Cotton Ball Painted Ghost Craft

As the whispers of autumn breeze through, and the nights get just a hint spookier, we’re all in the mood for a ghostly good time, aren’t we? Picture this: wispy apparitions floating on a canvas, their forms appearing not with traditional brushes but with the soft, fluffy magic of cotton balls. Intrigued? I know I am!

If you’ve ever been haunted by the desire to make an adorable, ghost-themed craft that’s not only cute but also packed with fun, we’ve got the perfect concoction for you! This Cotton Ball Painted Ghost Craft is sure to make your little one’s eyes light up in delight. With vibrant Halloween colors, this activity is perfect for kids who are eager to dip, dab, and reveal a phantasmal friend. Ready to summon some crafty fun? Here we go!

WILL YOU SET UP THIS COTTON BALL GHOST CRAFT? PIN IT FOR LATER!

Materials

• White card stock
• Scissors
• Painter tape
• Cotton balls
• Clothespins
• Paint in Halloween colors (think blacks, purples, oranges, and greens)
• Black marker

Cotton Ball Painted Ghost Craft Step-by-step Instructions

1. Ghostly Cut-Out: Begin by drawing a cute ghost shape on a piece of white card stock. Once you’re happy with your ghost, snip it out with scissors.
2. Set the Stage: Take another sheet of white card stock and tape your ghost cut-out to its center using the painter tape. Make sure it’s secure!
3. Cotton Ball Brushes: Attach cotton balls to the end of a clothespin. This makes a fantastic unique brush that’s not only easy for little hands to grip but also creates a unique texture!

4. Paint Away: Dip the cotton ball into your chosen Halloween paint color and dab it all around the ghost cut-out. Encourage your little one to mix and overlap colors for a spooky background effect.

5. The Grand Reveal: Once the entire sheet is covered in your boo-tiful colors, carefully remove the ghost cut-out to reveal a stunning, unpainted ghost shape amidst the vibrant backdrop. It’s like magic!

6. Make A Face: Use a black marker to draw a face on your ghost.

Crafty Tips and Learning Moments

• Ghost Stories: As you craft, share a light and funny ghost story. Maybe this ghost loves dancing or has a pet cat!
• Texture Talk: Discuss how the cotton ball feels compared to regular paintbrushes. It’s a soft and fluffy sensation!
• Stickers Galore: Add some Halloween stickers around the ghost for added fun and detail.

Skills Learned

1. Fine Motor Skills: Gripping the clothespin and dabbing with the cotton ball enhances hand-eye coordination.
2. Creativity: Choosing colors and deciding where to dab lets imaginations run wild.
3. Sensory Exploration: The cotton ball’s soft texture provides a different sensory feel compared to traditional brushes.

And voilà! In just a few simple steps, you and your little one will have crafted a ghostly masterpiece that’s sure to be the star of your Halloween décor. This activity isn’t just about the end result; it’s about the giggles, stories, and memories made along the way. Be sure to share your spectral creations with us! We’re always on the lookout for more inspiration. Until next time, happy haunting and happy crafting!

Age Suitability

This activity is good for toddlers aged children 3 years old and up with adult assistance.

Mess Level

The mess level for this activity is messy.

Difficulty to Create 

Easy.

Toddler and Preschooler Curriculums, Books & TV Show!

Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers

There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!

But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.

Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.

Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again! 

These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!

Click here for more information: Play2Learn

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon. 

Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.

Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.

Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids

Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more. 

Find out more and grab your copy here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids

Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.

• 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
• Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
• Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.

Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!

Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.

TV Show: Curious Crafting

I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.

Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!

Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.

In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create. 

Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.

This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up. 

The Best Sensory Play Kits for Kids

Play is at the core of learning during the early years and it can take many forms. One of the most important of these is sensory play because it engages all of a child’s senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and has a enoumous positive impact on brain development.

Our Sensory Play Kits are some fun and easy ways to keep your child engaged while at the same time using sensory play to nurture their mind!

Shop our ready made play kits here.

Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.

WILL YOU SET UP THIS COTTON BALL GHOST CRAFT? PIN IT FOR LATER!