DIY Garbage Bag Ghosts are a simple last minute Halloween DIY project, made from (you guessed it) garbage bags.
For more ways to make this the best holiday, check out all of our Halloween posts.


I was chit chatting with my friend Lizzie the other day when she sent me a photo of her DIY Garbage Bag Ghosts. I was instantly in love with them.
And because I’m me, after my “oh my gosh, that’s amazing” replies, my next reply was: Can I blog it?
Because that’s how I roll.
And, since my friend Lizzie has been my friend for a gazillion years, she said yes. It’s important to have friends. As a blogger, it’s important to have creative friends.






Want more Halloween ghost crafts?
If you’re looking for more Halloween ghost crafts, you’re in luck. Check out our list of Easy Halloween Ghost Craft Ideas.
DIY Garbage Bag Ghosts
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DIY Garbage Bag Ghosts Supplies:
- 2.6 gallon white garbage bags
- Permanent ink marker
- Scissors
- Small grocery store plastic bags
How To Make DIY Garbage Bag Ghosts:






You want to use the smaller 2.6 gallon white garbage bags that you use in bathroom or your home office to make these DIY garbage bag ghosts. You don’t want the 13-gallon garbage bags that you use in your kitchen garbage pail. Those will be too big for this.
Cut out the garbage bag tie string. Cut it into two pieces, then set them aside. You’ll need them in a minute.
Fill one corner of the garbage bag with small grocery store plastic bags. When you have them filled as much as you want, use one piece of the tie strings to tie the head.
If you live in an area with a traditional fall, you can fill the head with leaves instead of plastic bags. But, if you live somewhere like I do with long leaf pine trees around instead of anything with leaves, you have to improvise and use plastic grocery store bags. What’s great is that you can untie this after Halloween and then just reuse those grocery store bag for garbage.
Use the permanent ink marker to draw a face onto your ghost. The more creative, the better. Be sure to draw it large enough that you can see the face from the street.
Cut the bottom with the scissors into multiple strips that can blow in the wind.
Tie the ghosts to your bushes, mailbox, or wherever using the second piece of the garbage bag tie strings. I would suggest typing them up around the neck, rather than the head, so they stay a little more stable in case of high winds (which we deal with a lot here).






Want more outdoor DIY Halloween decorations?
Did you make these DIY Garbage Bag Ghosts? How did they turn out? Let us know in the comments.
Rosey
Sunday 27th of October 2019
What a fun way to decorate. Super easy too and everyone's already got the materials in their house to make them.
Scott Gombar
Sunday 27th of October 2019
What a cool idea especially on a budget. Thanks for sharing.
Candace Hampton
Sunday 27th of October 2019
Yaasss This DIY is great! I like doing my own decoration. Specially because it's unique, I save money and I get to recycle. I'm so ready for Halloween!
Unta
Sunday 27th of October 2019
Hehe this is awesome and so cute, I mean scary. :) At my place Halloween is not a big thing, few themed parties and that's all. No reasons to decorate the house with ghosts.
Paula Stewart
Sunday 27th of October 2019
I love recycling items to make decorations. Those eyes are going to be a hit with my youngest grandchild.