DIY Tomato Cage Ghosts: Easy, Budget-Friendly Halloween Decor for Your Yard
Creating glowing ghosts from garden scraps — the ultimate upcycled Halloween magic!
If you’ve been around My Carolina Homestead for a while, you know we love decorations that don’t break the bank orclutter the planet. Every season, I challenge myself to use what’s already lying around the house or garden to create something new and fun with the kids.
This Halloween, we turned our leftover tomato cages from the summer garden into glowing ghosts — and honestly, I’m obsessed. These cute little specters light up our yard at night and add the perfect mix of spooky and sweet to our family-friendly display. Plus, they’ve now become a must-have part of our Halloween setup every year.
Why We Love This DIY
Not only is this one of the easiest Halloween crafts you can make, but it’s also incredibly sustainable. Instead of buying new décor, you’re repurposing garden tools that would otherwise sit unused all winter.
And if you’ve got kids, this project is a win-win:
🖐️ Easy enough for them to help.
✨ Involves lights (and we all know how kids feel about glowing things).
🌎 Teaches the value of creativity and reuse.
Materials You’ll Need
Most of these are things you probably already have on hand:
1 tomato cage (any size works, but tall ones look extra spooky!)
1 sheer white curtain, tablecloth, or old sheet (thrifted is perfect!)
1 strand of white, warm, or colored LED string lights
Black felt or construction paper, or HTV (for ghost face)
Styrofoam Sphere to help shape the head
Zip ties or twist ties (to secure the cage)
Optional: small battery pack if your lights aren’t solar or plug in
Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Flip Your Tomato Cage & Add Half Sphere
Turn the cage upside down so the wide base is on top and the pointy ends are at the bottom. Secure the three wire tips together at the top with a zip tie or twist tie. Securely place the halved sphere on top of the tomato cage prongs. This will create your “ghost head” shape.
2️⃣ Add the Lights
Starting at the top, wrap your string lights around the cage evenly. You can go for a tight wrap for a brighter glow or keep them spaced for a subtle shimmer.
(Tip: If your lights have a plug, make sure to position it toward the bottom so it’s easy to plug in outside.)
3️⃣ Drape Your Fabric
Lay your curtain, tablecloth, or sheet over the cage so it falls naturally. Adjust until it feels flowy and ghost-like. I like to use sheer curtains because the lights shine beautifully through at night.
4️⃣ Give Your Ghost a Face
We use the Cricut and HTV to add a face to our ghost but if you don’t have these materials and tools handy you can easily cut out eyes and a mouth from black felt or paper and attach them to the fabric with glue dots or tape. You can go cute or spooky
5️⃣ Light It Up!
Plug in or turn on your lights and watch your ghost come to life. Ours glow just bright enough to light the walkway without being too scary.
💡 Bonus Tips & Variations
Use white or colored lights (purple ) for a different spooky glow.
Add a hat, bow tie, or scarf for personality.
Stake them in your garden or line your driveway for an adorable haunted entrance.
Group three different sizes together for a little ghost “family.”
Storage & Reuse
At the end of the season, remove the fabric and fold it neatly for next year. Wrap up your lights and store them inside the tomato cage to save space if necessary— it’s the easiest way to keep everything together for next time!
We’ve used the same ghosts for three years now, and they still look brand new.
A Touch of Homestead Magic
What I love most about these tomato cage ghosts is how they blend the homestead life with simple seasonal fun. They’re proof that you don’t need fancy décor or big budgets to create something beautiful — just a little imagination and a few garden leftovers.
It’s the kind of project that reminds me why I love this lifestyle so much: making memories, reusing resources, and finding joy in the simple things.
If you make your own tomato cage ghosts, tag me on Instagram @my_carolina_homestead — I’d love to see your spooky creations!