If you grew up in a house where the scent of school glue and the of rustling of paper meant a holiday was near, then you already know: crafting was the ritual. Before the age of store-bought everything, our decorations were lovingly handmade – salt dough ornaments for Christmas, paper hearts for Valentine’s Day, and of course, tissue ghosts fluttering in every shadowy corner come Halloween.
Back then, supplies came straight from the junk drawer or pantry – tin cans, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, paper plates, and, yes, the ever-humble tissue. Nothing was off-limits in our pursuit of seasonal magic. And if you didn’t make at least one ghost out of a tissue, were you even celebrating spooky season?
There’s something delightfully nostalgic about those fluttery little phantoms. You could string them into garlands, hang them from windows, or – my personal go-to – wrap them around a tootsie pop for a sweet surprise with spirit to spare.
But today, my fellow Halloween enthusiast, we’re putting a stylish spin on this old-school favorite. We’re swapping tissues for vintage hankies, and giving our ghosts a touch of grown-up glamour, all without losing an ounce of charm.
Ready to raise some (adorably handmade) spirits? Let’s get crafting.
For this project, we will need:
Vintage hankies – any size or color
Elastic bands
Marker or tiny circles cut from felt or fabric + glue (optional)
Pick Your Poison:
Styrofoam balls and wooden craft skewers – for styling ghosties in the buffet or florals
Styrofoam balls, needle, and embroidery floss – for creating a ghostie garland
Tootsie Pops (or similar) – for creating treats for ToTs
One of the unexpected delights of this project is the thrill of the hunt. Scouring thrift shops, flea markets, and antique stores for vintage hankies feels a bit like ghost-hunting itself – digging through forgotten drawers and dusty bins in search of delicate fabrics with just the right amount of age and charm.
Each hankie has a story (or a secret!) tucked in its folds, and finding one with lace trim or a slightly eerie floral print is like striking spooky gold. There’s something magical about unearthing these small, storied squares – especially when they’re destined to become little handmade ghosts.
Of course, no true Halloween fanatic escapes a haunt like this without getting a little distracted. Maybe it’s a chipped ceramic pumpkin, a faded black cat postcard, or a brittle old box of paper decorations that whisper boo when you pass by. But that’s all part of the fun. The project begins before the crafting even starts – with cobwebs, creaky floors, and curious little treasures calling your name.
No respectable ghost wants to haunt until their sheets are pressed to perfection. My hankies came folded so I broke out my mat and mini iron so they could live their best afterlife.
If you plan to style your hankie ghost among frightful florals or on a bewitching buffet, add a wooden skewer to your styrofoam ball before you begin.
Locate the center of your hankie and drape it over the styrofoam ball or Tootsie Pop. I like to offset mine a bit so that the fabric hangs a little longer in the back.
Take an elastic band and wrap it around your hankie just under the base of the ball or sucker.
I prefer to use clear hair ties for this purpose, as they are secure yet nearly invisible.
If desired, add a ribbon bow around the neck to cover the band and add a bit of frightful flair to your ghostie.
If your hankie is thin (most are), add a second layer of fabric such as muslin or a plain hankie to hide the Tootsie Pop if desired.
I choose to leave my spirits plain, but you can draw on eyes with a fabric marker or glue tiny circles cut from felt or fabric onto your hankie ghost.
To make a hankie ghost garland, thread your needle with embroidery floss and string your ghosties onto the strand.
Add a loop to each end of the floss and hang.
And just like that, something simple from childhood gets a glow-up – with a ghostly grin, of course.
By blending timeworn handkerchiefs with a tried-and-true craft, we’ve conjured a creation that’s part memory, part magic.
There’s something deeply satisfying about honoring the past while making something new, especially when the results are this hauntingly charming.
Whether you perch them on a mantel, dangle them from a chandelier, or pass them out as bewitching little favors, these vintage hankie ghosts are proof that old traditions still have plenty of spirit.
Until next time – stay spooky.
