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in Crafts

Yarn Ghost Garland

This no-sew yarn Halloween craft idea is a great one for everyone in the house. It’s Kid Friendly (with supervision) and inexpensive. BUT, it’s also something else…it’s one of the Halloween decorations you can make with your kids that don’t attract pests. This DIY Yarn Ghost Garland craft and Halloween decorating tips brought to you by Orkin. A bonus of this craft is that it takes up almost no space in your storage bins, and is super lightweight. Instead of using vines and fall berries to make a festive Halloween garland, try making some easy yarn ghosts instead, and keep the pests outside, where they belong! Trees, wreaths and garlands – can all bring in cockroaches, carpenter ants, aphids and mealybugs.

Yarn Ghost Garland Craft

yarn-ghost-garland-label-vert

This one is really easy to make- take some of your Yarn Ghosts (instructions below) and  tie fishing line to them (or yarn) and then slide each onto a length of twine.

 

GhostGarland2

I did a 5 foot length of twine for the mantel, and spaced them equally how I felt it looked best…and my equal spacing is very scientific…I spread my hand out and measure from index finger to thumb apart.

 

yarn-craft-ghost-garland

You might be thinking I’m a little crazy for saying that I think about making Halloween (holiday) decorations with my kids that don’t attract pests, but if you have ever found a visitor in a decoration you’d stored, or hung on your door… it’s gross.  Depending on the intruder in or on the decoration, we’ve had to toss the decoration.  Wasteful, and yuck.  How embarrassing if you were to have surprise appearance at your holiday party! Pests can contaminate food, trigger allergies and, in some cases, even spread disease. While we all love a fun and festive DIY project, you may be surprised to learn there are a number of holiday embellishments that attract unwanted bugs and critters to your home. 

What to avoid for fall holidays and why:

(The following refers to live plants, not artificial.) 

  • Pumpkins – Fruit flies eat ripened and fermenting fruit and vegetables. A carved or rotting pumpkin makes the perfect meal, and its decaying matter can also provide a breeding ground for fruit flies.
  • Hay – Blister beetles, feeding in a hay field, may accidentally be ground up when the hay is harvested. Hay stacks by your home’s entrance, could open the door for beetles to come inside.
  • Straw – Wet straw can support mold and mildew that plaster beetles eat. Scorpions can also be found in pine straw. Find another stuffer for your scarecrow.

 

easy-yarn-craft-yarn-ghosts

Yarn Ghosts

Materials:

White Yarn (Red Heart Soft White was used)

Small Miscellaneous pieces of yarn (optional)
Small Book (mine measured 9″)
Google Eyes

Wood Skewers

Fun Paper Straws

Scissors

Hot Glue

Directions:

Use a book to wrap yarn around and around and around. Wrap about 75-100 times. The less, the smaller your ghost’s head. Trim yarn. (One wrap around a book makes two ghosts)

Remove yarn from the book, being careful to keep the loops together.

Tightly tie the loops together at the ends (where they would circle the ends of the book). Double knot it. This is the head.

yarn ghost process mid

Cut the loop in half in the center (opposite the space you tied). You now have two pieces. Fold them in half at the tied center. Straighten and smooth yarn and wrap your hand around the fold to create a head.

Use another piece of white yarn to tie the head tightly. double knot.

Trim ghost as desired.

Add personality:

-google eyes with hot glue

-neck tie or hair bow with small pieces of yarn tied or hot glued

To add to stick:

Turn ghost upside down and separate the yarn a bit. Stick the pointy end of the wood skewer into the ghost’s head and then insert the paper straw over the skewer.

yarn ghost process

That’s it!

yarn ghost in cup

 

Follow these additional tips to keep critters from crashing your home over the holidays:

  • Containers storing decorations in the attic, basement or garage may also be housing rodents, spiders and cockroaches. Unpack storage containers outside or in the garage to keep pests from escaping into your home. Plastic storage bins provide the best protection because of their tight-fitting lids.
  • Food is a major lure during the holidays, attracting unwanted pests, like cockroaches, ants and rodents into your home. Store food in sealed containers. Secure trash in bags and discard frequently.
  • When the weather cools down, pests seek shelter. Prevent pests from getting inside by sealing all cracks and crevices inside and outside your home.

If you notice signs of a pest problem in your home, contact the licensed pest professionals at ORKIN for a detailed inspection and customized treatment program. http://www.orkin.com/   

Stay up to date on all things pest related: OrkinPestControlFacebook ~ OrkinPinterest ~ OrkinTwitter 

 

Orkin Logo Horizontal Tagline_BlackBe sure to check out how to  keep rodents out as fall weather comes around.

Enter to win a $100 Michael’s Gift Card so you, too, can enjoy a pest-free holiday!

I am being compensated by Orkin for my participation in this campaign through the Mom It Forward Blogger Network. 

About Brett

I'm a 40 something lifestyle blogger living in Connecticut with my husband and our 3 kids, plus our two rescue pups. We love to hike, travel, play games, watch movies, and just be outside together! Having 3 active kids makes for a hectic schedule and I try to share content, recipes and other things that can help to make today's busy family life simpler, easier, or just plain more fun!

I started working full time at a local middle school in fall 2021 and some of my students are insistent that I am mean.

Comments

  1. Erin | Suburban Simplicity says

    On the bright side, I wanted to let you know that I love this tutorial and that you’re my feature this week at Welcome Home Wednesdays! Yay! On the down side, I think you have some spam going on. Ugh. Hope to see you tomorrow!

  2. Nicole says

    The yarn ghost garland is too cute! Love it for Halloween decorations. Thank you for linking up at the #HomeMattersParty this week.

  4. Jennifer S. says

    I have an Aquaphor Lip Repair in my purse and one next to my bed. I love how it makes my lips feel.

  12. Susan Smith says

    I like the Aquaphor Lip Protectant with SPF 30. I need something to protect my lips from getting dry or chapped.

  17. Steve S says

    I use Aquaphor Gentle Body Wash. It is a mild cleanser that prevents skin irritations from soap or water

  19. Carolyn Daley says

    The Aquaphor Lip Protectant with SPF 30. I need something to protect my lips and prevent them from getting dry or chapped.

  28. Eugenia Hall says

    I haven’t tried Aquaphor yet, but now that I’ve looked at the website I’m interested in trying it.

  38. Joy says

    We use a lot of the lip balm which was recommended by our doctor because my grand daughter gets such cracked and chapped lips in the winter.

  56. Alayna says

    Cute! I love easy and inexpensive decorating ideas. I bet the kids would love to help some of these. Thanks for sharing with us at the #HomeMattersParty link party.

  68. Betsy Rubendall Barnes says

    The Aquaphor Lip Protectant + Sunscreen is a must have in our house year round 🙂

  92. Cheryl Larimer says

    I use the Aquaphor Healing Ointment advanced therapy. The jar by my bedside gets used every day to help protect from summer heat; winter cold and my super dry skin.

  102. Jackie says

    I’ve kept the healing ointment in my house since my first tattoo, when I discovered how amazing it is.

  108. Amanda B. says

    I actually don’t use Aquaphor but I checked out the website. I might try the Healing Ointment.

  109. Carolyn Benson says

    Aquaphor healing ointment is always around. Started using it for diaper rash cream when my children were small and just kept using it for whatever after that.

  118. Julie Wood says

    I like the AQUAPHOR HEALING OINTMENT! I have it at home and use it all the time! Really helps with dry skin.

  120. Sandy Weinstein says

    my favorite is the healing ointment advanced therapy. i love to put this on my feet and put socks on overnite

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