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Halloween Yard Decoration - Ring of Ghosts

This Ring of Ghosts is a great idea for decorating your yard for Halloween.

Published Oct 12, 2006 by jjmaughan
Last updated on Jul 2, 2007

My kids and I saw this delightfully spooky sight in the front yard of a neighbor. I actually stopped the car to get a closer look. It was 5 ghosts that seemed to dance and float in a haunting game of ring-around-the rosy. It's clever and unique, and definitely a fun Halloween craft that will bring enjoyment to all. I'm sure there are several variations on how to make these, but this is how my neighbor did hers. The best part is that children can do most of this with just a little supervision. Once this great homemade Halloween yard decoration is set up, you're sure to get lots of comments on your dancing ghosts.

What you need:

5 white kitchen garbage bags
Lots of newspaper or grocery bags
5 dowels (length should be however tall you want the ghosts to be; recommend about 3 to 4 feet tall)
Masking tape
5 white sheets (try the thrift store)
Twine
Black marker (permanent)

What you do:

  1. Decide where your ghosts will be dancing in your front yard.
  2. Create one ghost's heads by taking crumpled newspaper or grocery bags and stuffing them into the garbage bag. Once the dimension is the size you desire, place one end of the dowel into the bag. Tape off the "head" with masking tape tightly to secure it to the dowel. Continue until you have 5 ghost heads.
  3. Place a sheet over a ghost head, then secure it with a piece of twine around the neck.
  4. Draw a face on each ghost head with the black marker.
  5. Push one of the ghost's dowels down into the yard until the sheets touch the ground. Continue setting up the rest of the ghosts, about 2 to 3 feet apart in a circle. Take the long corners of each sheet and tie them to the ghost next to it. It should look like the ghosts are holding "hands." When you finish, you should have a ring of ghosts.
  6. Make any necessary trims needed. You can round out the bottoms of the sheets, or cut small tatters in them to flutter in the breeze.

TIPS!

  • When pushing the dowels in, lean them slightly away from the center. It will make your ghosts look as if they are spinning fast.
  • The neighbor placed hers around a small sapling with a really whimsical effect.
  • Place one of those small outdoor strobe lights or a steady yard light on the dancing ghosts for a spooky nighttime effect.
  • Take a great picture with your children standing in the center of the ring, acting afraid.

15 Minute Moment
Together, go through your child's dresser to put away summer clothes. Talk about the fun times you had this summer and how much your child has grown.

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