Dollar Store Rope Ghost

Bring a little spooky charm to your fall décor with this Dollar Store Rope Ghost Craft! Made with simple supplies like cotton rope, cardboard, and felt, this adorable ghost is the perfect blend of rustic and whimsical.

It’s budget-friendly, beginner-friendly, and takes just about 30 minutes to make. That makes it ideal for a quick Halloween craft night with the kids or a cozy afternoon of seasonal decorating.

Why You’ll Love This Craft

Budget-friendly: All supplies come from the Dollar Store or your recycle bin.
Quick to make: You’ll have a charming ghost ready to hang in under half an hour.
Family-friendly: Safe, simple steps that even kids can help with (just watch the glue gun!).
Adorable décor: Adds a soft, cozy touch to your Halloween decorations.

Dollar Store craft supplies including cotton rope, black felt, cardboard, scissors, and a glue gun arranged on a wood background.

Get more adorable craft ideas like this along with delicious easy meals and fun holiday celebrations by subscribing to our newsletter. We often send out free printables in these as well, just for our email subscribers.

Materials Needed:

Cotton Rope (6.8 ft) – Dollar Store (2 packages)
Cardboard – recycled piece
Glue Gun and Glue Sticks – Dollar Store
Jute Twine
Black Craft Felt
Chalk Pencil or Straight Pins
Scissors
Paintbrush
Ruler
Pencil
Rope Ghost Patterns (downloadable)

Looking for more Halloween crafts? Try our Wine Cork Frankenstein, Cutting Board Witch, Craft Stick Jack O Lanterns, Cheesecloth Ghost, or Egg Carton Bat.

Rope ghost Halloween decoration standing on a wood surface with a small yellow pumpkin in the background.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Tracing a half-circle ghost pattern onto recycled cardboard with a black marker.

STEP ONE:
Gather your materials. Download, print, and cut out the Rope Ghost Base Pattern. Trace the semi-circle onto cardboard with a pencil.

Cutting out the cardboard ghost base using orange-handled scissors.

STEP TWO:
Cut out the semi-circle ghost base. Corrugated cardboard works best for the heavier rope. For this size ghost, you’ll need two packages of rope.

Measuring cotton rope along the edge of the cardboard ghost base with a ruler.

STEP THREE:
Dry-fit the rope around the base and measure 12” from top to bottom with your ruler.

Gluing the first piece of cotton rope to the cardboard ghost base with a hot glue gun.

STEP FOUR:
Trim the first section of rope. Glue it to the cardboard base using a hot glue gun. (You can use liquid craft glue, but drying time will be longer.)

Attaching multiple lengths of cotton rope around the cardboard base using a glue gun.

STEP FIVE:
Dry-fit and glue the next section of rope. Trim as needed.

Layering and gluing rows of cotton rope onto the cardboard ghost shape.

STEP SIX:
Continue gluing sections until the ghost is fully covered.

Trimming the bottom of the rope ghost evenly with scissors.

STEP SEVEN:
Lay the ghost flat and trim the rope ends evenly with scissors.

Unraveling the ends of the cotton rope to create wavy ghost “fringe.”

STEP EIGHT:
Unravel each section of rope by hand to give your ghost those fun, wispy “fringe” ends.

Giving the ghost’s rope ends a final trim with scissors for a neat finish.

STEP NINE:
Give everything a final trim for an even finish.

dollar-store-rope-ghost-step-10-cut-felt-face-pieces.webp

STEP TEN:
Download, print, and cut out the Rope Ghost Face Patterns. Trace or pin onto black felt, then cut out the eyes and mouth.

Gluing black felt eyes and mouth onto a rope ghost using a hot glue gun.

STEP ELEVEN:
Glue the felt face pieces to your ghost.

Attaching a jute twine hanger to the back of a cardboard rope ghost with a hot glue gun.

STEP TWELVE:
Cut a 12” piece of jute twine. Flip the ghost over and glue the twine to the back as a hanger.

Close-up view of the finished rope ghost showing its wavy cotton rope body and black felt face.

Tips & Tricks

Want a larger ghost? Just scale up the pattern and add more rope.
Try cream-colored or dyed rope for a fun twist on this classic look.
Add a little bow or mini pumpkin for an extra pop of fall charm.

FAQs: Dollar Store Rope Ghost Craft

What kind of rope works best for this ghost craft?

Cotton rope is the best choice because it unravels easily and gives your ghost a soft, wispy texture. You can usually find it in the craft or floral section at the Dollar Store. Avoid nylon or plastic rope. They don’t curl or fray the same way.

Can I make this rope ghost larger or smaller?

Yes! Simply scale the cardboard pattern up or down. A larger pattern will need extra rope, while a smaller one can be made with leftover pieces. Corrugated cardboard is ideal for sturdiness at any size. For a small ghost, you could use kitchen twine or yarn instead of the rope.

What can I use instead of a hot glue gun?

If you’re crafting with kids or prefer not to use hot glue, you can substitute liquid craft glue. Just note that it will take longer to dry, so plan a little extra time for that step.

Can this ghost be used outdoors?

This rope ghost is best for indoor use or on a covered porch since moisture can affect both the cardboard and rope. If you’d like to hang it outside, try sealing the cardboard base with clear spray sealant and keep it out of direct rain.

How long does this project take to make?

From start to finish, it takes about 30 minutes! The steps are simple, and the only drying time needed is for the glue if you’re not using a hot glue gun.

What ages can make this craft?

This is a great craft for older kids and teens, especially if an adult handles the hot glue gun. Younger kids can help trace, cut, and unravel the rope — just be sure to supervise closely.

Where can I display my finished rope ghost?

Hang it on your wall, door, or mantel, or prop it on a shelf with your fall décor. It adds a touch of rustic, cozy charm to your Halloween decorations.

Rope ghost made from Dollar Store materials hanging in front of a white wood background with a pumpkin nearby.

This Dollar Store Rope Ghost Craft proves that spooky can still be sweet and affordable! Hang your little ghost in the window, above your mantel, or even on your front door to welcome trick-or-treaters with a friendly smile.