So here’s the deal: you want a Pinterest-worthy Halloween yard, but you don’t want to:
a) spend half your paycheck at Home Depot, or
b) spend hours hot-gluing something that ends up looking like a failed kindergarten project.
Enter: tomato cage ghosts. They’re spooky, they’re cute, they glow at night, and yes — you can 100% make them even if you’ve never DIY’d in your life. And since we’re all about making it easy, every single supply comes from Amazon. Toss it all in your cart, wait for the Prime truck, and boom — you’re the Halloween queen of your block.
🛒 Supplies You’ll Need (All from Amazon)🛒
Tomato Cages (3-pack, 33–36 inch tall)
– These are the “skeleton” of your ghost. Flip them upside down, and they magically become the ghost body.-
White Flat Sheets OR Plastic Table Covers (pack of 2–4)
– Bedsheets: give you a soft, flowy ghost.
– Plastic covers: cheap, weatherproof, and fine if you want something disposable. -
LED String Lights (Warm White, 33–50 ft, battery-operated preferred)
– Warm white glows best under a sheet.
– Battery-operated = no running extension cords across your yard. -
Black Felt Sheets (9”x12”) or Craft Foam
– For the face: eyes and mouth. Felt looks soft, foam is stiffer and resists rain better. -
Glue Gun + Glue Sticks OR Heavy-Duty Double-Sided Tape
– Glue gun = more permanent.
– Heavy-Duty Tape = faster, but may fall off if it rains.
✨ Optional but fun:
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Glow Sticks (bulk pack) – Drop inside the ghost for that eerie neon “haunted rave” vibe.
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Battery Candles / Flickering Tea Lights – Add an extra spooky glow under the sheet.
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Garden Stakes / Zip Ties – Anchor your ghost so it doesn’t tip over or fly away in the wind.
👻Step-by-Step Tutorial (Beginner Friendly, With Over-Explaining Because We Love You)👻
Let’s build this together. I’ll assume you’ve never even seen a tomato cage before, so don’t worry — you’ll nail this.
Step 1: Flip Your Tomato Cage
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Take the cage and turn it upside down so the wide circular base is now flat on the ground.
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The three pointy prongs are now sticking straight up — this is the “head” of your ghost.
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Use a zip tie, elastic, or even a piece of string to tie the prongs together at the tip so they form a cone.
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👉 Think: you just made a wire Christmas tree. That’s your ghost’s body.
Step 2: Wrap It With Lights
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Take your LED string lights and start at the bottom ring of the cage.
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Wrap upward in a spiral motion until you reach the top.
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Don’t worry about perfect spacing — the sheet will diffuse the light.
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Secure the light strand here and there with tape or a twist tie so it doesn’t slide down.
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If you’re using plug-in lights:
– Keep the plug at the bottom and run it to an extension cord.
– Use outdoor-rated cords if this is going outside. -
If you’re using battery lights:
– Tape the battery pack to the inside bottom of the cage so it’s hidden under the sheet.
Step 3: Drape With Fabric
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Take your white sheet or table cover and drape it over the cage so it flows to the ground evenly on all sides.
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Adjust so the fabric doesn’t look lopsided (pull corners until it’s even).
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If you’re outside and it’s windy, tuck a little bit of fabric under the bottom ring or weigh it down with rocks.
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👉 At this point, you basically have a glowing marshmallow — now it just needs a face.
Step 4: Make the Face
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Cut two large ovals for eyes and one smaller oval/circle for the mouth out of your felt or foam.
– Eyes: about the size of your palm so they show up from the street.
– Mouth: smaller, either an “O” shape (spooky) or long oval (shocked). -
Attach them near the top “head” area using:
– Hot glue (permanent, sturdier)
– Double-sided tape (removable, change faces later if you want funny expressions).
👉 Pro tip: Make different faces for each ghost — happy, shocked, scary — so they look like a little ghost family.
Step 5: Add Extra Spook (Optional but Amazing)
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Glow sticks: Drop a couple under the sheet for an eerie neon glow.
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Battery candles/tea lights: Set inside at the base so they flicker like a lantern.
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Garden stakes: Push one through the bottom ring and into the ground so your ghost doesn’t tip.
Step 6: Light It Up
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Turn on your string lights (flip the switch or plug in).
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Step back. Bask in your new ghost friend(s).
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Snap a photo, post it on Instagram, and casually say “Oh these? I made them.”
💡 Extra Tips (Because We’re Overachievers)
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Group 3–5 ghosts together to create a “haunted squad” in your yard.
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Use sheer curtains (instead of sheets) if you want them to look floaty and ethereal.
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Got a tree? Perch a ghost nearby so it looks like it’s floating higher.
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If you’re extra-extra, hook them up to a smart plug and schedule them to turn on at dusk.
🪄 Why This DIY Slaps
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Beginner-proof: No tools, no sewing, no Martha Stewart skills required.
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Cheap: For the price of one store-bought Halloween decoration, you can make 3–5 of these.
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Customizable: Want cutesy ghosts? Give them smiley faces. Want creepy? Sharp jagged eyes. Your call.
🛒 Quick Amazon Supply List 🛒
LED String Lights (Warm White, 33–50 ft, battery-operated preferred)
Glue Gun + Glue Sticks OR Heavy-Duty Double-Sided Tape
– Glue gun
– Heavy-Duty Tape
✨ Optional but fun:
Halloween is supposed to be fun, not stressful. And with these ghosts, you’ll have neighbors asking where you got them — and you can proudly say: “My own two hands, babe.”
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. That means if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely love and think you’ll find helpful.
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