Halloween Paper Chains: Ghosts and Pumpkins
Step 1 of 10
Cut a long strip of white paper. An A4 sheet cut in half the long way is perfect.
Video step by step
If a picture is hard to follow, watch every fold here. Pause and rewind as often as you need.
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Free printable paper chain template
Print a ghost strip and a pumpkin strip with the fold lines and the shapes already drawn. Just fold, cut and open!
Download the free PDFPaper chains for Halloween
These Halloween paper chains are a fun kirigami craft, like the classic paper doll chain, but spooky: a row of ghosts holding hands and a pumpkin garland with jack-o'-lantern faces. You fold a strip of paper like an accordion, draw one half shape, cut, and open it. Every layer becomes a new ghost or pumpkin, all joined together.
The secret is simple: the shape must touch both folds. Where it touches the fold, do not cut, because that is where the ghosts hold hands. A longer strip makes a longer garland, and you can tape several chains together to go all around the room.
Kids can make it with the help of their parents. You can teach your child together: watch the video, follow the step-by-step pictures and make your chains side by side.
Ideas for your Halloween garlands
- Window garland: white ghosts look great against a dark window at night.
- Party decoration: hang ghost and pumpkin chains in turns along the wall or the table.
- Classroom craft: every child makes one chain, and together they go all around the classroom.
- Other shapes: try bats, cats or witch hats with the same folding trick.
- More Halloween crafts: add a paper spider web and some twirling spiral ghosts.
Want to know if the famous Jack Skellington paper spider snowflake trick really works? I tested it here.
Questions
How do you make a Halloween paper doll chain?
Fold a long strip of paper like an accordion, draw half a ghost or pumpkin on the top layer so the hands touch the folds, cut it out and open it. Or print the free ghost and pumpkin paper chain template on this page.
How do you make a paper chain of ghosts?
Fold a long strip of paper back and forth like an accordion, draw half a ghost with its middle on one fold and its arm touching the other fold, cut through all layers, and open it.
Is there a printable paper chain template?
Yes. Download the free A4 template on this page: it has a ghost strip and a pumpkin strip with the fold lines and shapes already drawn.
Why does my paper chain fall apart?
The shape must touch both folded edges, and you must not cut where it touches. If you cut there, the ghosts or pumpkins come apart.
What paper is best for paper chains?
Normal printer paper or coloured paper. Very thick paper is hard to cut through many layers.
How long does it take?
About 10 minutes for one chain.