DIY Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost Sensory Bottle

Here’s a fun, glowing ghost Halloween DIY toy and decoration that kids from toddlers to teens will love!

This friendly, glowing ghost Halloween sensory bottle doubles as a luminary, lantern, or festive, ghostly Halloween decoration. This easy DIY sensory bottle makes a fun Halloween party favor and toy that kids can use for sensory play. You can also create friendly ghost crafts and decorations to complement it!

My daughter has always loved everything about Halloween. Since the glow-in-the-dark Halloween pumpkin sensory bottle I made her was a hit, I figured she would also enjoy a glowing ghost luminary. So, I made this glow-in-the-dark ghost bottle craft for her. She loved it–Boo! I’ll bet your kids will, too! First published on October 26, 2016, this post is regularly updated to improve its content and keep it current. You might also enjoy these Halloween Art Projects for kids and adults.

Related: Halloween Pumpkin Salt Painting

Why Make a Glowing Ghost Sensory Bottle?

A glowing ghost sensory bottle combines a simple Halloween craft with sensory play and a festive decoration! With its friendly face and soft glow, this little ghost offers a playful way to enjoy the season without making everything spooky.

• Invite sensory exploration: Children can gently turn the bottle and watch the glow-in-the-dark loom bands move through the water.
• Create a quiet moment: Some children may enjoy watching the glowing bottle during a break from Halloween excitement. Follow your child’s lead—sensory preferences vary, and others may prefer a different quiet activity.
• Encourage creativity: Give each ghost its own personality with a silly smile, surprised mouth, or mismatched eyes.
• Spark curiosity: Charge the loom bands under a light, then move the bottle into a dark space to observe the glow. Invite children to notice how it changes over time.
• Reuse an everyday item: Transform an empty plastic water bottle into a Halloween craft you can display and enjoy.
• Decorate for Halloween: Make one friendly ghost or a whole family to brighten a party table with a gentle glow.

It’s a little ghost with plenty of possibilities for Halloween fun, as shown in the photo below.

How to Make a Friendly Glowing Ghost Sensory Bottle:

Gather the recommended craft supplies below, then follow the step-by-step instructions in the next section to create glowing ghost sensory bottles to entertain young children on Halloween night. For more information about DIY sensory bottles and their uses, check out Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101.

Glow-in-the-Dark Ghost DIY Halloween Sensory Bottle Supplies:

• Empty plastic water bottle (from the recycling bin) or a mason jar.
• Goo Gone (optional)to remove label adhesive on the bottle if needed
• White glow-in-the-dark loom bands
• Water (tap or distilled)
• Choose from the following materials to create a face on the ghost sensory bottle:
  • Permanent marker
  • Black construction paper, scissors, and glue or glue tape.
  • Scissors and black duct tape or electrical tape (You can also wrap duct tape around the lid to help seal it shut if desired)
• Super glue to glue the lid shut.
• White glow stick (optional) to make the ghost bottle glow even more.
• Blacklight flashlight (optional) to shine on the bottle.

For a sensory bottle that children will handle, choose a lightweight plastic bottle. Reserve glass jars for decorations placed out of children’s reach. On Halloween night, use a black light or pop a glow stick into the glow-in-the-dark ghost loom bands to make them glow even brighter.

Charge the glow-in-the-dark loom bands under a light or in sunlight, then take the bottle into a dark room to see the glow. The glow gradually fades, and the bands need to be recharged with light. A black light creates a different viewing effect when it shines on the bottle. An optional glow stick provides its own temporary light; it does not recharge like the loom bands.

Use this ghost as a decorative accent rather than a light for steps or walkways. It creates a subtle glow, making it a Halloween luminary decoration, but not a bright one that helps trick-or-treaters see well in the dark. Or try making one of these gorgeous glowing DIY Halloween Lanterns.

DIY Glowing Ghost Sensory Bottle Step-by-Step Directions:

Gather the sensory bottle DIY supplies from the list above and follow the directions below to make this easy Halloween sensory bottle ghost craft and decoration. An adult should handle the glue and securely seal the finished sensory bottle before giving it to a young child. Keep loose loom bands out of children’s reach, supervise their use, and inspect the bottle and lid for damage before each use.

Related: Halloween Ghost Craft and Decoration

1. Clean the empty water bottle or mason jar:

• To make this Halloween sensory bottle, use a recycled plastic water bottle or a glass Mason canning jar with a lid.
• Peel off the sticker (if there is one) and use Goo Gone to remove any sticky residue, if needed.

2. Fill the empty plastic bottle or jar halfway up with water:

• Fill the empty plastic water bottle or mason jar halfway with water.

3. Add white glow-in-the-dark loom bands to the sensory bottle DIY:

• Drop white glow-in-the-dark loom bands into the recycled bottle or jar.
• I used the whole bag of white loom bands to make the Halloween ghost sensory bottle shown in the photographs.
• Sensory bottles like this glowing ghost calm-down jar look best when they are filled with loom bands.

4. Top Halloween sensory bottle craft off with water:

• Fill the bottle to the top with water. 
• Fill it to the top so no air remains in the bottle.

5. Put the lid on the ghost sensory bottle:

• Place the lid on the plastic bottle or glass jar, but don’t glue it shut yet.

6. Add a ghost FAce onto the DIY Halloween sensory bottle:

Choose one of the following options to create a face for the ghost sensory bottle:

• Use a black permanent marker to draw a simple ghost face onto the outside of the Halloween ghost sensory bottle DIY, as shown in the photographs for this post.
• Use scissors to cut pieces of black construction paper into an oval shape for the ghost’s eyes and a larger oval or amoeba-like shape for the open mouth. Then glue them onto the sensory bottle.
• Cut pieces of black duct tape (or electrical tape) with scissors to make the ghost’s eyes and mouth. Then, stick these tape pieces onto the bottle where you want the ghost’s face to be.

If your toddlers or preschoolers peel the construction paper or duct tape ghost face off the bottle, use Goo Gone to remove any remaining sticky residue, then add a new face if desired. You can also use this technique to remove the face and use it as a glow-in-the-dark loom band sensory bottle after Halloween.

7. Secure the lid on the glowing ghost sensory bottle:

• For a sensory bottle intended for children, have an adult secure the lid with an adhesive suitable for the bottle and cap, such as super glue, following the manufacturer’s directions. Let the adhesive cure fully before use, then confirm the lid cannot be opened.
• This will ensure it remains closed and prevent a curious toddler from spilling the contents.
• Put a white glow stick in the ghost jar at some point. If you want to replace glow sticks, use a separate jar as an adult-managed decoration and keep it out of children’s reach. Leaving it unglued ensures that you can remove the glow stick when it loses its charge and replace it with a new one.
• Alternatively, you can wrap duct tape around the lid to secure it to the top of the bottle, or use a combination of duct tape and glue. If you remove the tape, use Goo Gone to remove sticky residue.

Related: Healthy Treats and Fun Alternatives for Halloween

DIY Halloween Sensory Bottle for Kids and Adults

Sensory bottles are great for non-messy, safe sensory play. This glowing ghost jar is a fantastic Halloween party favor and sensory tool for toddlers and preschoolers. This glow-in-the-dark ghost sensory bottle and luminary also makes an excellent DIY Halloween party decoration.

Make friendly ghost crafts for Halloween for even more ghostly fun! You may also like this collection of Halloween art projects for kids.

For more fun glow-in-the-dark bottles, check out this glow-in-the-dark pumpkin and this super fun ringer game! Visit Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101 to learn more about sensory bottles, their uses, how to make them, and troubleshooting tips.

Please visit our About page to learn more about Rhythms of Play. For more information about this website and the creator, author, and photographer of this DIY Ghost Sensory Bottle, please visit the Rhythms of Play home page or the author page, Nell Regan Kartychok.

If You Enjoy This DIY Halloween Ghost Sensory Bottle Craft and Decoration, you might also like These Activities:

• Glow in the Dark Halloween Pumpkin Sensory Bottle
• Halloween Pumpkin Salt Painting
• Top 10 Halloween Lanterns
• DIY Rainstick Sensory Bottle
• Best Halloween Art Projects for Kids