Printable Spiral Ghosts

Last updated on October 22nd, 2026 at 03:48 am

Free Printable Hanging Spiral Ghosts

Originally published in 2014 (then copied all over the internet), this free printable spiral ghost project is now completely revised and expanded for October 2026. You’ll find the original spiral ghost still available, but also a free PDF download with four new designs, updated instructions and original craft photography.

A few sheets of paper, scissors, and thread are all you need to make these floating Halloween ghosts.

Print the free pattern, decorate and cut the spirals, then hang them individually or together as a spooky ghost mobile.

Each of these free printable spiral hanging ghosts prints out on one piece of paper.

Providing you are using the original links to this page -so people can print my own images from my own page for personal or classroom use – you may print as many as you wish for personal or your own classroom use; just print, cut them out, then hang them up for Halloween.

*Please do not reproduce or link to my own images directly. Link to this page, and you obey the law and make me happy. 🙂 *

by Jane Lake

Skill: Easy. Basic cutting skills and ability to follow directions.

Time: 20 minutes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Supplies Needed:

» Printed Spiral Ghost Pattern

» scissors

» black marker

» small hole paper punch (or something to punch a small hole at the top of each ghost)

» light colored sewing thread or invisible thread

» small vine wreath, two twigs tied in a cross, embroidery hoop, wire clothes hanger, or another DIY option to hang the ghosts from.

Print the ghost pattern. Print one ghost per sheet, or select a smaller print size for some variety.

Cut out the ghost. Cut around its outside outline, then follow the spiral line toward the centre. Take care not to cut across the spiral.

Finish the face. Draw eyes on the reverse side so your ghosts have faces when they turn. Have some fun! Here’s where you can make these ghosts entirely your own – scary, friendly, happy, sad, spooky – it all depends on how you draw the faces!

Attach the hanging thread. Punch a small hole at the top and tie on a 6–8-inch length of thread.a

Make the mobile frame. Use a vine wreath, embroidery hoop, or crossed twigs.

Hang the ghosts. Tie the ghosts at different positions, adjusting the lengths and balance so the spirals hang freely.

Print and cut out as many ghosts as you would like. 

Suggestion:  I printed two ghosts at the actual size of the picture that I drew, then I used my computer to reduce the image size for the third one, so that one of the ghosts is smaller than the other two.

You can do the same if you know how to with changing image sizes on your own computer.  If not, don’t worry, because full-size images work well too.

Prepare the Ghosts and the Mobile Support

Turn each ghost over to the wrong side.  You should be able to see the printed eyes showing through from the other side.  Trace over the eyes with black marker, so  you now have eyes on both sides.

Punch a tiny hole at the top of each ghost.  Cut a six to eight inch piece of thread for each ghost and thread it through the hole.  Tie the ends of the thread together.

Choose the support for your mobile.  I used a homemade vine wreath, but lots of other things would work instead. Two twigs or dowels tied together in a cross shape would be good for four or more ghosts; a wire coat hanger, embroidery hoop or a disposable foam or paper plate are other possibilities.

If necessary, add one or more supporting threads to the top of the mobile. This is what you will use to suspend the mobile from a hook.  The amount of threads you need will depend upon the shape of your mobile. My vine wreath needed three thin support strings tied at equal distances around my wreath, then tied together at the top to make a hanger.

Attach the Ghosts and Hanging the Mobile

Tie each of the ghosts to your mobile, keeping them more or less the same distance apart.

Hang the ghostly mobile from a hook that is high enough to allow the ghosts to flow freely beneath it.

If needed, make adjustments to the support threads, or add a little weight such as a small piece of plasticine or play dough so the mobile is evenly balanced.

You will find that these paper ghosts are lightweight enough to move with any air flow.  They twist and dance in a delightful way.  To give each ghost its own personality, you can pull out and twist the spiralling tails in slightly different ways.  For instance, try leaving one tail rather tightly wound, but gently pull out another one until it is fully extended.  For even more variety, try drawing your own ghost shape with a similar spiral tail.