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Ceiling Fan Blade Halloween Ghost and Pumpkin

October 20, 2016

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Don't throw them away...turn those old ceiling fan blades into cute ghosts and pumpkins for Halloween.

Recycle and decorate all in one super easy step.

Check out these cute creations.

Ceiling Fan Blade Ghost hanging on the wall

Like most people, I have a love/ hate relationship with the internet.

This time of year however, it's mostly all about the love, especially as a crafter.

Everywhere I click, I am bombarded with the sweetest holiday ideas that I can't wait to create on my own.

A few weeks ago, a picture of ghosts, made out of old ceiling fan blades, showed up in my Facebook feed and I have been smitten ever since.

Super cute, super easy and super cheap.

Perfect.

Of course, we don't have any old ceiling fans hanging around anymore (pardon the pun!)...and even though I regularly see them in the trash, Murphy's Law kicked in because as soon as I started looking.

I couldn't find one.

Until.

Until last weekend, we took a trip east to pick pumpkins and enjoy all that fall has to offer.

Including other people's garbage. You know what they say, one man's junk...

In between candy corn, cinnamon cake donuts and pumpkin patches, I scoured the curb looking for an old fan.

With absolutely no luck.

After a few hours in the car, we returned home and my husband and I decided to take a walk around the block to stretch our legs and lo and behold, look what we found.

Jackpot.

Old Ceiling Fan Blade

I grabbed four blades and literally ran home.

Update!  I'VE MADE MORE FUN FAN BLADE PROJECTS

My daughter suggested that I leave the hardware on one of them to make a jack-o-lantern.

It'll be the stem.

I thought her idea was genius, so I did.

Of course, I removed it to paint the blade orange, but then I reattached it when it was dry.



The process to make both pumpkin and ghost are the same, just change up the faces and paint colors and you're good to go.

Here's the ghost tutorial. Super simple, as always.

How To Make A Ceiling Fan Ghost Decoration


I started by removing the hardware with a screwdriver and roughing up the shiny blade with a nail file.

I always have one in reach and it does a great job whenever I need to do a little sanding.

Sanding with a nail file


I did not prime.

In fact, I very, very rarely prime. Like almost never - I'm a very lazy artist.

I just applied a few coats of white craft paint with a foam brush.

white painted ceiling fan blades

When the paint was dry, I drew a face on my ghost with a marker and filled it in with black paint.

The bottom of my fan blades happen to be wavy, so I added a little gray paint with a wispy brush create the look of fabric at the bottom of my ghost ~ that was my husband's suggestion.

Apparently, crafting is a family affair around here.

That's what happens when you work at the kitchen table.

I strung him up with a little bit of rustic twine and I tried him on the wall, the fireplace, the front door and dangling from a standing wreath holder.

He was super cute everywhere I placed him...just like my other wooden ghost sign.

Ghost ceiling fan blade

The jack-o-lantern was equally adorable and my daughter was right, that hardware does look like a stem. 

How To Make A Ceiling Fan Jack-O-Lantern Decoration



I painted the blade orange and added a face, again, with marker and paint.

I didn't paint the back of either of these fellows, because I figured come Thanksgiving or Christmas, I could add more fun there in the shape of a Santa or turkey or scarecrow.

You can peek at those updates if you wish...

The two blank blades I have left are carefully tucked away for spring when they may become bunnies, eggs, Valentine hearts or flowers.

The possibilities are literally endless.

Ceiling fan blades turned into ghosts and halloween decor

In the meantime though, I will be soaking in the smiles from my two new upcycled Halloween ghost friends.

And checking out my neighbor's garbage.

Just don't tell them that.

Boo!

Halloween Trash To Treasure Pin
Kim Signature


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  1. Very cute! Very creative! Hey, maybe that will be the excuse, ah, reason, for taking my dated fan down and getting a new one! I will tell my husband I need it for crafting!

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    1. I should’ve kept them all when we took them down, AnnMarie. Who knew? ;)

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  2. Absolutely adorable, Kim! What a great idea and lucky that you found the ceiling fan! So many wonderful ideas to paint the other side with Christmas ideas. Thank you for sharing your cute idea!

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    1. Thank you, Pat. I thought it was a super creative idea when I saw it online. I had to try it out! Happy Crafting! :)

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  3. Hi Kim, Wow that is just the cutest! I love it and what a creative idea to use the ceiling fan. You were so lucky to find it in the trash in your neighborhood. Thanks for sharing this great idea! Hope you have a wonderful fall weekend.
    Julie xo

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    1. Hi Julie! This was a fun one and since I am not into scary decorations for Halloween, I loved being able to make my own happy faces! Happy fall to you!

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  4. These are really cute! It's funny how you find things like that when you stop looking :)

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    1. I know! Seriously, Karen, I saw fans everywhere…until I wanted one! ;)

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  5. That is indeed very cute! I look forward to see the ones for Thanksgiving and or Christmas. Love the idea!

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    1. Thank you, Angela! I have some ideas brewing... ;)

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  6. OMG! You are GENIUS! Love this, kid friendly and earth-friendly!

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    1. Thanks!! I wish I could take credit for this one, Vel, but it’s just my interpretation. It was so easy though, the kids could have a ball!! :)

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  7. Hi Kim, Very cute re-purpose idea. Makes one take a second look when you find an old fan at a garage sale or taken one down to replace at home like your neighbor might have done. Love both the ghost and the pumpkin. I can see some jute or rafia tied around the pumpkin top. I am also seeing a Santa painting on a blade!!! Thanks for sharing. These look really cute in your home! xo

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    1. I love your ideas, Celestina Marie! I may have to add some jute to my handsome Jack! Thanks for the tips...as you can tell by the inclusion of my family's suggestions, I love collaborative crafting. It's good for the creative process! Happy fall! :)

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  8. Trash to Treasure Kim!!! These are just adorable.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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    1. Thanks Kris!! And so much fun to make! ;) xo

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  9. oh kim!
    you just totally brightened my day!!!
    you are just as adorable as your projects!
    thanks!
    and have a wonderful happily spooky weekend ahead. XOXO

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    1. Thanks Tammy! Your comments always make me smile. :) I hope you have a happily spooky weekend, too!

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  10. Cute and free. A winning combination. Thanks Kim for sharing this great idea.

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    1. I love the free part, Lynn! And thanks! :)

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  11. I love this! And yes, that hardware really looks like a stem! I bet you have all kinds of ideas swirling around on how to use these for other holidays. Now I'm kicking myself for throwing away all those old fan blades. :)

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    1. Thank you, Lisa and I know!! We installed fans in every room when we moved here and then after my allergies went haywire, we removed them all...and threw them in the garbage. Silly girl. I should know by now that there's always a second life lurking in my trash. ;)

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  12. What a super cute project, Kim. Brilliant! xxx Maria

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    1. Thank you Maria. You are too sweet! :) xxo

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  13. Oh my goodness, Kim these are so adorable! You are a talented lady. I love this.

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    1. Why thank you, Vanessa. You are too kind! :)

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  14. Kim they are too adorable. They can join up with my gang and have a party of their own!

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  15. Very cute Kim!!! I love décor that finds me!!
    Blessings,
    J

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    1. This was so easy once the blades "found me", J! ;)

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  16. Cute, and Cute!! I love them both, and so creative!
    You know I don't do scary and your craft is perfect for this timid gal! ;)
    Wishing you a wonderful weekend!!
    Hugs, Kimberley

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    1. Scary is...well...scary...and that is not my thing either. I like smiles!

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  17. Kim the faces are just too, too adorable. And very smart thinking to leave the backs blank for now.

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    1. You know me, Mary...no surface goes to waste! ;) And thanks!

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  18. You are just oozing Halloween creativity ;-) Boo To You my friend, I love this idea.

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    1. Boo right back to you, Carla...and thanks! : )

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    1. Thanks Deb...just my interpretation of someone else's creative mind!

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  20. Oh my goodness...I absolutely LOVE this idea...especially b/c it's so easy! So now on the lookout for ceiling fans! Hilarious that you found yours just down the street so close to home!
    Kim, I dreamed about you the other night...I dreamed I came for a visit LOL, and I told you (in the dream). I want to see your red wall! Funny.

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    1. It is so easy, Florence! The hardest part really was finding those blades!! And that is so funny...come by anytime! The door is always open and the wall is very red!! ;)

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  21. This is so clever! I have been wanting to get over to you so badly. I have been planting Fall veggies and got sidetracked. But here I am and pinning away:)
    Jemma

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  22. This is so cute! What a great idea!

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    1. Thanks Maria! They were super fun to make.

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