How to Make Adorable DIY Air Dry Clay Ghost Tea Light Covers

If you’re looking for a fun and festive way to add a spooky touch to your decor, you’re going to love this simple DIY! In just a few easy steps, you can create adorable air dry clay ghost tea light covers using air dry clay. These little ghosts are perfect for adding a bit of Halloween magic to your living room, bedroom, or even your entryway for spooky season. Plus, they’re budget-friendly, totally customizable, and they make a fun kid’s craft too. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

To start, you’ll need to gather a few materials. For this project, I used:

• Air-dry clay (enough to roll into three balls, each about 3 inches in diameter)
• A small jar (any size that fits the ghost shape you want)
• Tin foil or a small styrofoam ball
• A rolling pin
• Cutting board or silicone mat
• A paper straw or any small round object to create the eyes
• Faux tea lights (I found some adorable twinkling ones at Dollarama!)
• craft knife (optional)

Step 2: Create the Ghost Bodies

Now for the fun part—shaping your ghosts! Start by taking some of your air-dry clay and rolling it into three small spheres on a cutting board. Mine ended up being around 3 inches in diameter, but you can play with the size depending on how big or small you want your ghosts to be.

Once your spheres are formed, grab your rolling pin. You’re going to flatten each of these spheres into thin circles. Make sure your clay circle is large enough to drape over your jar—these circles will be the main bodies of your ghost figures. You can cut the edges of your clay into a more perfect circle with a hobby knife, but I actually don’t mind a bit of a wavy edge for these little ghosts!

Step 3: Shape Your Tealight Ghosts

Here’s where things start to get spooky (in the cutest way possible, of course)! Take your little jar and ball up some tin foil to place on top. This will give your adorable ghosts a rounded, floating shape. Alternatively, you can use a styrofoam ball on top of the jars.

Once the tin foil is in place, lay one of your rolled-out clay circles on top of the jar. Gently pinch and gather the edges around the jar, shaping the clay into that signature ghostly look. You want the folds and ripples to mimic the way fabric would drape over a floating ghost—light and airy.

Don’t worry too much about making it perfect. The beauty of this project is in those imperfections that give your ghost its charm. Once you’re happy with the shape, it’s time to add some personality!

Step 4: Create the Eyes

What’s a ghost without its iconic spooky eyes? For this part, I used a simple paper straw. The size of the straw was just right for poking out two cute little eyes near the top of the ghost. All you need to do is gently twist the straw into the clay and pull out the excess clay that comes out with it.

If you find the clay sticking inside the straw, just give it a little wiggle and the extra bits will pop out. You can also use other tools, like the end of a pen or even a small cookie cutter, to create different eye shapes if you want to get creative!

Step 5: Let Your Ghosts Dry

After shaping and decorating your air dry clay ghost tea light covers, it’s time to let them rest. Air-dry clay usually takes around 24 hours to fully dry, but you’ll want to check the package instructions to be sure. I left mine to dry overnight and found they were perfectly solid the next day.

As your ghosts dry, they’ll harden into that smooth, lightweight finish that’s ideal for this project. Just be careful not to move them too much while they’re drying to avoid any cracks or changes in shape.

Step 6: Add the Faux Tea Lights

Now for the final touch that really makes these little ghosts shine—literally! Once your clay ghosts are dry, gently pop them off the jar and foil. You’ll see that they’ve held their cute, ghostly shapes perfectly.

To finish off the look, place one of your ghosts over a faux LED tea light. I found some twinkling faux tea lights at Dollarama that were perfect for this project. The flickering light adds such a magical, haunting glow to the ghosts, making them the perfect Halloween decoration.

If you can’t find the same faux lights, any small battery-operated light will work. You could even use tiny string lights to give your ghosts a soft, twinkling glow. I would NOT recommend using a real candle under these ghost covers.

Styling Your DIY Ghosts

Once you’ve made a few of these ghosts, the fun really begins when you style them in your home. I made three of them to create a little family of ghosts, and they’ve found a home on the side table in my living room. They’re such a sweet and subtle nod to the Halloween season, and they blend perfectly with my other decor.

If you want to take things up a notch, you can paint your ghosts after they’ve dried. A soft white or cream would keep things classic, but you could also get creative with pastels, metallics, or even a spooky black ghost if you’re feeling bold! You can also add details like little hats, bows, or tiny painted faces to give each ghost its own personality.

Using Mod Podge to add some pattern is also a fun option! Cut out some floral motifs from napkins, and apply them to the ghosts with Mod Podge. Seal with a final layer of Mod Podge to keep the designs in place.

Another great idea is to group these ghosts on a mantel, bookshelf, or even your dining table as part of a Halloween centerpiece. You could surround them with fall leaves, mini pumpkins, or candles to complete the festive vibe.

This DIY air dry clay ghost tea light project is a wonderful way to celebrate Halloween with a handmade touch. Not only are these a fun & easy craft (my 10 year old daughter loved making these with me!), but they’re also versatile enough to work as boo-tiful Autumn decor in various spaces throughout your home. From your living room to your mantel, these little ghosties will bring a bit of charm and glow to any spot you choose. So grab your air-dry clay, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to add some spooky but adorable decor to your Halloween nights. Happy crafting!

Want more DIY decor Halloween inspiration?

Click here for all of my Halloween DIY project and decorating posts!