Tomato Cage Ghost DIY with Free Templates ♥ Fleece Fun

Halloween is just around the corner, and I’m already thinking about ways to make my home feel festive without breaking the bank. One of my favorite things to do is repurpose everyday items to create DIY decorations, and this year I’m using something that’s probably sitting in your garage right now—a tomato cage! It’s perfect for making a friendly tomato cage ghost DIY that’s both charming and a little spooky. And you don’t need a ton of materials or complicated instructions.

Step-by-step guide to making a Tomato Cage Ghost with fleecefun and free template and tutorial

I’ve always loved the idea of adding personal, handmade touches to my Halloween décor. Store-bought decorations are fun, but there’s something special about creating your own. Plus, you can customize it however you like—whether you want a sweet, smiling ghost or something a little more eerie. So grab that tomato cage, and let’s get making! You’ll have a ghostly new friend floating in your yard in no time.

Easy Halloween ghost made from a tomato cage with fleecefun and free template and tutorial

YOU WILL NEED:

You can use gauze, cheesecloth, tulle, an old sheet, or just plain white cotton cloth.)

A round tomato cage in the size you desire
A Styrofoam ball
Zip ties
White lights (can be plug in or battery powered)
White fabric
Black felt or foam
T pins
glue gun
Scissors
Fleece Fun’s free pdf template and SVG files (available here)

Tomato Cage Ghost DIY

Step 1 – Prep the Tomato cage for your ghost

Preparing the tomato cage base for your ghost with fleece fun and free template and tutorial

I wanted to make my trio of ghosts different heights and sometimes this year you don’t have a lot tomato cages to choose from. So I opted to get three tomato cage ghost DIY of the same height and cut down two of them.

Spooky and fun Tomato Cage Ghost DIY using fleecefun and free template and tutorial

To cut them down use a hack saw or bold cutters and cut just below the the ring to give it a sturdy base. Then use a metal file to get rid of any sharp edges.

Getting the tomato cage ready for your ghost decoration with fleecefun and free template and tutorial

Then use a metal file to get rid of any sharp edges if desired.

Start your Tomato Cage Ghost project by prepping the frame with fleecefun’s free template and tutorial

Taking the three stakes bind them together near the top using a zip tie (or a few really sturdy rubber bands).

How to prepare the tomato cage for the ghost decoration using fleecefun and free template and tutorial

Once nicely cinched cut down the ties.

use a Styrofoam ball on top of your cage.

If you’re using plugin lights you can just push the Styrofoam ball on to the top of your cage.

If you’re using lights with a battery zip tie the pack near the bottom of the tomato cage.

wrap lights around the cage of the tomato cage ghost DIY

Now begin to wrap the lights around the tomato cage ghost.

use t pins to anchor the lights to the styro foam ball

You can also use a few t-pins to anchor the lights to the Styrofoam ball.

attention

Use the T part of the pin to hold the wire in place – never push a pin through an electrical wire.

Step 2 – Cover the Tomato Cage Ghost

Covering the Tomato Cage Ghost with fabric using fleecefun’s free template and tutorial

You can just plop a square piece of white cloth on top and be done with the project, nothing wrong with that! I like to give my ghost a little more texture. Taking a piece of white cotton cloth, snip a slit on one side of the cloth and tear a strip of cloth along the width of the fabric.

Step 2 of Tomato Cage Ghost DIY: adding the fabric with fleecefun’s free template and tutorial

It’s fun and it gets some aggression out. So really it’s a win, win.

Draping fabric over the tomato cage to create the ghost with fleecefun and free template and tutorial

Once you have your strips you can start layering them on top of the styrofoam ball or head of the tomato cage ghost.

How to cover the Tomato Cage Ghost with fleecefun’s easy-to-follow template and tutorial

Continue to add layers as desired.

Creating the ghost’s shape by covering the tomato cage with fleecefun’s free template and tutorial

Secure the layers with a pin on top of the ball.

Next I added a layer of cheese cloth and some spooky white netting I found at my local craft store.

Adjust the layers of cloth as needed to get just the look you want.

Step 3 – Add the Eyes to the Ghost

Adding eyes to your Tomato Cage Ghost with fleecefun’s free template and tutorial

I love a template and easy to cut out SVG file. So I have the free files available to you! Plus who can resist making a ghost with lashes?!

Step 3 of Tomato Cage Ghost DIY: attaching the eyes with fleecefun and free template and tutorial

I have mouths and eyes. I opted just for the eyes. If you cut out the lashes eye, just flip the pattern over to get the mirror image.

Finally Add the eyes to the Tomato Cage Ghost. Secure in place with pins or a glue gun.

Quick Tip

If you use pins on the eyes, use a black sharpie to color the top so it will blend in with the black felt.

Now your tomato cage ghost is ready to haunt your front porch. You can of course add things like a witch hat or a mini top hat or flowers to dress up your ghost.