How to Make a Ghost in a Jar

5 from 1 vote

This DIY ghost in a jar is a fun Halloween craft for all ages! Bring eerie charm to your home decor by creating a glowing clay ghost that looks like it's really floating!

Active Time30

Baking and Cooling Time30

Yield: pet ghost

Author: Debbie Chapman

Cost: $5

Equipment

Materials

Glow in the dark polymer clay
Black polymer clay
Felt (black and orange)
Moss
Mason jar(s)
Polyester fiber fill (or cotton balls)
Fishing line (or clear jewelry cord)
Pony bead (or other bead type)

Instructions

Step 1: Find what you need

Gather your supplies and materials.

Step 2: Form the ghost shape

Begin with 1 ounce (half of a package) of glow in the dark polymer clay.
Work on a clean surface, such as a baking sheet, piece of acrylic, or parchment paper on top of a silicone mat.
Condition the clay with your hands, kneading it, rolling it, and squishing it until it's soft enough to work with easily.
Use a clay roller to roll out the clay to about 1/4 inch. Try to form a circle as you flatten it.
Lift up the clay and use your fingers to pinch the sides of the circle, flattening the edges a bit more than the center.
Begin to bend the edges of the clay slightly, creating ruffles along the outside.
Push the center of the clay up, forming the draped ghost shape. Adjust the edges until you're happy with the ruffles and folds.
If your ghost doesn't stay standing on its own you can drape it over a ball of tin foil.
At this point, make sure your ghost will fit in your jar and adjust if needed.

Step 3: Add the eyes and bake the clay ghost

Condition a small piece of black clay. Break it into 2 even pieces and roll each of them between your fingers to form balls.
Press one of the balls onto the front of the ghost, flattening it a bit to make one of the ghost's eyes.
Repeat, adding the second eye.
Use a nail or another pointed item, like a wooden skewer, to poke a small hole in the top of the ghost's head (large enough for fishing line to go through).
Place the ghost on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in the oven according to package directions.
(Our clay recommends 275F for 15 minutes per 1/4 inch thickness.)
Allow to cool.

Step 4: Create a mossy base for the jar

Place the snap lid from the mason jar on a piece of black felt. Use it as a guide to cut out a circle.
(You can also trace the lid first with chalk or a gel pen.)
Then use the same technique to cut an orange (or another colour) circle of felt.
Add lines of hot glue to the felt.
Press moss into the glue, creating a mossy carpet base.
Grab a bit of poly-fill stuffing. Break it apart into wisps and place it on top of the moss.
Add the moss covered felt into the mason jar.
You can use a skewer or spoon handle to push it flat to the bottom, if needed.

Step 5: Add a hanger to the ghost

Cut a 6 inch piece of fishing line.
Thread a clear pony bead (or another type of bead) onto the fishing line and tie it in place on one end.
Thread the fishing line up through the hole in the ghost, from the inside. The bead will keep the fishing line in place.

Step 6: Place the ghost in the jar and close it off

Use a hammer and nail to make a hole in the center of the mason jar snap lid.
Thread the fishing line up through the bottom of the lid.
Lower the ghost into the jar and place the lid on it.
Adjust the height of the ghost so it's floating in the center of the jar.
Cut off the excess fishing line and secure the end in place on the lid using tape.
This allows you to remove the fishing line later and adjust the ghost's height.
Place the orange felt circle on top of the snap lid.
Secure the lid and felt in place with the mason jar ring.
Your ghost in a jar is complete!
Now have fun making more pet ghosts and watching them glow in the dark!
(Hint: use a UV light to super charge the ghosts before turning off the lights.)

Video

Notes

Looking for more ghost crafts? Here's a few of our favourites:

Bendy Ghost Candles

Ghost Tea Light Holder

Crochet Ghost