Ghosts & Spirits
Ghost props range from dead-simple trash bag builds to complex mechanical illusions. This page covers the full spectrum, from a 10-minute project to a weekend build that will make people question what they just saw.
Simple Trash Bag Ghosts
The fastest ghost prop there is. Stuff a white trash bag with newspaper or plastic bags for the head. Drape cheesecloth or white fabric over the ball and let it trail down. Hang from a tree branch or hook with fishing line. Add glow sticks or a battery LED inside the head for a glow. Total cost: under $3. Total time: 10 minutes.
Cheesecloth Ghosts
A more refined version. Create a head form from a balloon or styrofoam ball on a stick. Drape several layers of cheesecloth over it, spread the fabric out at the bottom, and stiffen with liquid starch or diluted white glue. Once dry, pop the balloon and remove the form. You'll have a free-standing ghost shape. Light with UV blacklight for an ethereal glow.
Flying Crank Ghost (FCG)
The flying crank ghost is a classic DIY animatronic that creates the illusion of a ghost floating and bobbing through the air. It uses a motor-driven crank that moves a lightweight ghost form on pivot arms.
How It Works
A low-RPM motor (typically a rotisserie motor or wiper motor, see motors guide) turns a crank arm. The crank is connected by fishing line to a lightweight ghost form (styrofoam head, wire frame body, sheer fabric). As the crank rotates, the ghost rises, falls, and sways in a smooth, floating motion.
Parts List
- Low RPM motor (1-3 RPM rotisserie motor works well)
- Small crank arm (bent coat hanger or small wooden arm)
- Fishing line (monofilament, 20-30 lb test)
- Styrofoam head form
- Sheer white fabric or cheesecloth
- PVC or wood mounting frame
- Swivel hooks or eye bolts for pivot points
For detailed FCG plans and dimensions, the Halloween Forum community has extensive build threads with photos and variations.
Pepper's Ghost Illusion
Pepper's ghost is a theatrical illusion that makes a ghostly figure appear to float in a room. It works by reflecting an image off a clear pane (glass or stretched clear plastic) at a 45-degree angle. The viewer sees the scene behind the glass with the reflected ghost image superimposed.
To pull this off at home:
- Set up a clear pane (shower curtain liner, plexiglass, or large picture frame glass) at a 45-degree angle to the viewer
- Place a lit figure (mannequin, skeleton, or even a TV/monitor playing a ghost video) hidden below or to the side, where it will reflect in the glass
- The area behind the glass should be dark
- Control the ghost's "appearance" by fading the light on the reflected figure up and down
This works especially well for window displays visible from the street. Projection effects can also create ghost-in-window effects with less setup.
Blucky Bag Ghost
A "blucky" is a cheap blow-mold skeleton. Cut the skull off, mount it on a PVC pipe, drape with fabric, and hang. The hard skull gives a more defined head shape than a trash bag. Corpse the skull first (see corpsing guide) for extra creepiness.
Lighting Ghosts
Ghosts look best with UV blacklight (makes white fabric glow) or dim blue/white spotlighting from below. Avoid warm colors which make them look solid rather than ethereal.