Forget to buy a pumpkin for Halloween? Try this instead. You can't go wrong with a Halloween ghost bride.
So let me tell you a little something about how we arrived here at this blowing Halloween ghost decoration from a couple of years ago.
I forgot to buy a pumpkin this year. And now I can't be bothered. So this year instead of a pumpkin perched on my porch, I'll have GHOST BRIDE. And upon revisiting her I've realized that this year I should give her a bouquet of dried dead flowers (which I have plenty of).
A couple of years ago I was wandering through what is basically a junk hardware store. Think off brand spray paint and steering wheel covers with boobs on them.
This particular store also has a lot of interesting mechanical parts. The kind of things you'd normally have to order off of Chinese Amazon. On my last trip there I found bins and bins of different sized motors all lined up just waiting for someone to turn them into something fun and exciting.
I gargle-screamed something that ended up sounding like "FRAPTFYIMMINY!!!", and then I choked on my own spit a little.
This was the most exciting day of my life. Although to an outside observer it appeared more like I was in the final stage of cardiac arrest.
I was going to turn those motors into SOMETHING. I just wasn't sure what. There were a billion things I could almost think to do with them around the house, but I kept coming back to Halloween.
Those motors could make skulls spin or witches glide ... I just had to come up with a real plan. And buy a couple of them. I did neither. Instead I walked out of the store never to think of those motors again.
And instead that year, I turned a standing fan into into a moving ghost bride. Not exactly top shelf animatronics, but still old school effective.
Here's how to do it and what she looks like.
Halloween Ghost Bride
MATERIALS
Gardening row cover ( or other sheer material )
Faux pumpkin (I like this full face witch mask too)
Clips and/or stapler
INSTRUCTIONS
- Extend the oscillating fan to as high as it will go.
- Attach the plastic pipe to the back of the fan using zip ties so it extends above the fan by around 1 foot.
- Pop the pumpkin head on top of the pipe. If you need to, drill a hole in the bottom of the head so you can slip the head over the pipe.
- Drape sheer fabric in front of the fan and down to the ground. It will resemble a really bad wedding dress if you've done it right.
- Start pinning and stapling the fabric until it looks good and blows well when you turn the fan on.
- Hang spiders off of the dress in areas where it won't interfere with the blowing of the dress.
- Drape your final piece of sheer fabric over the pumpkin head.
- On Halloween night turn the light in the pumpkin head on and turn on the fan!
I already had a faux pumpkin that lights up so that's what I use. But you have options.
HEAD OPTIONS
- A halloween mask
- A pillowcase, stuffed so it's round and tied with twine at the "neck"
- Plastic skull
If you want to get really fancy, put a light behind the blowing dress so it glows.
It might not make anyone pee from fright, in fact it looks kind of pretty, but no less than 2 children crossed to the other side of the street when they approached my house as I was testing it out which I see as a very good sign.
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS GHOST DECORATION
1. Use super lightweight fabric. I used row cover for gardening. Sheets are too heavy. Gauzy fabric is too heavy and there are too many large holes for it to blow. A very lightweight sheet would work.
2. Make sure the back of the fan is clear and not covered with fabric. If it's covered by fabric the blowing power will be reduced a LOT.
3. If it isn't blowing the way you want, turn the fan on and then just start pinning and stapling the fabric in different spots until you get the effect you like.
4. To make it even BETTER stick some LED Christmas lights under it or a flashlight to make the whole ghost glow.
If however you ALREADY bought your pumpkin and just don't feel like carving it, here are a bunch of no (or very little carve) pumpkin options for you.
OH! And the night before Halloween make a pot of chili con carne. Come Halloween night when everyone is busy getting ready or answering the door, you can just heat up a bowl. It's the perfect quick autumn dinner.
And if we're being honest - it is Halloween - and there's nothing scarier than chili toots.
Mary W
Dried flowers would be the perfect addition - then you could play Delta Dawn instead of the Monster Mash. I can't wait till my grandson gets home from school as his 7 yo brain will fall in love with the song. Maybe I can think of a crazy dance to go with it - he has high expectations of a crazy granny!
Karen
I recommend doing "the robot". ~ karen!
Linda J Howes-Smyth
That pile of cheese next to the chilli reminds me of a whirling dervish. Just saying.
Carrie Anne
Ooooh
I love it!!
We have a long driveway where you can’t see the house so we never get any trick or treaters….but I’d like to give this a try. (In between getting my costume finished….I’m Parmesan cheese to hubby’s spaghetti and meatballs…lol) Even if it’s just for me to stand back and admire myself. Such a neat idea! You made me chuckle about the kids crossing the street!😂😂
What’s Halloween without a little scare I ask you?
Besides, they’re young they’ll adjust. (As my dad used to always tell me) 😝
As always, thanks for all the inspiration and humor! :)
Karen
Thanks Carrie Anne! What is the point of Halloween if someone doesn't pee themselves a little? LOVE the spaghetti and parmesan idea. ~ karen!
TRINITY WAVE
THIS IS AMAZING.
Karen
Thank you Trin! Can I call you Trin? I'm going with it. ~ karen!
Randy P
Just extra super fun decoration....and extra points if you knew Monster Mash is sung by Bobby Pickett. lol
Hope you get sufficient kiddos whenever your community allows the event. I'll be out wearing my costume on Monday at my son's place in the burbs, helping man the popcorn machine. I DO luv me some Halloween, and what is life without a little whimsy? Why... a whimsyless life says I.
Karen
I wanted to use my made in China candy floss machine outside this Halloween but ... I discovered it has a tendency to break and fling a small metal part at 3000 rpm every so often. I've taken to wearing a suit of armour while operating it. Probably not safe. ~ karen!
Heather
So cool!
Izzy
I was looking for some inspiration for this year - and your ideas are definitely winning !
Sheila Turchyn
Good grief! I'm getting ready for Christmas but want to make a billowing ghostie!! I. Love. This!
Nancy Blue Moon
Love it!
Sabina
Love it and I have all the supplies!
Carole
As soon as I heard the bubbles from the labORatory, I started dancing!!!! Love, love the Monster Mash! It caught on in a flash....
Now it's stuck in my brain?
Karen
Now that you've mentioned it I'm going to have to go back and rewatch it because now I want to hear the song, lol. I'm so easily influenced. ~ karen!
Sherry
You really out did yourself with the music... Neat idea but was really fun to watch with music. Thanks for helping us that are willing to make stuff just don't have time to think this stuff up. I enjoy all that you post after a long day at work its nice to relax with your posts...
Karen
Aw, thanks Sherry! I'm glad you like 'em. And yes, music makes EVERYTHING better. :) ~ karen!
Barbie
That is Awesome!
Karen
Thank you Barbie. :) ~ karen!
Kris
Love it!! You come up with the coolest ideas! One question, is that a real pumpkin or fake. Would a real one be way to heavy to stay on top of the fan?
Thanks for another inspiring post!!
Karen
Hi Kris! It's a foam pumpkin, you're right a real pumpkin would be way too heavy on the fan. Michaels usually has tons of foam pumpkins. This one that lights up I got from Shoppers Drug Mart a few years ago. ~ karen!
SusanR
If your goal was to keep all of the candy for yourself, by scaring away all of the Trick-or-Treaters, I think you've succeeded! The only thing I can think of that would make even the most brave run away, also, would be a step-switch under the door mat that activates the fan and a recording of a scream, but you might find a dead parent or two on your porch in the morning.
A caution for those who will make this. Make CERTAIN that the holes at the back of the fan motor aren't covered, and the fabric can't move over them at all, or the motor could overheat and the whole thing could go up in flames. Karen was careful about making sure the back wasn't covered. Her guidance is the right way to go. There needs to be plenty of air clearance in the back of the fan.
Jan in Waterdown
"The whole thing could go up in flames"??? Now THAT would be spectacular!! I wanna see Karen's house on the local 11pm news . . . lol.
SusanR
Well, no, Karen made sure to keep any fabric from the back of the fan, as well as from the motor, so you won't see HER house on the news, except for creative Halloween design. :)
maggie van sickle
Not sure where u come up with these ideas but they are the best. Happy Holloweenie.
Alena
Brilliant!
It would also look in black with a scythe.
Absolutely brilliant, Karen!
jainegayer
Perfect to keep away those small children in our circle and I will have ALL the candy for myself!!! LOL
KathyB
Oh, the dirt on the row cover just really makes it for me. So Miss Havisham.
Marilyn meagher
Love it, if only I liked Halloween