Today, I’m so excited to show you how to make the cutest Halloween decor ever—a fun and easy Air Dry Clay Ghost Tray DIY!
No spooky vibes here, just pure cuteness! This little ghost tray is perfect for holding your trinkets, keys, jewelry, or even a few candies for a sweet touch.
It’s simple and stress-free, and you’ll love how unique and adorable each ghost turns out. Ready to get started? Let’s get our hands a little clay-sy and bring these cute ghosts to life!
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If you’ve been following me for a while, you probably already know that I’m not about the spooky stuff when it comes to Halloween. I don’t do scary, but I still LOVE the celebration! So, for a while now, I’ve been transforming Halloween into a much cuter occasion in my home.
And let me tell you, I’m totally obsessed with cute ghosts this year!
This little Air Dry Clay Ghost Tray is just one of the many DIY Ghost Crafts Decorations I’ve been creating to make my home a little more fun and festive.
In fact, I made this tray with some air-dry clay left over from another project—The Air Dry Clay Ghosts. You totally have to check them out; they’re the cutest ghost couple ever, complete with flowers and a pink pumpkin! (I mean, how could you not fall in love with them?!)
So, if you are ready, let’s check out the materials for this project.
DIY Air Dry Clay Ghost Tray- Step-by-step Tutorial
Materials You’ll Need
- Air-dry clay (any color, but white works best for ghosts!)
- A rolling pin (or something similar to flatten the clay)
- Black acrylic paint (for the eyes and mouth)
- Pink and purple acrylic paint (if you want to add some blush cheeks)
- A small paintbrush
- Plastic knife or clay cutter (to shape your ghost)
- Water in a small dish or spray bottle (for smoothing the clay)
- Clear sealant or white glue (optional, for a glossy finish)
Shaping Your Little Ghost
Just a heads up, if you need some extra help with using air-dry clay for the first time, you can check out my other air-dry clay ghost project on the blog for more tips and tricks.
It’s time to bring our ghost to life! I used half of the package of air-dry clay for this part, along with a regular kitchen rolling pin to roll it out. I rolled it until it was about ⅜” thick.
Work the clay with your hands until it was soft and easy to handle. I decided to go for a classic sheet-shaped ghost this time, so I didn’t add any arms.
To create that signature wavy bottom, I used a cutter knife to gently carve out the shape, then smoothed the edges with my fingers to make it look neat and polished. Be sure to save any leftover clay you trim off after cutting out your ghost—we’re going to use it later!
Store the excess clay in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag so it doesn’t dry out before we get to the next step.
Creating the Tray Shape
Now that our ghost is cut out, it’s time to turn it into a tray!
First, remember to keep spraying the clay with water to prevent it from drying out too fast while we work.
I started by gently pinching the edges of the ghost upwards to form a lifted edge all around, giving it that shallow bowl shape. If some parts of the tray walls look a little thin, don’t worry! You can always add more clay where needed.
Fixing imperfections
The same goes for cracks or uneven edges, after the clay is completely dry you can start adding more to patch up these areas.
I rolled out thin strips of leftover clay (remember that extra clay we saved?) and pressed them onto the thinner areas, smoothing them out with my fingers to blend everything together.
Whenever you see cracks and imperfections just wet that part and then add a little bit more clay and smooth it out with your fingers.
You can also sand all the tray to get a better finish before painting it.
Don’t stress if your tray isn’t perfectly shaped—imperfections add to the charm of a handmade project!
Adding Personality By Painting The Face
Now for the really fun part—giving your ghost its adorable face! But just FYI, you don’t have to do cute like I did!!
Before you start painting, it’s a great idea to Google “ghost faces” and get inspired. There are so many different ways you can paint your ghost tray’s face, you can even do something spooky if cute isn’t your vibe. Just do whatever speaks to you!
Once you’ve got your design in mind, grab your acrylic paint and a very thin paintbrush for those delicate details.
I went for a sweet, simple expression with two black eyes and a tiny surprised mouth.
A little pink blush on the cheeks can add a cute touch (unfortunately, I didn’t have pink paint this time), or you could try something more playful with stars, hearts, or even a winking ghost.
Now comes the hardest part—waiting for your cute little ghost to dry completely! Depending on the thickness, it might take 24-48 hours to harden fully. So, grab a cup of tea or coffee, relax, and let your ghost tray take shape.
Finishing Touches
Now that your ghost tray is painted and dried, it’s time to decide on the finishing touches! If you want to give your tray a shiny finish, there are several options to choose from. You can use a clear sealant, Modge Podge, or an acrylic spray coating for that glossy look.
If you prefer to keep it simple, a basic coat of white glue works just as well—that’s what I did for mine, and it turned out lovely!
If you’re planning to use your tray for holding food, it’s important to look for a food-safe coating to ensure it’s safe to use with snacks or treats.
There are plenty of options available, so a little research can help you find the best one for your needs.
Displaying and Taking Care of Your Air Dry Clay Ghost Tray DIY
And just like that, your Air Dry Clay Ghost Tray is ready to shine! You can use it to hold keys, jewelry, or even as a cute dish for wrapped Halloween candies. It’s an adorable addition to your dresser, entryway table, or even your work desk.
Don’t forget to treat it gently—although air-dry clay is pretty strong, it’s a good idea to keep it away from water and heavy stuff. Just give it a little dusting every now and then to keep your ghost tray looking fabulous and adorably spooky!
I would love to see your finished creations, so please share pictures of your ghost tray with us on My Golden Thimble’s Facebook page or any other social network you prefer. It always makes my day to see the creative twists you bring to these projects! And don’t forget to save this post on Pinterest for future reference, just in case you want to make more ghostly fun next year.
Thanks for crafting with me, and I hope you enjoy your new little ghost friend as much as I do!
