Egg Carton Ghost Craft for Kids: Easy Halloween Activity

Halloween is just around the corner, and what better way to get into the spooky spirit than by making your own ghost decorations? This easy and fun Halloween ghost craft for kids is perfect for all ages and only requires a few simple materials—most of which you probably already have at home! In this project, we’ll be transforming empty egg cartons into adorable hanging ghosts that will add a playful and eerie touch to your Halloween decor. Let’s dive in!

To start, take an empty egg carton and carefully cut out the middle sections (the pointy parts that separate the egg cups). These middle parts form a perfect ghost shape! If your kids are old enough, let them help with cutting, but be sure to supervise closely as scissors can be sharp.

Tip: If your egg carton has extra flaps or edges, trim those down so your ghosts have a clean, simple shape. You want to achieve a bell-like form with a rounded top, as this will be the ghost’s “head.”

Once you have your ghost shapes ready, it’s time for the fun part—painting! Set up a workspace with some newspaper or an old tablecloth to catch any drips. Using white washable paint, have your child paint each egg carton piece completely. Make sure they cover all sides for a spooky, ghostly appearance.

Depending on the type of paint and the material of your egg carton, you might need to apply a second coat to get the desired opaque look. Let the paint dry completely between coats.

Pro Tip: Use washable paint to make cleanup a breeze. Kids love to get messy, and this type of paint comes off easily from hands and clothes.

Now that your ghosts are dry, it’s time to give them some personality! Using a black permanent marker, draw spooky, silly, or funny faces on each ghost. This is where your kids can get creative—let them experiment with different expressions like surprised, angry, or even goofy faces.

Encourage your kids to think about how they want their ghosts to look:

• Scared Ghost: Draw wide eyes and an open mouth as if it’s gasping.
• Angry Ghost: Add furrowed brows and a frowning mouth for a grumpy, spooky look.
• Silly Ghost: Make one eye bigger than the other and a lopsided grin for a playful vibe.

The best part about this step is that no two ghosts will look the same, giving each one its own personality!

If you want to turn your ghosts into hanging decorations, it’s time to attach some string. Poke a small hole at the top of each ghost using scissors or a pencil. Thread a piece of string through the hole and tie a knot to secure it.

You can hang these ghosts around the house, on door handles, in front of windows, or from a string of festive lights. If you don’t want to hang them, that’s okay too—these ghosts look great just sitting on a shelf or hiding in houseplants!

Once your ghosts are complete, find a spot where they’ll stand out and add some spooky charm to your Halloween decorations. Here are a few ideas:

• Ghost Garland: If you make several ghosts, string them together to create a ghostly garland. You can hang it across a mantle, doorway, or window.
  
  
• Chandelier of Ghosts: Create a spooky centerpiece by hanging your ghosts from a chandelier or light fixture. Use different lengths of string so they hang at varying heights, giving a floating effect. When the light is on, the shadows will add an eerie touch to your Halloween decor, making it perfect for a haunted house atmosphere inside your home!
  
  
• Indoor Haunted House: Set up a mini haunted house display on a table with your egg carton ghosts, some cobwebs, and other Halloween decorations.

This egg carton ghost craft is more than just a fun activity—it’s a wonderful way to engage kids in creative play while practicing their fine motor skills. From cutting the egg cartons to painting and drawing the faces, your child will enjoy each step of the process.

Here’s why it’s a great craft for kids:

• Eco-Friendly: Using upcycled egg cartons is an excellent way to teach kids about recycling and reusing materials creatively.
  
  
• Customizable: Kids can make their ghosts as spooky, funny, or silly as they want, giving them the freedom to express their imagination.
  
  
• Simple and Safe: With basic materials and minimal setup, this craft is easy for kids to do with a little guidance from an adult.

If your kids are having a blast with this project and you want to extend the activity, here are some ideas:

• Glow-in-the-Dark Paint: Try adding some glow-in-the-dark paint to your ghosts for a spooky effect when the lights go out.
  
  
• Add Accessories: Use craft supplies like googly eyes, glitter, or pipe cleaners to give your ghosts extra features. You could even make “arms” out of pipe cleaners to give your ghosts more personality.
  
  
• Halloween Scene: Set up a small “haunted house” diorama using your ghosts along with other simple decorations like mini pumpkins, plastic spiders, and cotton ball cobwebs. Your child can create a story and act out scenes with the ghosts they made!

Crafting together is not only a great way to bond as a family but also an opportunity to create special holiday traditions. Setting aside time for these kinds of activities builds anticipation for Halloween and creates memories that your children will treasure.

Try turning this ghost-making activity into an annual tradition—each year, you can add new elements or experiment with different designs. Maybe next year, you could make egg carton bats or pumpkins to go along with your ghosts!