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I was on the hunt for some fresh Halloween decor this year when I came across these adorable light-up ghosts from Pottery Barn.
But alas, they were a tad bit over my budget. That’s when I thought, “Why not DIY it?” And guess what? It turned out to be a breeze! So, if you’re up for a super easy 5-10 minute DIY that costs around $15 or even less (if you have some of these items already), then join me as we craft our outdoor-safe, DIY light-up ghost!
First, let’s talk supplies. You’ll need a tomato cage, outdoor safe string lights, a white tablecloth, a styrofoam ball, black sticky vinyl paper and some netting for texture.
To kick things off, grab your wire cutters (and don’t forget your protective eye goggles) and trim down your tomato cage to your desired size. Remember, we’ll be flipping the cage upside down, so keep that in mind when measuring. I made two of my ghosts the same size and one a little shorter for variety.
Next, gather all the legs of the tomato cage together (carefully, of course) and secure the styrofoam ball on top. I kept the plastic wrap on my styrofoam ball for some extra weatherproofing.
Once that’s done, it’s time to wrap the tomato cage with string lights. Be sure to leave the outlet side at the bottom with enough slack to plug it in! I used these outdoor-safe timer lights, which are perfect because you can just set them and forget them!
Now, drape the tomato cage with the vinyl tablecloth, followed by the netting.
Don’t worry if your ghost is short, you can always trim the netting.
Lastly, cut some eyes from your sticky black vinyl. I cut one eye out and then use it as a template for the next!
But you can get creative with the faces! That’s the beauty of DIY, don’t be afraid to make it your own!
And voila! You’ve got yourself some homemade light-up ghosts. They’re weatherproof, absolutely adorable, and visible from the street! Not only were they a breeze to make, but the supplies were super affordable too. Plus, they’ll be easy to recreate next year by simply replacing the tablecloth and styrofoam (just in case the weather decides to throw us a curveball this year). If you end up making them, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations! Can’t wait to see what you come up with. Happy Halloween!
