Paper Plate Ghost Craft for Kids

If you’re looking for a really easy Halloween craft to do with the kids, this paper plate ghost is such a fun one. You only need a handful of basic craft supplies, and there’s nothing complicated involved, so it’s perfect for an afternoon at home or a simple Halloween activity.

I love how the white streamers hang down from the paper plate and make the ghost look like it’s floating around. You can hang the finished ghosts on a wall, in a window, or around the house as cute homemade Halloween decorations too.

Why Kids Will Love This Paper Plate Ghost Craft

This is one of those Halloween crafts that kids can really get stuck into without needing loads of help. They can draw their own silly or spooky ghost face, glue on the streamers and then see it all come together really quickly.

It’s also fun to make a few and give each ghost a completely different expression. Once they’re finished, kids can hang them up around the house and use their creations as part of your Halloween decorations.

What You’ll Need

• Paper Plate
• Black Marker
• White Streamers
• Scissors
• Glue
• String

How to Make a Paper Plate Ghost

Step 1: Cut the paper plate in half.

Step 2: Draw a ghost face on the paper plate with the black marker.

Step 3: Cut 4-5 streamers.

Step 4: Glue the streamers to the back of the paper plate.

Step 5: Cut a piece of string. Glue it in a loop on the back of the paper plate.

Tips for the Best Results

• Don’t worry about cutting the plate perfectly in half. It really doesn’t need to be exact, and a slightly wonky edge can actually give your ghost a bit more character.
• Let kids draw their own ghost faces. This is a fun part to let them take over. They can make their ghost look spooky, silly, surprised or anything else they fancy.
• Cut the streamers to slightly different lengths. This gives the bottom of the ghost a bit more movement rather than having everything hanging perfectly straight.
• Glue the streamers to the back of the plate. This keeps the front looking nice and neat and hides where they’ve been attached.
• Give the glue time to dry before hanging it up. The streamers and string can easily pull away if the glue is still wet, so leave your ghost flat for a little while first.

Ways to Customize Your Paper Plate Ghost

There are loads of little ways you can change these ghosts up, especially if you’re making them with a few kids and they all want theirs to look different.

• Try different ghost faces. Make them spooky, happy, surprised or completely silly. Kids can have fun coming up with their own expressions.
• Add googly eyes. Instead of drawing the whole face with a marker, stick on a pair of googly eyes and draw the mouth underneath.
• Use different lengths of streamers. Mix shorter and longer pieces to give your ghost a slightly messier, floatier look.
• Add some color. There’s no rule saying Halloween ghosts have to be white. Try colored paper plates or streamers if the kids want to make something a bit different.
• Decorate the plate. Add stickers, glitter, sequins or little Halloween shapes to make each ghost completely unique.
• Make a whole ghost family. Use different-sized paper plates and hang several ghosts together for a really cute Halloween display.

How to Hang Your Paper Plate Ghosts

The little string loop on the back makes these ghosts really easy to hang up once the glue has completely dried. You could hang them from door handles, hooks, cupboard knobs or anywhere else around the house that needs a little Halloween decorating.

They’d also look really cute hanging in a window or with several grouped together at different heights. If you’re making these in a classroom or with a group of kids, you could even hang them all together to make a whole collection of floating ghosts.

What Age Is This Ghost Craft Best For?

This paper plate ghost craft is a great one for preschool and elementary-aged kids. Younger children can have fun drawing the face and sticking on the streamers, although they might need a little help with cutting the paper plate and string.

Older kids should be able to make their ghosts pretty much by themselves and can get a bit more creative with the faces and decorations. It’s a nice quick Halloween craft too, so it works well when you want something fun without getting loads of craft supplies out.

More Easy Halloween Crafts for Kids

• Handprint Witch Craft

Paper Plate Ghost Craft FAQs

Can you make a ghost with a paper plate?

Yes! A paper plate is perfect for making a simple ghost craft. For this one, you just cut the plate in half, draw on a ghost face and add white streamers underneath to make the ghost look like it’s floating.

What can I use instead of streamers for a paper plate ghost?

If you don’t have white streamers, you could use strips of white tissue paper, crepe paper, ribbon or even strips of regular white paper. Anything lightweight that hangs down nicely should work.

Is this paper plate ghost craft suitable for preschoolers?

Yes, this is a lovely Halloween craft for preschoolers, although they’ll probably need some help with the cutting. They can draw their own ghost face, help glue on the streamers and choose where they want to hang their finished ghost.

What glue is best for a paper plate ghost craft?

Regular school glue or a glue stick should work well for attaching the streamers. Just make sure everything is completely dry before you pick the ghost up by its hanging loop.

Can I make this ghost craft without a paper plate?

You can cut a similar ghost shape from white cardstock or thick construction paper if you don’t have any paper plates. Cardstock is a good option as it’s sturdy enough to hold the streamers without flopping over too much.

Can kids decorate their paper plate ghosts?

Absolutely. Kids can add googly eyes, stickers, glitter, sequins or their own drawings to make their ghosts look different. You could make several and give every ghost its own funny or spooky face.

Is this a good Halloween classroom craft?

This paper plate ghost works really well as a simple Halloween classroom craft because you only need a few inexpensive supplies. Each child can make their own ghost and you can hang them together afterwards to make a fun Halloween display.