Buzz
A ghost costume is the perfect choice if you want to make a scary impression at a Halloween party or costume event. Even better, this costume is easy to make and won't cost you much.
Steps
Creating a Simple Ghost Costume
Cut the brim of a bright-colored baseball cap. If you don't want to cut the brim, simply wear the cap backward. Alternatively, you can buy a cheap cap from a thrift store.
- The cap should be as bright as possible; otherwise, people will see it through the sheet covering your head.
Place the bed sheet over the person's head who will wear the costume. If the sheet extends too far onto the floor, mark where it needs to be cut.
- The sheet should only slightly touch the floor to create a floating effect; if it's too long, it could cause the wearer to trip.
Use a black marker to mark the center of the bed sheet on the person's head.
Mark the holes directly over the eyes. Ask the person covering with the sheet to poke their fingers through the fabric at their eyes so you can mark two small dots on the fabric.
Remove the sheet and pin it to a baseball cap. Align the marked position on the sheet with the top of the cap.
- Secure the sheet around the cap with about 3-4 pins.
- If you want to hide the black dots marking the top of the head, turn the sheet inside out. You can still see the ink, but others will have a harder time noticing it.
- You can also cover the black ink with white paint or use a fabric marker (a marker that fades and is water-soluble).
Cut out the eye holes. Cut the holes you marked for the eyes earlier. You can also use a black marker to draw circles around the marks and then cut. The eye holes should be at least twice the size of the person's eyes.
Draw the mouth and nose. Use a marker to outline the nose and mouth. You can also cut a hole for the nose or mouth to make it easier for the wearer to breathe.
If the sheet is too long, trim it. Use scissors to cut the sheet at the marked position.
Make a Fancy Ghost Costume
Cover the wearer's head with the sheet.
Draw a circle on the sheet around the wearer's neck.
Mark the area above the person's elbow.
Mark the area below the person's ankle.
Remove the sheet.
Cut out the circle around the neck you previously marked. You can make the hole slightly larger than the marked line to ensure the wearer can easily pull the sheet over their head.
Cut holes above the elbows so the arms can stick out.
Cut along the ankle area. Use a jagged cut to create a tattered effect.
Use fabric glue to attach small triangular fabric scraps along the jagged edges of the costume to create a spooky effect. You will need fabric glue for this.
The person being dressed up needs to wear a long-sleeved white shirt. You can also attach small triangular fabric scraps to the shirt so that they hang down like icicles.
Dress the person up in the costume. The person will easily be able to slip their head through the top hole, while their arms will fit snugly through the holes on each side.
Apply a white makeup layer all over their face. Cover every part of their face, including eyebrows and lips.
- You can also paint the neck area since it will be visible.
Draw additional gray circles on the eyelids and below the eyes of the person being dressed up. You can either apply gray lipstick or leave the white color from earlier as it is.
Sprinkle flour on the hair to give the person a dusty appearance.
Tips
- White or black nail polish can enhance the overall look of the costume.
- The bed sheet costume is a classic method for dressing as a ghost, but keep in mind that communication may be a bit tricky. If you're only going trick-or-treating, this costume works well, but for a party, face painting and draping the sheet over your shoulders will be more convenient.
- Try wearing light-colored shoes to match the ghost costume.
- Kids may have higher expectations for their ghost costumes. If they truly want to be a ghost, it's best to go with face painting instead.
What You Need
Method Using a Bed Sheet
- White sheet
- White or light-colored baseball cap
- Scissors
- Black marker
- 4-5 pins
Elaborate Method
- White sheet
- Scissors
- Black marker
- Fabric glue
- Black and white face paint
- White long-sleeved shirt
- Flour
