How to make stiffened starch decorations and crafts for the holidays

Don’t you just love Halloween? What a wonderful holiday! Not only is the actual day fun and exciting for children as they dress up in their favorite costumes to see how much candy they can collect, but the lead up to and anticipation of the holiday is just as thrilling! Decorating the house inside and outside is one way to play on the anticipation and can provide tons of opportunities for creative thinking and planning for families to do together. Creating spooky ghosts is an easy and goof proof activity for both kids and parents to do to add to the ghoulish atmosphere and excitement! With very few supplies and skill needed, you too can create Simpli Starch® ghosts!

All Things Needed (Ingredients):

  • Cheesecloth
  • Large glass and balloon or ball to fit in top or
  • Plastic bottle with top cut off and light bulb to fit in top
  • 3 large pipe cleaners
  • Black felt circles
  • Glue
  • 1 and ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons Simpli Starch®
  • Wax paper

Instructions:

  1. Create form of ghost by either inserting a balloon or ball into the top of a glass or inserting a light bulb into a plastic bottle with the top cut off.
  2. Twist a large pipe cleaner around the glass so that it stays. Attach pipe cleaners for the two arms. OR Twist the pipe cleaner around the base of the light bulb. Attach pipe cleaners for the two arms.
  3. Place ghost form onto wax paper.
  4. Get cup water and set aside.
  5. Add 2 tablespoons Simpli Starch® to the water in the cup of water. Mix well.
  6. Continue stirring until smooth consistency.
  7. Dip squares of cheesecloth into cooled Simpi Starch® mixture. Wring out excess.
  8. Drape cheesecloth over glass with ball or plastic bottle with light bulb.
  9. Let dry overnight.
  10. Remove ghost from form.
  11. Glue felt eyes onto ghost, if desired.

Prep Time: 30 minutes to prepare. Let dry overnight to fully stiffen.

Tags: crafts