Friday, October 30, 2009

BOO!! Another project....

Are you scared? You should be. It's another project you can make 5 minutes before Halloween.

Your very own ghost. 

I told my kids at school that it's a real ghost. I'm sure there are a few that will go home and tell their parents that I have a real ghost in my room. My classroom can be spooky at times, that's for sure.

This real ghost is about 12" tall. Not really big enough to cause any mental or psychological problems if you see it.

Want to know how to make it? Then keep on reading. If you don't want to know, go to www.hulu.com and watch any episode of any tv show you want to see. That's how I got caught up on Glee, Modern Family and Community. I have tried watching the Office multiple times and just don't get it.

Nevertheless....
Get any bottle or something like a bottle. This will determine how tall your apparition will be. Add something round to the top for the head shape. Twist a wire around the neck of the bottle and bend it into whatever position you want the arms to be. I then bent the wire around at the ends to make 'hands' and padded the 'hands' with some scrunched up masking tape.


I took a piece of plastic wrap and draped it over the armature.


I taped the plastic wrap to position it around the armature better. I bought some liquid starch and some 100 percent cotton cheesecloth at the grocery store. (Before I got to this point.)


I draped the cheesecloth over the armature from back to front to see how much cheesecloth I would need. Leave a little extra so you can bunch it up at the base. Cut.


Unfold the cheesecloth because it's all folded up when you get it. And then double it before you use it. Pour some starch into a bowl.


Dunk the cheesecloth into the starch to soak it.


Carefully remove the cheesecloth from the starch. Don't wring it. Drape it over the armature and arrange the folds into however you want them to be. I did mine on a paper plate. I bunched up the cheesecloth at the bottom to give it good support and arranged it into the shape of the paper plate. (Actually it was a styrofoam plate but don't tell the environmentally concerned teachers I work with. They would have a coronary.)

Ready to dry. It takes a long time. Don't attempt to remove it if it's at all wet.


When it's all dry, carefully pull it off the armature. Cut out some black felt into eyeballs and a mouth of your choice. Tell everyone it's real.

That's it!

P.S. Did you know that you could actually make CHEESE with cheesecloth? 

16 comments:

Amy Kingman said...

That turned out great! How fun :)

Kathleen said...

It's just boo-tiful! Happy Halloween, Elenka.................hugs, Kathleen

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Elenka, That is just too cute!!!! You teachers always have such creative ideas!!! I love it--and it is really simple, isn't it?????

When I was the Director of Children's Ministries at a church --we had many little craft fairs through the year. I'd find things like your ghost and let the kids make them. I always called on my school teachers to help me. They were the ones with the ideas.

Happy Halloween.
Hugs,
Betsy

Lili said...

Adorable! Just love how that starch works with the cheesecloth . . . makes me wanna go get some starch! Thanks for the great idea!

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

Too talented for me. You rock!!

Hallie :)

cam said...

Hey Aunt Elenka I like your ghostie

HAPPY HOWLLLLOWEEEEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

brattcat said...

You are such a great teacher. I'm the most inept craftsperson on the planet but I feel certain I can make this following your instructions. Maybe next Halloween I can make a few and put them on my porch to welcome trick-or-treaters.

Unknown said...

What a cool ghost! That looks like so much fun and looks pretty easy to do, as well! I love it!

Deb Shucka said...

Unbelievably cool!

Balisha said...

How cute is that! Maybe next year, if I remember.
Balisha

A New England Girl said...

Oh my goodness!!! He is SO flippin' cute. :) And how easy of a project is this? Love, love, love it!

Debbie said...

Wow! Great stuff...Love it! I left an award for you on my blog!

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

That is sooo cute, not scary at all...please post it again next year, when I might have time to make it, lol.

Anonymous said...

omg, that is just too cute! how creative!

Candy's daily Dandy said...

Your genius slays me...

Theresa said...

My daughter made one of these when she was in Brownies and I put it out every year.