If you’re looking for some cute Halloween décor or just a fun craft to undertake on a rainy day, you can’t go wrong with this adorable pet ghost in a bottle polymer clay project!
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Cute crafts are among my favorite types of crafts to make. While I don’t present as overly “cute” in my day-to-day life—I’m a no-makeup, jeans and plain t-shirt kind of girl!—my crafts almost always are. Adorable animals, bright colors, bold floral patterns… that’s what I gravitate towards.
And when I can take something spooky and make it cute? Even better!
Ghosts are one of those “spooky” things that translate so well to bright cuteness. I’m not sure why; the concept isn’t exactly a cheery one.
Nonetheless, I’m always in when I can make sweet ghost crafts. And this project is no exception. It’s adorable.
Of course, yours doesn’t have to be cute. You can make the spookiest, goriest, most horrifying ghost that you want. Or your ghost can fall somewhere in the middle.
Projects like these are great as jumping-off points; you can customize them to your taste. It would also be a great craft party or workshop project! (No idea what I’m talking about? Check out this post I wrote on how to make money teaching craft workshops!
Okay, without further ado, let’s get crafting!
To make a polymer clay ghost in a bottle, you’ll need:
- Polymer Clay: You’ll need white or glow-in-the-dark clay. I prefer to use this particular Sculpey clay for this project.
- Glass Container: You’ll need some sort of small glass container. I like using bottles with cork tops, but you can also use little jars, or whatever you can find. The ones I have for this project are from Dollar Tree. (Click here to check them out on the Dollar Tree website) You can also get similar containers from Amazon. (Click here to check out the ones I’d recommend)
- Glue or UV Resin: If using glue, make sure that you use something that works with glass like this B6000 glue. If you want to use UV resin, you can use something like this.
- Other materials like moss, rocks, sand, or whatever other little things you’d like to add to your ghost’s new home.
- Tools: I’d recommend thin tweezers for placing things in the bottle. Depending on how detailed you want to make your ghost, you may also want some clay tools. But you can use things you already have around the house, like toothpicks, for this. You may also need scissors and if you’re using UV resin you’ll need a resin-curing light like this.
Project directions
Step 1
Gather your materials.
Step 2
Making a little ghost is easy, and that’s where we’re going to start. First, make sure to properly condition your clay. (Work with it until it’s pliable and doesn’t crack if you fold or squish it.) Then take a little piece of clay and work with it until it resembles a little ghost. It doesn’t need to be at all detailed to be absolutely adorable, although of course, you can get as detailed as you want!
If you would prefer to watch a ghost being made, I’ve found this great YouTube video that you can follow along with! (Not my video, but I hope you enjoy it!)
Step 3
Bake your adorable (or spooky) little ghost according to the baking directions on the clay’s packaging. Don’t forget to set a timer!
When baking my polymer clay, I never put it directly on the baking sheet because I find the bottom tends to burn. Bake it on a clay tile, a piece of parchment paper, or this Sculpey make-and-bake mat.
Step 4
While your clay is baking, you can start assembling your little ghost’s new home. Regardless of whether you’re using glue or resin, less is more. You don’t want big globs of it to be visible. I recommend putting a little of your glue or resin on a piece of wax paper and then using a toothpick to carefully apply it inside the glass. Once you’ve put a little of the glue or resin down, add your décor.
If you’re using glue, you’ll want to wait for it to dry a bit before adding more pieces. You can do this quicker with UV resin because you can cure it immediately.
Make sure to leave room for your ghost!
Step 5
Take your clay out of the oven when the timer goes off and give it some time to cool we don’t want to put it into the glass while it’s still hot!
Step 6
Once your ghost is cool, you can glaze it or leave it as is. If you’re glazing it, make sure you give it ample time to dry before moving your ghost into his/her/their new home.
Step 7
When your ghost has cooled down, and all your glue is dry, carefully place your new little friend into their carefully landscaped glass home. Do not put the cork top on unless you’re 100% sure everything is dry; it won’t dry properly if there is no airflow.
If you want the ghost confined to a specific location in the bottle, use some glue or resin to stick it down.
Step 8
If this is your ghost’s permanent home and you don’t intend to put it in another container/move it later, feel free to glue the cork down.
Step 9
Find a good place to set your cute ghost in a bottle where everyone can admire him! You’re done!
Will you make a ghost in a bottle?
While this is a great Halloween project, it could be a cute make any time of the year! You can make accessories for your little ghost if you want to get seasonal—make a Christmas ghost with a Santa hat, a patriotic ghost with a little flag, or a summer ghost with a floatie ring… the possibilities are endless.
You can also go with larger glass containers to give your ghost a little more room to play. With a larger container, you could even include more than one ghost!
If you make a little ghost in a bottle, I want to see it! Post pictures on Instagram and use hashtags #theserialcreative #ghostinabottle #ghostbottleDIY to show off!
If you’re looking for more fun projects and patterns, check out my free tutorials and patterns archive.
Happy making!
