLASTIC GROCERY BAG (OR PLASTIC WRAP OR ALUMINUM FOIL)
• SCISSORS
• BIG BOWL FOR MIXING
• TAPE
• PLASTIC TABLE CLOTH

Mod Podge Stiffy is available at Plaid Crafts and you can use my code: DOODLECRAFT15 for 15% off your entire "regularly priced" purchase!

STEP 1: BUILD THE GHOST FRAME

Begin by building the armature frame that the ghost will form around.

Wad up one or two grocery bags and tape them at the base to make the dome shape for the top of the ghosts head.

You can use aluminum foil for this step instead of plastic bags, just use what you already have.

Squeeze the head inside the top of the empty glass jar, the Martinelli's bottle made a good sized ghost, so if you are hoping for something smaller, use a shorter glass, like a mason jar.

Fold some wire over itself a few times and wrap it around the jar to make the "arms" of the ghost.

This needs to be taped to the jar, close enough to the head to look ghost-like, and less like arms.

This wire arm frame can also be made with aluminum foil, just enough that it will hold its shape.

STEP 2: CHEESECLOTH AND STIFFY

Now cut your cheesecloth into squares, about 3 feet in size, no need to be super precise, just measure them around your form and cut about 2-3 pieces for each ghost.

Again, if you are making a smaller ghost, the pieces don't need to be as big.

Place the cheesecloth, sort of wadded up in a big mixing bowl, we used a plastic table cloth as our work surface for easy clean up.

Then squeeze a little bit of Mod Podge Stiffy right into the mixing bowl on the cheesecloth.

Mod Podge Stiffy is a fabric stiffener that will have the cheese cloth hold its shape when it dries.

It's possible that you can get the same effect from liquid starch, but I have not tried that.

Now get your hands in it. (This was not pleasant for my youngest, but wearing gloves would help!)

Mix the cheese cloth or fabric with the stiffy, adding more as needed, until all the fabric is lightly coated in the glue mixture.

STEP 3: GHOST FORMING

Now take the first layer of the stiffy soaked cheesecloth and drape it over the top of your ghost structures.

Move the cloth around to form the ideal body of your cheesecloth ghost, making the arms come out as wide as you like and at the right angles.

Then add additional layers of cheesecloth soaked in Stiffy over the top of the first.

Move the base of the cheesecloth around, this will make it have a strong base for standing up on its own after the structure is removed.

The less layers of cheesecloth you add to your ghost, the more transparent it will appear, so just 2 layers is all we did.

Enough to give it structure to stand on its own but not to make it too visible...keep that ghostly look.

Once you are satisfied with the shape and thickness of your stiffy ghost, let them dry completely.

We set ours on a plastic tablecloth and let them dry overnight.

STEP 4: REMOVE STRUCTURE

Now that the body of your cheesecloth ghost is completely dry, it's time to remove the armature.

Carefully lift the head off the top of the bottle or glass jar.

Then peek in the underside of the ghost and carefully remove the plastic bag head.

The plastic was easy to remove from the cheese cloth, but it's a good idea to still be careful.

Now place the Stiffy ghost back down on the table and see if it stands up!

I love the spooky vibe of this Halloween craft ghost!

This is how I finished off my ghost, but you can touch up any dark areas with white paint if needed.

Now this scary little trio of ghosts are ready to decorate the home in a spooky way!

Use them on the kitchen table to give a fun vibe during the month of easy dinners.

They would be awesome even hanging from the ceiling or on the awning of a porch, in which case, they don't need to be free standing ghosts.

Just keep them out of the rain, because water will turn them back into a soggy pile of cheesecloth.

I love how wispy and ethereal they look.

Mod Podge Stiffy is great for stiffening fabric for all kinds of crafts, ghost crafts are just the most fun!

That's it!

Making Spooky Cheesecloth Ghosts with Mod Podge Stiffy is a fun and easy DIY to do with the whole family.

Add a touch of fun to the table all during October with a hauntingly handsome centerpiece!

This cute ghost is a quick craft that just takes a few supplies and drying overnight.

Everyone will love seeing your cheese cloth stiffy ghosts! (Am I the only one that laughs every time I read stiffy!?)

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CHECK OUT THESE FUN GHOST CRAFT POSTS TOO!

MOD PODGE STIFFY GHOST EARRINGS DIY:

Make smaller ghosts with fabric and Mod Podge Stiffy and turn them into darling ghostly earrings, perfect for all of Summerween and Halloween season!

See video on Instagram!

Victorian Ghost Children Halloween Photograph Editing Tutorial

There is nearly nothing creepier than melancholy Victorian-era children in haunting ghost form. 

This is such a fun way to capture ghosts on camera! 

This is a fantastic photo shoot is one of my favorite projects I did with my kids. 

That lacy parasol and swinging pocket watch...these kids know how to make a creepy look in a tranquil setting. 

Check out my social media channels too! Instagram and Tiktok - make crafts daily!