Hey friends! So, Halloween is creeping up, and you know what? I realized my house was seriously lacking in spooky vibes. There are cool ghost magnets on my fridge, but what about a living room? I mean, it’s the one time of year when you get to go a little crazy with the decor, right? And I don’t know about you, but I’ve got this thing for garlands—they’re like the perfect lazy decorator’s hack. You don’t need to clear off a shelf or rearrange your entire living room, you just hang it up on a dresser, and boom, instant festive magic.
So, I thought, why not make something fun and simple—like a garland of little pom-pom spiders and ghosts? They’re a little creepy, but mostly cute. They totally fit that black-and-white Halloween aesthetic I’m obsessed with lately. Plus, it’s a great way to use up those craft supplies that I swear multiply when I’m not looking.
Materials You’ll Need
- Black and white yarn (because we’re sticking with the classic spooky vibes)
- Chenille stems (pipe cleaners) in black for the spider legs
- Craft eyes (or anything round and googly; I once used buttons because, you know, panic mode)
- A cardboard tube from a toilet paper roll (trust me, it’s essential for the ghosts)
- White macrame cord for the garland base (if you’re feeling fancy, but regular string works too)
- Hot glue (and maybe a little patience…)
Making the Pom-Pom Spiders
Okay, first off, these spiders are ridiculously easy. You just need black yarn and a pom-pom maker. If you don’t have one of those, no worries—you can wrap yarn around your hand or even a fork. I swear I’ve tried every method, and honestly, they all work.
I went with a 5.5 cm diameter for my pom-poms because I wanted my spiders to be noticeable but not, like, invade-your-shelf huge.
After making your pom-pom, cut two black chenille stems in half. These will be the legs, so you’ll have four pieces total.
Just stick them right into the pom-pom—no need to be perfect here; spiders aren’t exactly known for their symmetry, am I right? Bend them into little leg shapes.
Glue on some googly eyes.
I like to add a loop of white yarn at the top for hanging, and voilà, you’ve got yourself a spider buddy. Repeat until you’ve got an army—or, you know, enough for your garland.
Creating the Ghosts
These ghosts are so much fun, and you can whip them up faster than you’d think. Take that cardboard tube from a toilet paper roll and flatten it a bit. Wrap white yarn around it several times until you’ve got a nice, thick bundle.
Then, tie the top to make a head.
Snip the bottom loops to create a fringe. Honestly, I just cut right on the tube—it’s quicker, but if you’re worried about slicing through cardboard, you can take it off first.
The key here is to fluff it out so it actually looks ghost-like and not just like a sad mop head. I used a bit of extra yarn to form a neck.
Glue on some googly eyes. But if you’re out of those, black felt works in a pinch—just cut out some little eye shapes. Add some cute details made of black yarn and you're good to go. Oh, no, a loop at the top for hanging is also necessary.
Assembling the Garland
Here’s where it all comes together! I used a white macrame cord because it’s sturdy and holds its shape, but honestly, any string you’ve got lying around will work.
Alternate the spiders and ghosts as you string them on, starting with a spider.
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I initially planned to make a long garland for the wall, but I tried it on my dresser, and guys, it was just perfect. I ended up making a few extra spiders and ghosts and scattered them around the handles of the dresser—talk about a happy accident!.
Video Tutorial
This little project was such a fun and satisfying way to prep for Halloween. I love how the black-and-white look turned out—it’s spooky but still cute and not too over-the-top. If you’ve got kids, this would be a great one to do with them, but honestly, even if you’re just crafting solo, it’s such a chill way to get into the Halloween spirit. Plus, you can always customize it—try different colors, add some glitter, or go all out with more decorations. You can never have too many pom-pom spiders in your life, right?