It’s nice to finally have Halloween around the corner, but with Halloween comes having to decide which Halloween decorations to adopt. If you’re familiar with TikTok, then you’ve probably seen an interesting Halloween decoration flying around. It’s called the Tomato Cage Ghost.
As the name implies, these are simply ghosts made with tomato cages. Tomato cage ghosts have always been used for Halloween celebrations, but recently, they’ve become even more popular. You’re probably curious as to why this is the case. There are a bunch of possible reasons but mostly it’s because they are easy to make and affordable.
The materials you need are easily accessible and you don’t need any advanced technical knowledge to put it together. For example, if you don’t have a tomato cage, a brand like VEVOR has the perfect tomato cage structure so all you have to do is buy one. Even better, you can still use it for your garden anyway. So, let’s get straight into showing you how to make a ghost out of a tomato cage.
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Materials Needed for Making a Tomato Cage Ghost
We already disclosed that the materials you need to make a perfect DIY ghost tomato cage Halloween decoration are easily sourced and won’t cost you much. You probably already have some of them lying around the house.
Basic Materials for Your Tomato Cage Ghost
You need the following materials to make a basic tomato cage ghost:
- Tomato cage: Your ghost needs a skeleton and this is perfect for it. If you have one in your garden, perfect. If you don’t, you can easily order one from VEVOR.
- White fabric or plastic: This is for the ghost’s body. It’s best to choose lightweight material since you’ll need to drape it over the cage.
- LED string lights: This will give your ghost a glowing effect that comes in handy, especially at night.
- Balloons or Styrofoam: This will serve as the head of your ghost.
- Zip ties or adhesive: You need this to secure the fabric and lights to the cage.
Those are the materials you need to make a basic tomato cage ghost, but if you’re up to it, you can take it to the next level by adding some more materials to it.
Recommended For Your Project
Optional Add-ons for a Spooky Effect
If you want to take your DIY ghost tomato cage to the next level, these are the extra materials you need:
- Glow-in-the-dark spray: You need to have this if you want an extra ghostly glow effect. Especially if you won’t be using the lights.
- DIY Ghost Eyes and Mouth Cutouts: Use cardboard or black felt to create a creepy face for your tomato ghost cage. How creepy it turns out is entirely down to your creativity.
- Extra lights: Wrapping more lights around your ghost will amplify its glowing effect and make it stand out even more.
As soon as you have all these materials in place, you’re ready to start creating your own tomato ghost cages.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make a Ghost Out of a Tomato Cage
Now that you have all the materials you need, let’s get into the process itself. You’ll need to adhere to the following tomato cage ghost instructions. We’ve curated it in a logical manner, so if you do not skip any of the steps, you will have your DIY Halloween tomato cage ghost ready to scare your neighbors. Let’s get to the first step.
Step 1 – Preparing the Tomato Cage
Not surprisingly, the first step in how to make a tomato cage ghost is preparing the cage itself. It’s the bedrock of the entire process, therefore a huge part of the outcome will depend on it.
- Start out by cleaning the tomato cage if it has already been used in your garden.
- Next, wipe off any dirt or debris to ascertain that the materials stick properly.
- Now stand the cleaned tomato cage upside down and in a way that places the wider end at the top.
- Secure the legs of the cage—you could tie them too— together at the top using the zip ties you procured to create a stable base.
This structure is basically the body of your ghost. It will serve as the solid framework to hold the body in place, just like a human skeleton.
Step 2 – Forming the Ghost Body
You’ve set up the skeleton for a tomato cage witch or ghost, now you need to carry out the next step towards creating your scary Halloween monster— forming the body. Grab hold of your white fabric or plastic and drape it over the tomato cage. Do it in such a way that the fabric or plastic is completely covering the cage and flowing, to give it the appearance of a floating ghost.
Don’t forget to smooth out the fabric evenly after draping it over the ghost cage, before securing it in place using the adhesive or zip ties. Do this at both the top and the base of the tomato cage. This will ensure everything remains in place even if you have to move the ghost from one place to another. This would really come in handy if you’re having a Halloween party and need to move your ghost from the tomato cage outdoors.
Step 3 – Creating the Ghost Head
By now, your tomato ghost cage has a skeleton and a body, but the head is exactly where it starts to get really scary. You need the head to bring it to life and here’s how:
- First, inflate a balloon or use a Styrofoam to form the head.
- Next, place the head gently but firmly on top of the tomato cage and drape the fabric over it.
- Now, keep adjusting until your ghost has a rounded spooky shape.
Use tape, zip ties, or adhesive to secure the head in place.
Step 4 – Adding Lights for a Glow-in-the-Dark Effect
What’s a tomato ghost cage if it can’t scare anyone in the dark? You want your ghost to have that classic glowing ghost effect, so wrap LED string lights around it. Start from the very top and work your way down so the light shines through the fabric, giving it an eerie glow at night.
TIP: For an extra spooky touch, you should consider attaching lights to both the ghost’s mouth and eyes. Now your basic ghost with tomato cage is almost ready to make an appearance!
Creative Decoration Ideas for Your Tomato Cage Ghost
Now that you know how to make a ghost using a tomato cage it’s time to get super creative. The tomato ghost cage is making a wave out there and many people are exploring the most creative ways to make theirs stand out. You don’t want to be the odd one out, therefore it’s time to get creative by mapping out a concept for yours.
It’s your Halloween aesthetic and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t represent your ideas. There are a number of ways to customize your DIY ghost tomato cage to fit into your selected concept or theme, here are some of them:
Ghost Variations: Making Your Decoration Stand Out
Yes, many people will be using white for their tomato cage Halloween decorations, but you don’t have to be most people. Why not try experimenting with different colors to create a distinct look? For example, some DIY Halloween decoration enthusiasts use black fabric to create a witch effect. If you have other decorations, you could use contrasting colors.
Adding props can also increase the spooky factor of your tomato ghost cage. Consider placing skeleton hands under the ghost’s fabric to make it look like they’re reaching out, or position pumpkins at the base to give your ghost a playful vibe. These touches may be subtle, but they will make your ghosts with tomato cages stand out from typical yard decorations.
Creating a Ghost Family: Using Multiple Tomato Cages
A standalone tomato ghost is a spooky sight but guess what’s better? A ghost family! You can create multiple tomato cages and give them a semblance of familial ties by using tomato cages of different sizes and heights. VEVOR’s range of tomato cage products has different sizes that can help you make this possible. Place the cages at different angles around your yard to create the concept of an eerie gathering of spirits. You can make taller ghosts loom over the smaller ones to add more depth and visual interest to your display.
To make the atmosphere even more spooky, place the ghosts at strategic locations such as your front porch, garden, or pathways. Use a combination of lighting techniques such as adding extra LED lights—to further highlight each ghost and cast spooky shadows to the existing glowing effect at night. If you manage to get your creative juices flowing while coming up with the concept, your DIY ghost with tomato cage setup will become the talk of the neighborhood this Halloween!
Where to Place Your Tomato Cage Ghosts for Maximum Impact
Beyond the creativity you put into getting the aesthetics of your ghosts made with tomato cages right, the simple art of positioning can elevate your final work. Here are some tips to help you:
Best Locations for Outdoor Ghost Displays
The front yard is a classic spot for outdoor ghosts with tomato cage displays. Place it near the walkway or along your front porch to welcome your trick-or-treaters. Gardens also make an excellent location. Your ghosts can appear to float above the plants.
Lighting will also help maximize the spookiness. Wrap LED lights under the cage or place them underneath the fabric to give it a glowing effect after dark. You can highlight the ghost head or eyes with separate lights to make it extra creepy.
Indoor Display Ideas for a Tomato Cage Ghost
If you want to bring the Halloween vibe indoors, smaller ghosts from tomato cages can be placed on tabletops or by entryways. Use battery-operated LED lights to safely illuminate your indoor Halloween decorations using tomato ghosts without worrying about wires. Be sure to secure the fabric and cage to avoid any accidents or damage to indoor surfaces, and enjoy the spooky addition to your home décor.
Maintenance Tips for Your Tomato Cage Ghost
Taking care of your ghost made from a tomato cage will help it remain spooky throughout the Halloween season and even beyond. With some maintenance and preparation, your ghost can survive the elements and be ready to scare again next year.
Keeping Your Ghost Intact Through the Halloween Season
You need to safeguard your tomato cage Halloween decorations from blowing away or being damaged by the weather. To do this, you must secure the materials properly using zip ties or strong adhesive to keep the fabric in place, particularly if you live in a windy area. For outdoor displays, consider applying a waterproofing spray to the fabric. It will help it resist rain and moisture.
Storing Your Ghost for Future Use
After Halloween, you can easily take apart your ghost for future use. Remove the fabric carefully and fold it to avoid wrinkles. Store the lights separately to prevent tangling. Keeping the tomato cage intact makes it easier to reassemble next year since you already know how to make ghosts out of tomato cages. When stored properly, your materials will be ready to help you make a ghost out of a tomato cage again, saving both time and money next Halloween.
Summary: Create Your Spooky Tomato Cage Ghost Today
Making a tomato cage ghost is cost-effective, fun, and a simple way to add a haunting vibe to your Halloween decorations. The steps listed in this article are easy to follow and your own creativity can make it even better.
Whether you’re crafting a single ghost or an entire eerie family, DIY ghost decorations will make your home stand out this Halloween. Ready to get started? Explore any of the tomato cages from VEVOR’s range of products to help bring your spooky visions to life and elevate your DIY Halloween décor with style and ease!
