Tissue ghosts are an easy, inexpensive way to decorate for Halloween. In this project, you'll see how to make a colorful version of the traditional tissue ghost by adding fading color accents. You can choose to make the ghosts from tissue paper or facial tissue, and then use water colors or markers to add color to the ghosts' trailing garments.
When made of tissue paper, these little ghosts are very lightweight and can stand on their own. Place them just about anywhere around your home or classroom to add an eerie Halloween feel.
This is a great group or classroom craft project. With a little help from adults or teenage leaders, even younger children can be successful.
Related craft: For more ideas on dyeing tissue paper, see the Tissue Paper Painting craft project.
» » Basic Craft Box plus tissue, yarn, ribbon, watercolors, and permanent black marker. « «
Read through the project and gather the materials needed for creating the tissue ghosts. If you are doing this craft with a group, pre-cut the tissue paper and ribbon to make the crafting go faster. Each ghost requires two 8" to 9" pieces of tissue paper (or two facial tissues) and a 10" length of ribbon.
When using watercolors, the tissue paper will take a little while to dry. You may want to split the craft into two sessions to allow the paint to dry.
If you are making the ghosts from tissue paper, cut two 8" to 9" squares for each ghost from white tissue paper.
Tip: For an easy way to cut precise squares from tissue paper, see Step 2 in the Easy Paper Snowflakes craft project.
Paint the edges of one tissue square for each ghost. To make it easier to apply paint (or markers) to the tissue edges, fold each square in half on the diagonal. Fold the resulting triangle in half again, and then in half another time. All of the cut edges of the square are together on one side of the final triangle. Paint (or color with a marker) along the length of the side with cut edges.
When using watercolor on tissue paper, dampen the edges first with clear water, using your paintbrush. This will allow the watercolor to bleed as you paint the edge. Dampen a 1"-wide band along the edge.
Carefully unfold the paper, gripping dry spots. Tissue paper is very fragile and will tear easily. Handle it as little as possible, and lay it on newspapers to dry. You may want to let it dry for five minutes before unfolding it fully.
Tip: It is not necessary to dampen facial tissue, as the paint will bleed naturally. In fact, you can just dip the facial tissue in a puddle of watercolor instead of painting the edges.
Each ghost requires two squares of tissue, one painted and one plain, and a 10" length of ribbon or yarn. Wad up the plain tissue square into a ball and place it in the center of the colored square. Pull the corners up around the ball in the shape of a ghost. Tie ribbon or yarn around the ghost's neck. Fluff out the corners.
Draw a face on the ghost with a black permanent marker. Be creative!
The tissue paper ghosts are very lightweight and can stand on their own. Place them just about anywhere around your home or classroom. You can also hang the ghosts anywhere you like, using fishing line or tacks. Simply tie the fishing line around the ghost's neck.
That's it! Your tissue ghosts are done!