The Friendly Pool Noodle Ghost You Need On Your Front Porch This Fall
Fall is finally upon us, and with the change in seasons, it's time to start building up your collection of spooky home decor. Luckily, it's simple enough to do with an oh-so-easy, DIY-friendly porch ghost. The really great part is that the element that makes this piece stand out is the one thing you're likely looking for places to stash away this time of year: A pool noodle.
Pool noodles are a great option for DIY Halloween decorations like ghosts. One super easy hack involves simply popping either side of the noodle into a pair of black boots, covering them with a sheet, topping off with some black sticky felt for eyes, and voila! However, this spooky season, you can also use a pool noodle to create something more elevated. We're talking about the friendly, waving phantom fashioned by holiday home decor TikToker Macy Blackwell. The great part is that the summertime staple is just one partially recycled aspect of the craft. Taking this ghost to a whole new level are white Christmas lights.
To get this apparition operational, you'll also need a tomato cage (available on Amazon in packs of 4 for under $10 — perfect if you're planning on repurposing several pool noodles to create a family of ghosts) and a polystyrene ball (or rolled up newspaper, for a more eco-friendly option). Then, grab a white sheet, and a few patches of black sticky felt, and pull out those Christmas lights. Let's get to spooking!
A pool noodle lets your ghost wave at trick or treaters
To get started, tie the open end of your tomato cage together using a zip tie, string, or an elastic band. You'll add a polystyrene ball to that in a moment but first, it's time to add in the pool noodle and lighting details. Slide the noodle through the cage so that the ends point upward, to create a waving motion. Then, add in your Christmas lights by draping them inside the cage. Top it off with your polystyrene or newspaper ball, and cover it with a white sheet.
At this point, you may want to check if you need to make any adjustments. Remove the sheet, move the noodle around for a bigger or smaller wave, and play around with the lighting until you're satisfied. Once you've achieved the perfect friendly ghost, secure the pool noodle with zip ties, and pop the sheet over it once again. Finally, add in those facial features with sticky felt (available for just under $5 on Amazon).
If you're looking to make this Halloween decor craft even more budget-friendly, you can always substitute it with any black fabric you already have lying around. Even black cardboard or paper can do the trick, provided your porch is protected from the elements. In this case, all you'll need is a safety pin. However you opt to give your ghost some character, with this friendly phantom, you're bound to have a happy haunting.