Topic: DIY For Ghost Lovers

[Dianna]

While surfing on the net, I found a very fitting craft project for all of us spirit hunters. I can just imagine turning some skeptics into believers, if they spotted this little jewel from a distance....

Casper

If anyone makes Casper, please snap a picture for me!

[Wrennie]

Thats pretty cool looking. I dont think I could 'sculpt' chicken wire to look that person-ish.

[Jim]

I agree with Wrennie.  I think it would be tough to get the wire in the correct shape.  Wonder if you could wrap it around yourself or another person, then open it up for them to step out?

It is pretty neat though.

[Wrennie]

One of the 'comments' below the pics said that too Jim. As an afterthought  do one in the shape of a dog walking with the person....

[Jim]

Guess I should have read the comments.  Wonder how this would look at night with a light on it?  I have a solar flood light that has LEDs and it has kind of a blue-white light on my flag.  Dianna called it a "ghost light".  Wonder if this would show up if you had a light like that on it?

Might be something neat to try around Halloween. 

[Tonya]

That is so cool!! I have to remember that one for Halloween!! Thanks Dianna!!

[Patty S]

That's pretty cool!

The one person suggested, "many detergents contain phosphates which glow and you could wash the wire in detergent."  I think I'd try putting a glow-in-the-dark substance on something more absorbant than wire... such as cheap netting like they use on reception tables, then cover the wire framework with it.

But, since I'm not so much into ghosties, I think I'd try make one with the arms extended ...so it wouldn't just look like a tower after I got a leafy, fast growing vine planted under it, to cover it up. (Topiary.) 

Chicken wire is super easy to shape... & that guy started out with new stuff that didnt already have kinks & bends in it.

[Triss]

That is very cool!  What a clever idea and when the shots are taken from a  distance, it sure does look ghostly.

[Tina]

I had a 'recipe' For a ghost that you made by dunking cheesecloth into a wash of plaster of paris and forming it over  balloons that were removed  (popped) when it dried. I made some kids overalls this way where they were standing on their own in playful positions. It is much too windy to use them here for Halloween decor. But so much fun to have empty, white clothing standing around.

[Dianna]

But so much fun to have empty, white clothing standing around.

I bet it is! Do you still have the recipe? Do you happen to have any pics of them? That would be cool lawn decorations for sure for Halloween...

[Tina]

I  got the recipe from a magazine back in the 70's. I don't have it nor pictures, but I can tell you how it is done. It is a simple really. Have you ever messed with plaster? Made a mask or something?
supplies for an over-all dressed ghost;
Plaster of Paris
Water
Bucket with cover.
Balloons (some long-type ones are best, not the ones that are used to bend into animals but the longer fatter ones) 
Some newspaper rolls can be used but use something like wax paper over them to keep them from sticking to your project.
I used a pair of Osh Kosh over-alls with a blown out knee. That worked so well.
Dress some balloons and/or newspaper rolls in the overalls to the Basic position you would like your ghost to be standing. These work out best in arrested activities poses, like mid-run or something. When you like it undress your ghost and leave everything ready for a speedy re-dressing.
Mix a fairly thin wash of plaster and water in your bucket. You want it thin enough to permeate the fabric. Dunk your overalls until the plaster is into the fabric (do not wring). Redress your overalls fairly quickly and try to leave in your chosen position. Hang from a clothesline or something similar. Smooth out any unwanted wrinkles. The idea here is to make empty pants look 'occupied'.  Cover your bucket of plaster/water so it won't dry.
After your pants are dry on the line, you can add some strength by 'painting' on additional coats of the plaster. A little at a time here. You don't want to re-saturate the thing. Let each coat dry until you are satisfied. Remove stuffing or pop any balloons involved.
These will never stand up to full rainy weather but I clear coated mine to withstand a little foggy weather. I also stapled a stake to it to put out in the yard. But the winds we had here eventually beat it to death. (may have had some help from my older son at the time)
You can also hang them in place using invisible fishing line. Mine lasted about three years, I think. I always planned on doing more and never have yet.
You can make a semi-transparent ghost by soaking a cheese cloth and putting it over a balloon on your clothesline, too. Some great effects can be done using clothespins to make raised (spooky) arms.
Try this all on a windless day. Get creative. I did this with cheesecloth ghosts hanging around in the trees. You could look up into the hollow,3-D  ghost from below. I made the overalls and a long little girls nightgown playing 'tag' on the ground. It looked good during the day and lightly back-lighted at night.
(cheap project too)

[Dianna]

That sounds like soooo much fun.   Yep, I can see me forgetting about doing them and getting scared myself!

Thank you for the instructions, Tina....

[patches]

Dianna, this sounds like a really great idea for decorating the yard for Halloween!    Need to put this on my To-Do list for fall. 

[Penny]

Cool idea~