DIY Halloween Clay Garland with Bats and Ghosts

I love DIY Halloween Decorations, and I absolutely loved making this DIY Halloween Clay Garland! I made this with little bats and ghosts and let me tell you this, i wont be touching the store-bought plastic decorations again! These clay garlands are so simple to make, let me show you, lets get crafting…

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What You’ll Need

Materials:

Air-dry clay
Rolling pin or clay roller (I used a glass)
Paper templates of ghosts and bats ( I drew my own )
Craft knife or clay cutting tools
Skewer
Acrylic paints (black, white)
Small paintbrushes
Twine or string
Clear varnish (I used nail varnish, but mod podge works too)

Tools:

Work surface covered with parchment paper
Small bowl of water

DIY Halloween Clay Garland

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Set up your crafting area with parchment paper if you don’t want to get your work surface dirty, and have a small bowl of water handy.

Step 2: Roll Your Clay

Take your air-dry clay and knead until soft. Roll the clay to about ¼ inch thickness using your rolling pin(I just used a drinking glass). Make sure its not too thick that its harder to cut through, or too thin that the pieces break and rip easily.

Step 3: Cut Your Shapes

Use your templates and trace around them with a craft knife. I made three ghosts and three bats. With a wet finger smooth over the clay and edges until everything is smoothed.

Step 4: Create Hanging Holes

While the clay is still soft, use skewer or a pointy clay tool to carefully pierce holes at the top of each ghost and bat. Make sure the holes are large enough for your chosen string.

Step 5: Let Them Dry

Place your clay shapes on a flat surface and allow them to air dry completely. This typically takes 24-48 hours depending on thickness and humidity. I tend to put my clay projects in the hot water cupboard to accelerate time.

Step 6: Paint and Decorate

Now for the fun part! Paint your pieces if needed:

Bats: If using white clay, paint them black and let dry completely
Ghosts: Paint white, and add eyes and mouth carefully and let dr

Step 7: Seal (Optional)

For extra durability seal it. I used gel clear nail polish and then set it under a UV light. Gloss mod podge works too or a paint clear varnish.

Step 8: String Your Garland

Thread your twine or ribbon through the holes, alternating bats and ghosts or creating your own pattern. Leave about 4-6 inches of space between each piece.

Creative Variations

Color Play: Try painting some ghosts in soft pastels or adding glittery accents for a less spooky, more whimsical look.

Size Variety: Make pieces in different sizes for visual interest, mixing 2-inch and 4-inch shapes.

Additional Shapes: Add pumpkins, moons, or stars to create a more elaborate Halloween scene.

Glow-in-the-Dark: Use glow-in-the-dark paint on the ghosts for an extra spooky nighttime effect.

Display Your DIY Halloween Clay Garland

Your finished garland will look fantastic:

Draped across a fireplace mantel
Hanging in a doorway or archway
Strung along a staircase banister, this is what I did!
Decorating a Halloween party backdrop

Tips for Success

Work in small batches to prevent clay from drying out while you’re shaping
Keep unused clay wrapped in plastic to maintain moisture
If clay cracks during drying, smooth with a damp finger before it’s completely dry
Store finished garland carefully by laying flat or hanging to prevent breakage

DIY Halloween Clay Garland to Conclude…

This simple clay garland is the perfect balance of spooky and elegant. The quality and durability of air dry clay garlands means it can be packed away and enjoyed for many spooky Halloweens to come. Not only that, there is something deeply more satisfying about creating decorations with your own hands. Each bat and ghost or what ever shape you decide to make will be slightly different but still beautiful. Happy Halloween and have fun creating.

If you are loving halloween DIY Decor, have a look at these tutorials, they might inspire you.

DIY Halloween Clay Garland with Bats and Ghosts

What You’ll Need