Stinky Ghost

I've looked over a lot of different Halloween craft ideas this month.  Partly because they can be fun, but mostly because these shameful presidential debates are taking over my DVR's regularly scheduled programs.  I'd rather do something meaningful and productive like glue pieces of cotton to construction paper and lather it with glitter than watch these two candidates dance around questions.  Enough about politics, I want to talk about what we made last night...a Stinky Ghost.

 You'll need:

Construction Paper (Black)
Scissors
Paint/Glue
Paintbrush
Glitter
Pompoms/Googly Eyes
A child's foot (preferably still attached to child)



First you need to get your child into a position where they will not be able to squirrel around too much. So have them sit in a chair and wiggle their toes.  Now would be a good time to sniff your child's foot to make sure it stinks.  Scent is a crucial component of a stinky ghost.

Yep, it stinks.

Now that the smell is there, it's time to work on the ghost.  Squeeze some paint or glue onto the smelly foot.  We used glue because my daughter loves glitter and glitter sticks to glue.  Use your paintbrush to spread the paint/glue around the foot.  Be sure to get the toes covered too.  If your child is ticklish (mine are) this can get really messy, but it also makes it more fun.

When you're done slathering on the paint, place the foot on some construction paper.  If you're using white paint/glue, it's best to use black paper.  Have your child press his/her foot down hard and then lift it up.  You now have the beginnings of a proper Stinky Ghost.

If you laid the glue on thick enough you could stop here.  Most glues dry clear, but if you have a thick layer, it will dry white like a ghost.  Let your paint (or thick glue) dry and then you're ready to decorate.  If you have a thin layer of glue that is going to dry clear, get to decorating.  Don't let that baby dry out.

My daughter decided that instead of a white ghost, she wanted a red glittery one, a ghost with style.  Instead of letting the glue dry, we proceeded to pour the entire contents of a tube of glitter onto the ghost.  Next you want to add some eyes.  Have your kid glue some pompoms or googly eyes to the ghost's head.  Then have them squeeze some black paint onto the ghost for a mouth.

Now, if only we had pink, blue, and orange glitter we could make Pinky, Inky, and Clyde too.