How To Build a Chicken Wire Ghost for Halloween

Creating a chicken wire ghost is a fun and eerie way to elevate your Halloween decorations. By bending, twisting, and shaping the wire, you can craft a spooky figure that appears to float or move, delighting trick-or-treaters and passersby alike. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to build your own chicken wire ghost, from gathering materials to displaying your finished creation.

Essential Materials and Tools for Your Ghost

The most important material for this project is, of course, chicken wire. You’ll need one 25-foot roll of 36-inch-wide chicken wire. You’ll also need the following tools for shaping and cutting:

• Wire snips for cutting the chicken wire
• Needle-nose pliers for detailed shaping and securing wire ends
• Work gloves to protect your hands
• Wig form or head-sized vase or bowl for shaping the ghost’s head
• Tape measure to ensure the correct proportions

Planning Your Ghost’s Design

Before diving into construction, plan your ghost’s design. This will guide your entire creation process and help you achieve the desired look.

Choosing the Right Size and Pose

Decide on the size of your ghost based on where you plan to display it. A life-sized ghost can be particularly impressive, but smaller versions can work well for indoor displays or limited spaces. Consider the pose you want your ghost to take—will it be standing upright, floating, or in a more dynamic position?

You can also create props for your ghost to hold. In our step-by-step instructions below, we will create an ax.

Sketching Your Ghost’s Form

Draw a rough sketch of your ghost to use as a reference. This doesn’t need to be a masterpiece, but it should outline the basic shape and proportions you’re aiming for. Pay attention to details like the curve of the arms, the tilt of the head, and the flow of the ghostly fabric. To ensure the pose is realistic, you can have someone model for you, or you can take a picture of yourself as a reference.

How To Make a Ghost Out of Chicken Wire in 8 Steps

1. Start by Forming the Head

Center the wire piece over your wig form, bowl, or vase to form the head. Using your hands, press and pinch the wire into a convex shape for the top of the head.

As you work your way down, cinch the hexes more tightly and permanently together where needed, using needle-nose pliers to crimp the wire. Keep going until you’ve got a bell-shaped form that extends to just below the nose.

2. Pinch the Wire to Create the Chin, Neck, and Face

To form the chin, neck, and face, start by pinching the hexes to form the pointy part of the chin. Use the wire snips as needed to clip the wire in a curve roughly following the jawline so that you can fold and overlap the wire underneath to define the chin and neck.

For the back of the head and the nape of the neck, clip the wire vertically and overlap the pieces slightly to form a seam to contour and narrow this area. Continue shaping the wire with your fingers to form the nose, lips, chin, and neck. You’ll now have a head and neck “emerging” from a somewhat flat base of chicken wire.

3. Snip the Wire to Create the Shoulders

With the head facing you, snip the wire on each side, where the shoulders will go, to about 6 inches from the head.

Make the snips close to the corners of the hexes, which will create longer prongs on the cut sides that can be used for attaching pieces later. Overlap the flaps to form the shoulders and the top of the torso, and secure them using the prongs of the cut wire.

4. Form the Torso and Thighs

Form the wire piece into a cylinder, overlapping the ends by about 3 inches to make the torso and thighs. Attach this to the base of the shoulders; snip the wire on the edges if needed to fasten the two pieces together.

Eyeball your ghost to decide where the waist should be, and shape the wire by hand to form it. Create the thighs by snipping the wire vertically in the center front and back, along the “inseam.” Then, bend and fasten each side into the thighs.

5. Create and Shape the Arms

Form the arms one at a time. To create the straight left arm, form the wire piece into a cylinder, as you did with the torso, but slightly overlap the piece at an angle so you’ll form a thicker upper arm and thinner lower arm.

For the right bent arm, form a bigger cylinder with one piece and a smaller one with the other; fasten them together at a roughly 120-degree angle to form the elbow. Attach each arm to the torso; you may need to clip off a bit of wire near the armpits to do this. With your fingers, contour the wire to look more like arms, with elbows, wrists, and hands. If you want to create a more detailed sculpture (or you like a challenge), you can add fingers, but they’re not necessary if you’re just trying to create a spooky form.

6. Make and Attach the Lower Legs

To make the lower legs, form cylinders from the wire pieces. Then, attach them to the thighs at angles to form the knees. Angle the legs so it appears that your ghost is out for a stroll.

7. Form the Feet

Form cylinders from the wire pieces to make the feet. Flatten the cylinders slightly to make soles on the bottoms, and cinch closed one end of each to form toes. Fasten the feet to the calves.

8. Make the Ax

To make the ax fold the wire piece in half so that it measures 12 inches by 6 inches. On the open side of the rectangle, cut out a portion of wire measuring roughly 4 inches by 8 inches, leaving the remainder as an ax-like shape. Overlap the wires along the seams to secure them and firm up the ax’s handle and blade. Attach the handle to the right hand of your ghost, bending and contouring the hand as needed.

Securing and Displaying Your Chicken Wire Ghost

Once your ghost is complete, it’s time to put it on display. Here are some options.

Indoor Display Options

• Stand your ghost in a corner, using the walls for support.
• Suspend it from the ceiling using clear fishing line for a floating effect.
• Place it near a window for dramatic backlighting.

Outdoor Installation Techniques

Outdoor displays require more secure methods:

• Attach your ghost to a tree or shrub using rope or wire.
• Anchor it to the ground using garden stakes or tent pegs.
• Hang it from a tree limb using heavy-duty fishing line, with its feet just touching the ground for a realistic stance.

Illuminating Your Ghost for Extra Spookiness

Adding lighting can dramatically enhance the eerie effect of your chicken wire ghost. Consider these illumination ideas for your project:

• Place battery-operated LED lights inside the ghost’s body for an internal glow.
• Use a spotlight positioned at the base to cast long, creepy shadows.
• Experiment with colored lights to create different moods—green for a sickly glow or blue for a cold, otherworldly effect.

Maintenance and Storage of Your Chicken Wire Ghost

To ensure your chicken wire ghost remains a Halloween staple for years to come, follow these maintenance and storage tips: 

• After the season, gently clean your ghost with a soft brush to remove dust and debris.
• Store it in a dry place to prevent rust.
• If possible, hang it or store it upright to maintain its shape.
• Cover it with a light cloth or plastic sheet to keep dust off during the off-season.

Troubleshooting Common Chicken Wire Ghost Issues

Even experienced crafters may encounter some challenges when working with chicken wire. Here are some common issues and solutions.

• If the wire keeps curling up, try working in smaller sections and securing them as you go.
• For stubborn kinks, use pliers to straighten the wire gently.
• If your ghost won’t stand upright, adjust the base or consider adding a support structure inside.

Safety Precautions When Working on Your Ghost

Follow these precautions to ensure you’re working with chicken wire safely:

• Always wear thick gloves to protect your hands from sharp wire edges.
• Use safety glasses to shield your eyes from small wire pieces.
• Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling any metal dust.
• Keep your tetanus shot up to date, as chicken wire can cause scratches.

Our Conclusion

Creating a chicken wire ghost is a rewarding DIY project that combines crafting with a touch of the macabre. With some patience and creativity, you can make a unique Halloween decoration that will delight and spook in equal measure.