The Devil’s in the Details:
Packing Tape Ghost
The packing tape ghost is a surefire way to kick your Halloween display up a thousand notches! Halloween displays are great, but there is nothing like building your own spooky ornament.
I present to you… the Packing Tape Ghost and how I made it.
Packing Tape Ghost Step-By-Step:
Step 1: The form – Most of the packing tape ghosts need a shape to adhere the tape to. Some use dress forms, mannequins, and even their unwilling children. I used an inflatable mannequin torso with arms (more of this below).
Step 2: The body – I used plastic wrap to cover the mannequin so that the tape would not stick to the form and make it impossible to remove. Then, I covered the entire body with five layers of clear packing tape, ensuring every area was covered and smoothed down.
Once I was happy with the form, I deflated the mannequin with an electric pump and pulled it out. This is where the inflatable torso comes in handy. With a solid form, you would have to cut the back and arms to remove it from the tape body and tape it back up. That is not the case with the inflatable.
Step 3: The head – I used a styrofoam dummy head and again wrapped it in plastic wrap and five layers of tape. The trick is to push down on the eyes, nose, and mouth areas to keep a better face shape. For this one, I did have to cut a line up the back to get the head out, but hey, it is tape. You can just tape it back up!
Step 4: The Dress – I bought three layers of see-through fabric (one was a translucent light blue). I am terrible at sewing, so my wife sewed them together, with flair, around the bottom of the tape form. P.S. Nothing misogynistic here; my wife is better than me at most things.
Step 5: Yard Display – Now that I had my packing tape ghost-together, it was time for some lights and a display. I got battery-operated fairy lights and taped them inside of the ghost.
I wanted her to have some movement, so I MacGyverd a rig outside by taking a rotating Christmas tree stand and hanging it upside down on a tree branch. Then, I hot glued a slim but strong bar to it. Next, I attached a fishing wire from the bar to the shoulders of my ghost. What was helpful was having the ghost on a stand while I attached the line so that she was not pulling down while I affixed her to the wire. Then, choose where you’d like to display your packing ghost in your yard. I chose to hang her from the tree in our front yard, which gets an ample amount of wind in that area. It gives the ghost an even spookier feel at night when the wind blows.
Hope you enjoy this Halloween decoration piece! If put together properly, this can be used yearly in your yard every spooky season!
Quick instructions: To make the Packing Tape Ghost, I covered an inflatable dummy with plastic wrap, followed by five layers of clear packing tape. Removed the dummy, then repeated the same steps with a styrofoam head. I taped them both together, sewed on see-through fabric for the dress, added fairy lights, and bada-bing-bada-boo, Packing Tape Ghost!
For more fun Halloween decor, check out our Crafts and DIY section!
More from Married to Horror!
Take a look at our Halloween content in the Seasonal section! Find more general Married to Horror selections in our recommendations and List Section! Also, take a peek at our Master Watch List, where you can find an array of horror films sorted by title, platform, rating, and more!
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