She Turns Vintage Doilies Into The Sweetest Ghosts: 'Never Seen Such Cute Halloween Decor!'

Think doilies are outdated and useless? Then you definitely haven't heard of the genius ways to repurpose them. And you surely haven't seen these adorable doily ghosts that are perfect for cozy cottage Halloween decor. To make them, you have to stiffen the doilies over a rounded object to hold the ghostly shape. TikTok creator Ashley shared her version, and commenters loved them. One person said, "I've never seen such cute Halloween decor!" And others echoed that same sentiment. That has to be your sign to grab some doilies and whip up your own spirited decor.

The main component of this Halloween project is a pile of doilies — you need one for each ghost you want to make. Square and circle doilies will work well to create ghosts with an even bottom edge. To get an idea of how large the ghost will be, pick the doily from the center and let it drape down. Any color works, even if the lacy round has colorful details on it. Thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markets are good options for finding these old-fashioned pieces. If you don't have luck there, eBay, Etsy, and Facebook marketplace are some of the best places to buy vintage doilies. 

For the stiffening part, you can use cornstarch, Mod Podge, school glue, or fabric stiffener. Bonus: these glues wash out after Halloween if you want to reuse your doilies. You'll also need molds to create the shape of the ghosts — narrow bottles and rounded objects, like small balloons or Styrofoam balls, work well. Plastic wrap comes in handy to keep the glue from sticking to everything.

When you're looking for stunning ways to style vintage doilies, these ghosts should definitely be in the running. Doilies naturally have cute detailing, but you can add extra touches, too. Attach some lacy trim along the edges, or sew on little patches of autumn fabric to add vintage styling. Then, set up the molds by balancing a rounded object on top of a bottle or something similar. Cover the mold in plastic wrap, and position it over cardboard or a plastic-covered table to catch all the glue drips.

To use Mod Podge or similar glues, mix about two parts of the glue with one part of water. You have to thin the glue out so it won't sit on top of the doily while still keeping enough of the stickiness for the doily to hold its shape. For cornstarch, use a one-to-two ratio of cornstarch and water. You'll need to heat it on the stove over low heat to thicken the mixture.

Submerge the doily into the glue mixture, making sure all parts of it are saturated. Squeeze the excess glue out of the fabric. Drape it over the form, adjusting the fabric to get the look you want. Let it sit until it dries completely. You can add eyes and a mouth with markers, self-adhesive felt, fabric, or googly eyes. The ghosts should stand up on their own as shelf decorations, or attach a loop of string to use them as hanging decorations. To personalize the ghosts, add little bows or bow ties made of ribbon. Balancing the doily decorations over a battery-powered candle will add an eerie glowing effect.