These ghost window clings are a super easy Halloween craft. All you need is glue, googly eyes, and a little creativity! Use our printable ghost templates as a guide, filling the shapes with glue. Simply let them dry and peel them up to create flexible decorations that stick right to your windows.
Make classic white ghosts, add glitter for a little sparkle, or experiment with different ghost shapes and expressions. They’re simple, inexpensive, and a fun way for kids to decorate the windows for Halloween without needing tape or permanent adhesive.
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How to Make Ghost Window Clings
Materials:
Equipment:
- Cardboard
See the craft in action:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Arrange the ghost templates
- Print one of our free ghost templates. You can find a link in the materials list above, with more details found below the tutorial.
- Roughly cut out around the ghost shapes, leaving some white space around the outline.They just need to fit neatly in your plastic freezer bag.
- Place a scrap piece of cardboard in your freezer bag.It should be big enough for the ghost outlines to fit on. The cardboard stretches out the bag a bit and stops the glue from wrinkling as the ghost dries.
- Set the ghost outlines in the freezer bag on top of the cardboard.You can tape them in place or simply seal the baggy.
Step 3: Make glue ghosts
- Use white school glue to follow the outline of the ghost shape.
- Add glue to the middle of the ghost. It’s okay if it’s not completely covered at this point.
- Spread the glue with a popsicle stick so that it fills the whole outline in an even layer.
Step 4: Add glitter (optional)
- Optional: Sprinkle iridescent glitter on top of the glue.
- Mix the glitter into the glue using a popsicle stick. This will give you less glitter “fallout” when the ghost dries.
Step 5: Add googly eyes and allow to dry
- Place googly eyes into the glue.Really press them in so they’re secure — otherwise they can float away and give you a droopy eyed ghost. (Ask us how we know… 😔)
- Let the ghost dry for at least 24 hours.It can take up to 48 hours to dry if you’ve used a thick layer of glue.
- Peel the ghost off the plastic.If the ghost is fully dry it’ll come off the plastic very easily.
- Your ghost window clings are complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Add a little sparkle: Keep your ghosts plain white for a classic look, or sprinkle iridescent glitter over the wet glue for a fun, shimmery finish.
- Use a little water if they won’t stick: If your finished window clings aren’t staying in place, lightly dampen the window with a tiny bit of water before pressing the ghost onto the glass.
Get free ghost outlines for these DIY window clings:
We have 6 different ghost outline templates available in a variety of sizes, making them perfect guides for these window clings. You can also scale the images before printing if you’d like to make your ghosts larger or smaller.
For even more shapes, check out our ghost coloring pages. Some of the cute ghosts on those pages can also be cut out and used as templates.
What glue is best for making ghost window clings?
We recommend using Elmer’s washable school glue. It creates a thick, sturdy ghost that’s easy to peel up and handle once it’s dry.
We also tested a dollar store white glue, and it still worked well. However, those ghosts turned out thinner and more transparent. So that’s something to keep in mind. Choose the glue that will give you the look you want!
What surface should I make the ghost window clings on?
You’ll need a smooth plastic surface that the dried glue can easily peel away from. We used a freezer bag, but there are several other options that work well:
- Overhead transparency film (acetate sheet)
- Smooth plastic cut from a clamshell bakery container
Whatever you choose, make sure the surface is flat and smooth so your ghost dries evenly.
These ghost window clings are a fun and easy way to decorate for Halloween using just a few simple supplies. Kids can make each ghost a little different, and once they’re dry, stick the ghosts to windows, mirrors, or other smooth glass surfaces. It makes it really easy to make a cute and spooktacular display of ghosts!
Here’s even more ghost craft ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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