Origami Ghost and Decorating Ideas for Halloween

Updated on August 29, 2019
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Sherry Venegas
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Ms. Venegas has been using origami to make rosettes and medallions since 2003. She shares art/craft techniques and ideas on the Internet.

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Having Fun With Origami Ghosts
Having Fun With Origami Ghosts

Best Origami Ghost Pattern

This tutorial takes the basic origami ghost pattern and dresses it up for a better high flying goblin for the fall season. Cute as Casper and easy enough for big kids.

Included are a few ideas for displaying the ghost and giving it tweaks so each one looks unique. The decorator can create a display with ghosts flying in many directions.

These paper decorations are not just for Halloween. Make them for Day of Dead and well into autumn. Get some paper and start with the pattern below.

A Finished Origami Ghost

For the Halloween or autumn party as place settings.
For the Halloween or autumn party as place settings.

Ghost Origami Instructions

Click thumbnail to view full-size
Fold a square two ways diagonally.Turn paper over. Fold sides toward center fold.Fold sides toward center at opposite point, as shown.Finished pre-folds.Open up square and note the pre-folds. Put thumb and index fingers of both hands under the paper at the points marked by the black cats. Pinch the cats together and guide the pre-folds (dashes) into the center.
Fold a square two ways diagonally.
Fold a square two ways diagonally.
Turn paper over. Fold sides toward center fold.
Turn paper over. Fold sides toward center fold.
Fold sides toward center at opposite point, as shown.
Fold sides toward center at opposite point, as shown.
Finished pre-folds.
Finished pre-folds.
Open up square and note the pre-folds. Put thumb and index fingers of both hands under the paper at the points marked by the black cats. Pinch the cats together and guide the pre-folds (dashes) into the center.
Open up square and note the pre-folds. Put thumb and index fingers of both hands under the paper at the points marked by the black cats. Pinch the cats together and guide the pre-folds (dashes) into the center.

Pattern Continued

Click thumbnail to view full-size
Your project should look like this.Turn over and fold up bottom tip halfway up underlying tab.At this newest fold make another 1/4 inch fold where the witches are pointing.Turn the ghost over. This is now the back of the figure. The head starts at the new double fold. Fold down the top tip to form the top.At this point make two more folds at random angles.For the bottom tail start with a diagonal fold. Fold it any which way.The flying tail gets the random treatment.Turn the ghost over to the front.Do the same kind of random folding for the two tabs. The tabs become the arms of the ghost.Draw in some droopy eyes of any shape and angle.
Your project should look like this.
Your project should look like this.
Turn over and fold up bottom tip halfway up underlying tab.
Turn over and fold up bottom tip halfway up underlying tab.
At this newest fold make another 1/4 inch fold where the witches are pointing.
At this newest fold make another 1/4 inch fold where the witches are pointing.
Turn the ghost over. This is now the back of the figure. The head starts at the new double fold. Fold down the top tip to form the top.
Turn the ghost over. This is now the back of the figure. The head starts at the new double fold. Fold down the top tip to form the top.
At this point make two more folds at random angles.
At this point make two more folds at random angles.
For the bottom tail start with a diagonal fold. Fold it any which way.
For the bottom tail start with a diagonal fold. Fold it any which way.
The flying tail gets the random treatment.
The flying tail gets the random treatment.
Turn the ghost over to the front.
Turn the ghost over to the front.
Do the same kind of random folding for the two tabs. The tabs become the arms of the ghost.
Do the same kind of random folding for the two tabs. The tabs become the arms of the ghost.
Draw in some droopy eyes of any shape and angle.
Draw in some droopy eyes of any shape and angle.

Give Ghosts New Clothes with Fancy Papers

Use fancy papers. No need to stay with white.
Use fancy papers. No need to stay with white.

Shape Up the Goblin Using Your Imagination

All that is left to do is gently pull the top, tail, and arms into positions that appeal to you. Ghosts can sit on a table, hang on the porch, or add to a wooden craft loop for a mobile.

Each of your ghosts can be be dressed up by putting different expressions into the eyes, and hanging them at various angles.

Your apparition will turn in the breeze and seem to disappear into the ether.
Your apparition will turn in the breeze and seem to disappear into the ether.

How Will You Use the Origami Ghost?

Decorating Idea
Decorating Idea

© 2011 Sherry Venegas

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    • SusanDeppner profile image

      Susan Deppner 

      7 years ago from Arkansas USA

      How cute! I've always liked ghost decorations for Halloween. Great instructions! (Pinned!)

    • Wednesday-Elf profile image

      Wednesday-Elf 

      8 years ago from Savannah, Georgia

      An origami Ghost -- what fun. You're right -- ghosts aren't just for Halloween!

    • profile image

      sojourner-1 

      8 years ago

      There is still the unknown ghost lurking around. I've never seen this before-great ideas.

    • WildFacesGallery profile image

      Mona 

      8 years ago from Iowa

      These little guys are just too cute. What a great family activity.

    • profile image

      sousababy 

      8 years ago

      What I love about origami is that everyone enjoys it, there's no mess, glue or scissors needed and it's 3-dimensional. At first, I couldn't imagine how you'd do an origami ghost - but these are amazing! Leave it to you paperfacets to have mastered how to 'fold' a ghost. Keep 'em coming.

      Sincerely,

      Rose

    • profile image

      anonymous 

      8 years ago

      these are so cool - thank you for sharing it

    • Virginia Allain profile image

      Virginia Allain 

      8 years ago from Central Florida

      This would be a fun activity for the whole family making the origami ghosts to put around the house.

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