Finally, proof that ghosts exist – I have a trio of them captured in this Halloween Ghost Cloche. Who wouldn’t be enchanted by these three mini, cheesecloth ghosts floating on air in their repurposed cloche? I know it’s my favorite of the three Halloween cloches designed by Kathleen George (don’t miss the Eyeball Cloche and Tarantula in a Cloche). So, don’t toss that plastic soda bottle — make a recycled Halloween cloche instead.

Halloween Ghost Cloche by Kathleen George.

To make a Ghost Cloche, you’ll need:

• STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam: 6” x 1” disc; 1-1/2” ball; three 1” balls; scrap piece
• 2-litre plastic soda bottle
• Adhesive remover (such as GooGone)
• Acrylic craft paint: orange & black
• Krylon Glitter Blast, Orange Burst
• Gauzy fabric, such as cheesecloth, about an 18” square
• Newspaper
• Twigs
• Black thread (or, I might use clear thread)
• Transparent clear tape
• Craft pins
• Elmer’s Glue
• Optional: Black sequins
• Tools needed: Utility blade, such as an Exacto® knife, or sharp serrated knife; sharp pencil; paintbrushes – medium and very tiny; wooden skewer; large, sharp needle

To make a Ghost Cloche:

Make your cloche

NOTE: An adult should always handle the serrated knife, and should cut the plastic soda bottle. Maybe have the kids work on making the cheesecloth ghosts while you handle the cloche.

1. Use adhesive remover to remove the label from the soda bottle. Thoroughly clean and dry the bottle.

2. Cut off the bottom of the plastic bottle with the utility knife. Your “cloche” should be about 9” tall. It’s o.k. if it’s a little uneven at the bottom.

3. Place the cloche in the center of the 6” foam disc and trace around it with the pencil. Remove the cloche and trace around the circle again, making a deep groove. Position the bottle in the grooved circle and twist until it’s straight.

4. Using tip of serrated knife, cut a hole in the bottom of a 1-1/2” ball so that it fits on the top of the bottle. Twist the ball onto the bottle until it completely covers the threads for the bottle top.

5. Paint the top and sides of the 6” foam disc with orange acrylic craft paint. Insert a wooden skewer into the bottom of the 1-1/2” ball and paint it orange. Let dry.

6. Spray Orange Burst Glitter Blast onto the disc and the ball following the manufacturer’s directions. Spray on several light coats rather than one thick coat.

Make the ghosts

You’ll add the eyes and mouth with a very small brush. I wonder if you could also use a Sharpie marker?

1. Insert thin, wooden skewers into each 1” ball, and insert the other end into a scrap piece of STYROFOAM Brand Foam.

2. Cut out two, 4” and one 3” circles from cheesecloth.

3. Cover your work surface with newspaper. In a shallow bowl combine three tablespoons of Elmer’s Glue with one to two tablespoons of water.

4. Dip a cheesecloth circle into the glue. Pull the cheesecloth through your fingers to remove the excess glue. Drape the cheesecloth over a 1” ball, and arrange the folds so that it hangs down without wrinkles.

5. Repeat with the other two, 1” balls.

6. Let the ghosts dry, and wash out your bowl before the glue dries.

7. When dry, carefully paint eyes and mouths onto the ghosts using black acrylic craft paint and a very tiny brush.

8. Attach a length of thread to two of the ghosts by tying a length of black thread around a craft pin and pushing the pin into the top of the ghost head. Secure with a drop of glue. Note: consider using a transparent or clear thread.

Create the scene

1. Insert one or two twigs into the foam disc, making sure they fit inside the cloche. Glue the 1-1/2” ball to the top of the cloche.

You’ll pin one ghost to the bottom of the cloche.

2. Position one ghost on the base and pin in place.

3. Place the cloche on the base in its groove and decide where you would like to hang your other ghosts. Carefully make a tiny hole with a needle tool for each ghost.

4. Working from inside the cloche, thread the black thread through the holes to the outside. Temporarily tape the end of the thread to the outside of the cloche. Adjust the height of the ghosts so that they hang freely and “float” in the air. Secure the thread to the outside of the cloche with a tiny piece of clear tape. Cut away any excess thread. Optional: Cover the holes by gluing on a black sequin.

Which one is your favorite?

Here’s the trio of Halloween Cloches. I have instructions for the Eyeball Cloche and Tarantula in a Cloche on Crafts ‘n Coffee, too.

Next week, it’s all about the candy on Crafts ‘n Coffee, so be sure to tune in on Tuesday.

I’m still formulating my weekend plans, but I really hope to do a little Halloween decorating around here and make a few cheesecloth ghosts, too. I’ll let you know how it goes. And how about you? What are your weekend crafting plans? Maybe you’ll make one of our cloches?

Happy Halloween crafting.

Sharon