haunted mirror diy

15 Haunted DIY Halloween Mirrors

DIY Wall Mirror With Creepy Eyes

In order to continue the the of diy Halloween decorations with ghosts I’ve gathered for you some more. Although this time the list of tutorials isn’t only about ghosts but about diy haunted Halloween mirrors. They can be haunted by spirits, ghosts, creepy spiders and so on. If you have a wall mirror then don’t hesitate to try out these decorations. Enjoy!

• DIY Wall Mirror With Creepy Eyes from buzybunny
• DIY Ghost In A Bathroom Mirror from Martha Stewart
• DIY Ethereal Mirror from Martha Stewart
• DIY Creepy Halloween Mirror from babble
• DIY Funny Halloween Mirror from Martha Stewart
• DIY Halloween Mirror Wreath from creatingreallyawesomefreethings
• DIY Haunted Mirror On A Mantel from centsationalgirl
• DIY Mirror With A Haunted Spirit from BHG
• DIY Phantom In A Mirror from CountryLiving
• DIY Phantom Of The Opera Mirror from allhallowsdesign
• DIY Spooky Halloween Mirror from nobiggie
• DIY Supernatural Spooky Halloween Mirrors from womansday
• DIY Vinyl Ghost In A Mirror from thriftydecorchick
• DIY Shadow Ghost In A Mirror from Martha Stewart
• DIY Weeby Halloween Mirror from allthingsthrifty

DIY Ghost In A Bathroom Mirror

DIY Ethereal Mirror

DIY Creepy Halloween Mirror

DIY Funny Halloween Mirror

DIY Halloween Mirror Wreath

DIY Haunted Mirror On A Mantel

DIY Mirror With A Haunted Spirit

DIY Phantom In A Mirror

DIY Phantom Of The Opera Mirror

DIY Spooky Halloween Mirror

DIY Supernatural Spooky Halloween Mirror

DIY Vinyl Ghost In A Mirror

DIY Shadow Ghost In A Mirror

DIY Weeby Halloween Mirror

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Fox Hollow Cottage

Fox Hollow Cottage | Inspired Ideas for Home and Living

How To Make Any Mirror Spooky for Halloween

October 2, 2012 by Shannon Fox

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How to Make Any Mirror  Spooky for Halloween

More Ideas & Inspiration

October 3, 2012 at 5:27 PM

Awesome idea, Shannon … love it and can’t wait to see more! Now, if I *only* had a Halloween wreath to do this to! Looking forward to your fun, Fall par-tay!

October 3, 2012 at 5:14 PM

What a fun idea. I might give this a try today =)

October 3, 2012 at 12:30 AM

Very clever there girlie!

October 2, 2012 at 8:31 PM

You clever girl you!!! That is such an awesome idea Shannon and I’m super impressed with your creativity! 🙂 Vanessa

October 2, 2012 at 8:30 PM

Great idea, Shannon! I wonder if it will come off easily?

October 2, 2012 at 5:21 PM

Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary– That is what I am saying into that mirror ..did she come out?! Love this idea- wow– you are GOOD!!

October 2, 2012 at 4:25 PM

Great idea Shannon! Thanks!

October 2, 2012 at 2:07 PM

You are so smart…what a cool idea!

October 2, 2012 at 12:41 PM

What a neat idea! My mom would love this because Halloween’s her favorite holiday. I’ll have to share this with her. 🙂 Megan

October 2, 2012 at 4:31 AM

I’m with Cassie. I don’t need any additional help to get spooked while looking in a mirror. LOL.

October 2, 2012 at 3:48 AM

How fun is that! Will you come and clean all of our mirrors for us if we do it too!?;) Hope your day was a good one Foxy mama!

October 2, 2012 at 3:20 AM

what a fantastic idea Shannon!!! thx!! 😉

October 2, 2012 at 3:16 AM

Great idea!

October 2, 2012 at 2:52 AM

I use flower to haunt my bathroom mirror for our party and then I write “Help” in scary writing, or “I see you”

October 2, 2012 at 2:41 AM

if i want to make a mirror scary i usually just look in it… that tends to work. but i will remember this trick.

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This haunting "reflection" will spook your guests and turn any entryway into a spot the Addams Family would approve of.

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Project details

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This haunting “reflection” will spook your guests and turn any entryway into a spot the Addams Family would approve of. We made ours by removing some (but not all) of the mirror’s paint and reflective coating and securing a scary image behind the glass. Read on for the how-to.

Start with an ornate mirror, preferably one with a screw-off back so that it’s easy to remove the glass. Cover a work surface with a drop cloth. Remove the back of the mirror and place the glass mirror-side down on the work surface.

Make sure your creepy photo is about the same size as yours would be in a close reflection. We printed out a vintage photo from the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog.

Wearing latex gloves, lightly rub the back of the mirror with fine-grade steel wool. The goal is to remove some, but not all, of the paint and reflective coating to give the mirror an aged look. Use very light pressure at first so that you won’t remove too much of the paint and coating (remember, you can’t get it back). Check your progress periodically by placing the photo behind the glass.

If the paint doesn’t come off easily with steel wool, pour a small amount of acetone in an inconspicuous spot on the mirror to see if it loosens the paint without stripping the glass clear. If it does, pour a small amount of acetone onto the steel wool or directly onto the glass as you work. Use paper towels if necessary to wipe away dissolving paint. Check your progress periodically, as in Step 3.

Once you’re happy with how the image looks, use translucent tape to affix it to the back side of the mirror. Replace the back of the mirror, and hang it using hardware appropriate for your walls.

Shopping List:

• Wall mirror
• Old photograph or a printout of a creepy face
• Fine-grade steel wool (1 or 0)
• Acetone (if needed)
• Paper towels (if needed)
• Transparent tape

Tools List:

• Screwdriver
• Latex gloves

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How To Create An Eerie Haunted Halloween Mirror

Do you like eerie, creepy Halloween decor? I have been wanting to make a creepy haunted Halloween mirror for several years and this year…I finally did it.  And, I can’t believe how easy it was.  

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Getting started.

I have included some affiliate links for your convenience.  You can see my full disclosure here.

Materials Used for Haunted Halloween Mirror

Frame with glass

Black Paint/Primer Spray Paint

Cream Acrylic Craft Paint

Silver Craft Paint

Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint

Printed Image

Steps To Creating A Haunted Halloween Mirror

Remove the glass from the frame and paint the frame black using the spray paint.  While the paint is drying, clean the glass so it is ready to paint.  I was so excited about this project that I forgot to snap a picture of the frames.  But you know…they were brown and plain and pretty boring.

Find an image you like for the face in the mirror.  I search “scary faces” on google and came up with a good one.

Creepy right?  

Print out your image as big as you would like it to show on your mirror.  My frame is an 11 x 14.  I printed this on an 8.5 x 5.5.  So it took up most of a half sheet of printer paper. (there was some space above and below the image)

Cut the white space off so you are left with just the image.

Tape the image to the back of the glass with the face showing through the glass.

Use the Looking Glass paint and spray around the image.  You want it to look like a mirror but you don’t want to cover the image so it doesn’t show.  I put one pass of the paint over the image but I am not sure if I got it on too thick.  You can see it but not as good as I thought.  Jeff says it it perfect that it is a little bit of a surprise because it is just subtle enough.  I am going to go with that.  LOL!

Add more of the paint around the image as you see fit.

This was taken while it was still wet so it looks even more creepy.

Once the black frame is dry you can add some dry brushing to make it look old and worn.  This adds to the creepy-ness of the whole thing.

You can see a dry brushing tutorial in my Creepy Skeleton Wine Glasses Post or on my Facebook Live video on the wine glasses.  

Add the glass back to the frame and hang or stand it up.  Mine looks great next to the rest of my creepy Halloween decor.  

What do you think?  It is a little hard to photograph.  The mirror part is not clear but sort of cloudy.  The face is hard to capture because of the reflection so I could only get it to show well from one angle.  

I do love it though.  It is super creepy.

“What crafty creations could you make today from YOUR craft stash?! #CraftRoomDestashChallenge  Check out some awesome creations you might be able to make from your own stash! #CraftRoomDestashChallenge

Sunday 12th of September 2021

Super creepy! Can't wait to try for this year's event!! What type of paper did you use for printing the image? Thanks so Much!! Donna

I just have a regular ink jet printer so that is what I used. And it was just regular printer paper. I hope that helps!

Toni | Small Home Soul

Wednesday 25th of October 2017

This is such a cool idea, I saw part of your FB Live (I joined in the middle) and couldn't figure it out for a few minutes. Then it hit me, for Halloween, what a great idea, this would be super creepy at a haunted house when the lights are low.

I agree that it would be perfect for a Haunted House. It is so creepy! Thanks Toni!

Michelle Leslie

Tuesday 24th of October 2017

That's so awesome Michelle. It would totally scare the stuffing out of me.

Haha! Me too. I am glad you like it. It was super fun and easy to make!

Monday 23rd of October 2017

Love love love HOW THIS MIRROR TURNED OUT MICHELLE SPOOKY YET AWESOME

Thanks Anj! These things turn out really nice. Totally creepy but perfect for Halloween!

I like! I'll be checking out the skeleton champaigne flutes in a minute. They look amazing, too!

Thank you Habiba! It was fun to make and so were the skeleton glasses. I love them. Thanks for stopping by.

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Haunted Mirror

This weeks Hometalk Helper Challenge is to create a Halloween project. A few months ago, I picked up an ornate gold-painted framed mirror. I had no idea until today what I was going to do with it. I decided this challenge was the perfect opportunity to use the mirror frame and try a few new techniques.

This is the mirror. The glass part is 16x20.

The mirror itself needed to be removed. I put it away for a future project. It was difficult getting the staples out, but very important that they were completely removed in order to get the mirror out.

I sanded the edges of the frame opening, where the staples were. Next, I brushed on Verathane wood stain over the gold paint.

Using a lint free cloth, I wiped the stain away. This is a before and after.

My goal was to create a ghostly, creepy finish, but I wanted to keep it realistic. I thought the dark gray stain over the gold worked out nicely. I left this to dry overnight.

Moving on to the real magic...

I found a 16x20 piece of glass from an old frame in my basement, cleaned it, and laid it flat to work on. To create the mercury glass effect, I sprayed it generously with a 50/50 vinegar/water mixture. I then sprayed a layer of Mirror Effect spray paint over the entire pane. With a clean paper towel, I dabbed the surface to sop up the water and vinegar.

I chose an image of the Mona Lisa, sized it to fit my frame, adjusted the color to a faded grayscale, and had 2 copies made at our local print shop. I also had 1 reverse print made.

Keeping the painted side of the glass facing up, I put the reversed print under the glass.

Using the print as a guide, I sprayed the Mirror Effect paint over the glass. I avoided the areas of the print that I wanted to show through. I sprayed several layers for opacity and let dry completely. The reverse print can now be discarded.

The pane was set in the frame, painted side up. The print was trimmed to size and placed face side down. I printed two in case of mistakes, but only one is needed. I then added layers of cardboard on top and neatly taped everything in place.

The finished mirror. The image becomes more or less visible depending on the angle. This was difficult to photograph due to the reflective nature of the glass. Happy Haunting!

More Haunting Halloween Decorating Ideas!

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Halloween DIY- Haunted Mirror Tutorial

2 comments:

Oh I love how you made yours, Roxanne. I had an old mirror, so I sanded the back for mine. I’d like to create some more using this method, but I’ve not seen the spray here. I’m sure we must be able to get it or something similar. Thanks for the great tips! Sue x

I checked Amazon UK, it is available but expensive. Rust-Oleum Mirror Effect Spray Paint Silver Gloss Finish is also on Amazon UK and much cheaper. I believe it works the same. I'm going to try it on my next mirror project.

How to make a Halloween Haunted Mirror.

Decorating for Halloween can be super fun and it’s even more fun to make your own decor pieces, that you can show off and use over and over again. In our post that demonstrated how to use vinyl on wax candles , we could have easily added our Halloween Haunted mirror into our Halloween decor.

This tutorial uses waterslide pape r as our image transfer method onto the mirror. We love waterslide paper and have used it over and over on many surfaces. One of the great things about using waterslide paper is that it doesn’t have to be permanent. It can be easily removed after you are finished with it or after Halloween, as long as it isn’t sealed.

This website contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you).

#1 Waterslide Paper pick

The perfect image transfer paper to use in this project (as well as many of our other projects.

This project can be made using a cutting machine or using scissors. The choice is yours.

Supplies needed to make a Halloween Haunted Mirror

• mirror with a decorative frame ( ours came from a thrift store)
• Rustoleum oil rubbed bronze spray pain t
• Rustoleum black spray paint ( I used matte finish)
• waterslide paper – must be the transparent one (not white)
• glass cleaner
• aerosol hairspray (no pumps – must be aerosol)
• Krylon clear acrylic sealer
• lint free cloth or paper towel

Download the witch image to make a Halloween Haunted Mirror

Tips on buying a mirror for this project at the thrift store..

The following are things to watch for when buying a mirror for this project

Which is better, a Glass or Plastic coated mirror?

• Coated plastic or glass? – Make sure that the mirror is glass and not acrylic or any other type of plastic. Many cheap mirrors are not actually made of glass. They are lightweight and some are even flexible.
• This is especially important if you plan to clean and re-use the mirror after you are finished with this decor piece. Some plastic mirror finishes can have an adverse reaction with the hairspray causing damage (pitting pr bubbling) to the surface of the plastic. (Yep- I learned that the hard way!). If you are not planning on keeping the piece after halloween is over and you want to try the plastic mirror version, just be aware that you may not get the results you desire.

I used a coated acrylic mirror for a similar project and when the hairspray hit the mirror it pitted the surface of the plastic. It looked ok in the end but had to be thrown out after I was done with it.

Can the mirror be removed from the frame ?

• Many mirrors are glued into the frame or have a paper covering over them. This makes remoiving the mirror from the frame to do the painting step extrememly difficult, and you run the risk of breaking the mirror or worse injuring yourself. If you are shopping in thrift stores for mirrors to use, look for the ones that have the easy remove latches on the back of the mirror, like the one pictured below. The small metal tacks or nails are also good, as they can easily be removed or rotated and put back into place,when putting the mirror back into the frame..

If you have no option but to buy a mirror that is glued into the frame, tape it off (using painter’s tape ) and cover the mirror with paper when painting the frame. A good brand of painter’s tape, that I have used many times i s Scotch Brand painter’s tape .

Cracks or crackling in the mirror finish

When shopping at thrifts stores, sometimes you will come across old mirrors that have a crackled look. This is actually called Desilvering .

Mirrors can desilver over time, causing those black smudges around the edges. This commonly occurs from moisture getting into the mirror and lifting the finish off of the glass. When you want to make a Halloween haunted mirror, these are absolutely perfect. They already have an antiqued look, which will blend nicely into the Halloween haunted mirror look.

How to Make a Halloween Haunted Mirror

Remove the mirror from the frame.

Hopefully, you were able to get a mirror as mentioned above, that is easy to remove from the frame.

Paint the mirror frame

Clean the frame and make sure that you have removed any dirt, dust, or oils from the surface.

In a well-ventilated area, apply one coat of Rustoleum oil rubbed bronze spray paint (follow the directions on the can) and let it dry. (I did mine outside in a shaded area on clean newsprint paper)

Once the first coat of paint is dry, apply a light coat of the Rustoleum Black spray paint . Do not apply a heavy coat, you want some of the bronze sheen to show through on the finished colour. The two colours will provide a deep dimensional finish.

Measure the mirror

Measure the area on the mirror where your design will be placed. You will need to measure the area for the design because this determines the size of your printed image.

Print the image.

For this part of the project, we are using Waterslide paper . If you have never used waterslide paper before or don’t know what to is, here are a few quick need-to-know bits about waterslide paper.

Learn all you need to know about Waterslide Paper and all the surfaces you can use it on.

Waterslide paper i nformation

• Waterslide Paper is an image transfer product.
• waterslide paper is available for both Inkjet printers and laser printers.
• You print the image on the paper, seal the paper and then soak the image and finally you apply the image to your surface.
• The backing slides out from behind the paper, during application( thats why its called waterslide)
• It can be used on many surfaces, including our mirror.
• It can be sealed and made permanent or left unsealed and soaked and removed later.

For further information on how to use waterslide paper , or h ow to use waterslide paper on wax candles or even how to use waterslide paper on wood , check out our other tutorials.

Follow the steps b elow to transfer the image onto the mirror.

Using your inkjet printer and Clear Waterslide paper be sure that you have the paper inserted the proper way. The printing must be on the side of the paper with the film on it. Usually, the side with the film is the glossy side.

Make sure to resize your image before printing, according to the measurements of the mirror surface that you took earlier.

If you are using a cutting machine, you will be limited to the Cricut design space allowable size. There will need to be a bounding box around the image, that allows your cutting machine to read before cutting.

If using a cutting machine turn off the bleed before cutting, and add an offset to ensure you have a border around the image (this makes removing the backer paper easier.) Cutting too close to the edge of this image can result in tearing and rips when sliding off the backer paper when it is wet. The witch’s hair has a lot of intricate cuts around the edges, be sure to add a decent offset to avoid any problems.

If you need an image larger than is allowed in the Cricut design space canvas, consider printing and cutting with scissors.

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Trim around your design

Cut around your design, to remove any unused paper and save it for another project.

If you are using a cutting machine, this is when you need to use it to cut away any excess paper and save it for another project.

Seal the Waterslide design

Place your design into s cardboard box (serves as a spray booth). Secure it using zot adhesive dots or removable adhesive of your choice. Using the adhesive keeps your paper in place when applying spray sealer.

Spray with clear acrylic sealer and allow to dry.

Repeat until you have 3 coats of sealer on the waterslide paper design. (follow your package instructions if they differ).

Apply the Waterslide paper

Clean your mirror with a glass cleaner or wipe it with rubbing alcohol.

Position the image

Position the image on your mirror before you soak it. This will allow you to double-check the size of the cut image and make sure you like how it will look before you soak and apply the image.

Fill a shallow dish, large enough to hold your design, with warm water.

Make sure the water is not hot and not cold. The water will activate the layer on the paper and loosen the backing.

Soak the image for approximately 30 to 60 seconds. This will activate the top layer and loosen the backing. (Follow package instructions if your package differs)

Check the paper, by sliding a corner between your fingers to see if the backing is beginning to slide off. When you can feel the paper come off of the backing, it is ready to apply to the mirror.

Remove the waterslide paper design from the water.

Position your design onto the mirror.

Once you have the design where you want it, slowly hold the top layer of the design while you carefully and slowly slide the paper backing out from behind the image.

Smooth out the design and remove any bubbles (carefully with your fingers)

Blot with a dry lint-free cloth or paper towel, to remove any excess water.

Seal – If desired

If you want the design to be permanent, curing is recommended.

To Cure: Use a hair dryer or heat gun to apply heat to the decal. be careful not to burn it. Some waterslide papers can also be cured in an oven. Check your product instructions. ( keep in mind, if you have a plastic mirror, heat curing should be avoided) You could also apply a coat of epoxy, however, for this project, I wouldn’t recommend it. I don’t like the effect that epoxy leaves on the mirror, but it is a matter of personal choice and it may work for you.

Apply cloudy mist

For temporary use.

Do this step in a well-ventilated area, away from any flames.

On a covered surface, lightly mist the mirror with the aerosol hairspray. Go lightly, waving the spray back and forth over the surface. Let dry.

For multiple coats, you may want to cover the witch’s face so it doesn’t become too opaque.

Check your results after the first coat. If you like the effect, move on to the next step. If you think it needs a cloudier look, repeat this step until you have the desired effect.

For Permanent use

Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area (no source of flames)

The mirror should be sitting on a covered surface. Lightly mist the mirror and design with Spray Glass frostin g. For multiple coats, cover the witch’s face so it doesn’t become too opaque. (a piece of wax paper works well)

Once you have the desired look, let it dry and then move on to reframing the mirror.

Reframe the mirror.

Place the mirror back into the frame, and use it in your Halloween decor.

Want to learn more about waterslide paper. Check out our “ How to use waterslide Paper – The Ultimate Guide”

Video – How to make a Halloween Haunted mirror – with waterslide paper.

Ideas to display your Halloween Haunted Mirror

Once you have learned how to make a Halloween Haunted mirror and you have your finished project, it’s time to show it off.

We like to use our Haunted mirror as a tray. We add a painted candelabra, our wax candles, customized with adhesive vinyl , heavily tarnished silver, some Spanish moss and mini skeleton hands. These are all great additions to your Haunted Halloween decor pieces.

How to remove the temporary Waterslide paper design after use

If you’d like to remove your waterslide paper design after using it in your decor it is easy to remove, as long as it has not been sealed or cured.

To remove the waterslide paper, soak the paper with a warm, wet cloth. You may need to use hot water on it, (depending on how much hair spray is on it).

It will take a few minutes to remove, but with the hot water, you will be able to peel it off. It may not come off in one piece, but rather in several pieces. You can also use a non-scratching scrubber to remove it.

The hot water will also help remove any hairspray residue.

Once you have it removed, use glass cleaner to remove any leftover residue.

I hope you enjoyed this project and had as much fun as we did making it.

Thank you for visiting Baker Street Living .

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DIY Spooky Halloween Mirror

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Here’s what you need to make a spooky Halloween Mirror:

– a small old looking frame (thrift store) – an old book (thrift store) – razor blade for scraping or you can try a paint thinner of some sort (use caution with either one, this is not a great project for kids without the supervision of an adult) – glossy black spray paint Creepy image, right?! You could also use an old image of an ancestor. Although that might freak your kids out more.

Fun News! This little Spooky Mirror for Halloween was featured in the Woman’s Day special Halloween Issue…the 2011 Halloween Issue.

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October 20, 2010 at 7:29 am

What a spooky project. I love it Kami!

October 20, 2010 at 8:22 am

I am more the whimsical, but then again, the only haunted house I can stand to go through is the one in Disneyland. Awesome project–very creepy!

October 20, 2010 at 10:48 am

I'm more into going to St. George and forgetting the whole holiday. Sorry. Bah pumpkin!

But the mirror is very creative and I wouldn't look at it, walking by it at night…

October 20, 2010 at 10:51 am

This is soooo cool! I had to share on my FB page! 🙂

October 20, 2010 at 11:19 am

What a fun idea Kami!!

October 20, 2010 at 1:44 pm

Great job! I'm definitely bookmarking this one for myself. Lately I've been going for both the spooky/creepy side of Halloween and the crafty, whimsical side. I want the best of both worlds!

October 20, 2010 at 3:05 pm

This is fabulous! Love it!

October 20, 2010 at 3:32 pm

This is so cool!

October 20, 2010 at 3:51 pm

LOVE THIS-GONNA DO THIS!

I like rustic Halloween, a little Whimsical with a dash of creepy.

October 20, 2010 at 3:58 pm

So cute and easy… just down my aisle!

October 20, 2010 at 4:41 pm

The mirror is spooktacular!!! I kind of like the spooky side of Halloween. Just not blood & guts.

October 20, 2010 at 4:53 pm

Great idea Kammie! I love it!

October 20, 2010 at 5:07 pm

this is just downright awesome! i love spooky stuff. you could also use easy oven off to get the back of the mirror off. it works great and it sort of antiques the mirror at the same time. off to find a creepy picture…

October 21, 2010 at 1:30 am

so totally awesome! and just the right amount of spooky…kind of reminds me of the illusions used in the Haunted House ride at Disneyland. Love it!

October 21, 2010 at 5:00 am

Love this Kami! Definitely more into the cute and crafty side of Halloween. I really hate the gory side of things. Not into it AT ALL.

October 21, 2010 at 2:00 pm

That is a crazy cool idea. I love it!

October 21, 2010 at 10:18 pm

Paint thinner and nail polish remover also usually work to take the backing off of mirrors. It makes it look a little more smokey though, not the cool, creepy scratched away look.

October 22, 2010 at 10:08 pm

Awesome! What a great idea! And a great tutorial!

October 23, 2010 at 12:38 am

That turned out so cute and I'm with you on not liking the spooky kind of decorations. I go for the cute stuff like this!

October 23, 2010 at 1:21 am

This is great and it reminds me of the Haunted House at Disneyland. I love it!

October 23, 2010 at 3:20 pm

This is a really neat idea.

To remove the backing better without scratching and in a controlled method, try toilet bowl cleaner, esp. if it has bleach. Also, CLR works. Try applying it with a paint brush and washing it off after a few minutes.

October 23, 2010 at 8:33 pm

I love it, but I'm REALLY mad that you used Jane Austen's picture:) Have a great Halloween!

October 24, 2010 at 1:09 am

Awww, Jane Austen isn't creepy!

September 19, 2012 at 5:25 pm

October 24, 2010 at 3:12 am

Your mirror looks so great and spooky!! I did something similar this year but I used oven cleaner. Looks like there are lots of methods from the comments haha. But I love that scratched look. Nice and creepy. ~stopping by from Sunday Showcase. 😉

October 24, 2010 at 3:57 am

Thanks for the great idea! I just saw a "creepy" mirror in Target and was wondering how to make one. I definitely lean towards the whimsical side but it's fun sometimes to be a little scared when you know it's not real. http://www.morganmadeit.net

October 24, 2010 at 3:27 pm

Love your altered mirror !

October 24, 2010 at 5:36 pm

Super creepy. I almost can't look at it! Ack!

October 25, 2010 at 1:58 am

wow, that is creepy! I've seen a sort of the same thing done with oven cleaner instead of a razor. I would have never thought of a razor!

Popping over from the DIY Show Off!

October 25, 2010 at 2:47 am

Hi Kami! What a cool idea! I bought a Dollar Store mirror a couple weeks ago, but I have been unsure of what to do with it. I'm going to give this a try!

October 25, 2010 at 3:27 am

What a fun project!

October 25, 2010 at 2:29 pm

What a great idea. I love it. I found you on Made By You Mondays. I became a follower. Stop by my blog at http://www.therapeuticcrafting.blogspot.com

October 25, 2010 at 2:39 pm

Wow! Super creeeeeepy….but very cool. Love it~

October 26, 2010 at 2:19 am

This is so cool! i've always wanted to know how to make one of these.

http://enikoko.blogspot.com/

October 27, 2010 at 2:51 am

What a cute idea! Happy spooking!

October 27, 2010 at 7:37 am

Hi Kami! What a spooky update. I love the scraped mirror effect – I really want to try this. Hope you have a wonderful halloween! Thanks so much for linking to The Sunday Showcase – I greatly appreciate it! So nice to 'meet' you! ~ Stephanie Lynn

October 28, 2010 at 1:40 am

I prefer cute…not creepy.

October 28, 2010 at 10:11 pm

Wow, I really wish I could find a mirror like that! I linked to this project on this week's Link Love post on FaveCrafts: http://www.favecraftsblog.com/link-love-last-minute-halloween/

This is such a great idea!

October 29, 2010 at 1:24 pm

Love this project! I'm going to have to try something like this for next year. I think I'm done crafting for Halloween this year.

October 29, 2010 at 7:18 pm

I love Jane Austen. This would be a great project to go with Northanger Abbey. I have a Jane Austen Room (AKA my bedroom)I may try this.

October 29, 2010 at 7:28 pm

Great idea. I really like this craft, and it can be used in different ways for other occasions.

Thanks for sharing, Michele

October 29, 2010 at 11:28 pm

Love this idea!! Looks cool!! Thanks for sharing. I like the whimsical with a little spooky.

October 31, 2010 at 9:35 am

What a great idea!

November 1, 2010 at 3:58 am

I *love* this project!!

November 3, 2010 at 2:04 am

Wonderful tutorial. I will remember this one. I love visiting all of these fun parties.

November 3, 2010 at 6:53 am

You could also color photocopy the image. That way, the old book can stay intact.

January 13, 2011 at 4:27 am

It would probably be more scary if it wasn't Jane Austen… hehe 🙂 I love the project, though.

April 6, 2011 at 10:23 am

I’ve been visiting your blog for a while now and I always find a gem in your new posts. Thanks for sharing.

April 20, 2011 at 3:55 am

Amazing project. I might try this out if I find a creepy enough frame but I was thinking after scraping it I would use some steel wool to fade out the scrape marks. Love it!

April 29, 2011 at 8:47 am

Such an interesting and creative piece of work!

June 3, 2011 at 10:07 pm

Using oven cleaner and a scratchy (steel wool or something or that sort) works really well to get the mirror coating off too. Just let the cleaner sit for a bit then wipe off with some effort. 🙂

August 14, 2011 at 4:53 pm

Whoah. That’s a pretty cool Halloween DIY project. I think I will share this with my kids.

September 21, 2011 at 7:05 am

Hi! Found your project on Women’s Day, and featured it on my blog. Hope that’s OK: http://dearcrissy.com/halloween-craft-idea-spooky-mirror/

September 22, 2011 at 11:41 am

Cant wait to try this!

September 26, 2011 at 11:45 pm

I love St. George too, but the one year I went there the neighbor kids said it wasn’t even Halloween for them – talk about pressure. I like cute for the house but Halloween night we like to add a little spooky.

January 5, 2012 at 11:16 am

Howdy! StumbleUpon just brought me here, and while I see that I’m *way* late to the game, I thought I’d let you know that you can accomplish the same effect on mirrors by spraying the backs with oven cleaner, and leaving it sit, then rubbing the mirror paint off, instead of scraping.

Saves you some irritating noise to listen to! I can’t stand the sound of razor on glass.

September 28, 2012 at 11:47 am

Hey do you have any tips in scraping the back of the mirror? LOVE this idea!

October 5, 2012 at 3:32 pm

I finished mine! I found sandpaper was very helpful to get the metallic part under the black backing.

October 2, 2012 at 8:24 am

Defintely the spooky! The more frightening the better!!! Any other ideas on frightening DIY Halloween crafts and foods please let me know :)~

October 14, 2015 at 2:32 am

I’m so happy with the one I did! Here’s a link to mine: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10206226127265532&set=pcb.10206226127425536&type=3&theater

October 14, 2015 at 5:16 pm

Hi Paulette!

I’m so happy you made one! Maybe if you pinned the image – I can’t view it on Pinterest. Or you could email it to me!

September 26, 2019 at 2:54 pm

I love these mirrors! So cute! Do you mind if I feature this in a roundup post on my site? I am a teen blogger over at suchasweetheart.com. Let me know! 🙂

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Haunted Mirror with Ghost Hands

This Halloween, create an entrance that transports all who dare to step inside. Entwine your sconces with hissing snakes, place dramatic black calla lilies in vessels dark as tombstones, and unleash the ghost who's been trapped behind the glass.

An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.

The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing.

One glimpse, and friends will never forget the night they reached for your candy bowl. To conjure these ghostly hands, download our template—in one of two sizes: small (16" x 22") or large (24" x 36")—and print it to fit the size of your mirror. For more ideas, scroll through our entire collection of indoor Halloween decorations , plus clever ways to display your Halloween candy for trick-or-treaters .

(Also pictured: Grandin Road Halloween posable snakes, in Black, from $9 each, grandinroad.com . Chelsea Textiles GUS 043-02 bureau with diamond carving, in Antique Black, $1,922, chelseatextiles.com .)

What You'll Need

• Haunted Mirror Hands template (Small)
• Haunted Mirror Hands template (Large)
• Sticker project paper (Pictured: Avery sticker project paper, 8½" by 11", in Glossy Clear, $14 for 7 sheets, amazon.com.)
• Measuring tape
• White pencil
• Craft knife

Instructions

Measure the mirror you want to cover by height and width. Head to your local copy shop and give them the template file and mirror measurements. Tell them you want to have the image in the file printed on removable clear vinyl adhesive to the size of your mirror. (FedEx Office can create these for from $78 per square foot.)

At home, place the printout on the mirror, framing the ghostly hands image in a pleasing way. Trace around it and cut it out, then adhere according to the instructions and trim with a craft knife as needed.

If you prefer to craft one from scratch: Photocopy your hands (have a friend press the button), scan the printout, and take the scanned file to the copy shop to be printed on removable clear vinyl adhesive. Or photocopy each hand separately onto clear sticker paper and piece together your macabre masterpiece.

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How To Make A Haunted Mirror So You Can Always Hang With Ghosts

Add a subtle dash of creep to your everyday decor with this easy-to-make mirror. Looking glass spray paint is just the about the only black magic you’ll need to turn a picture frame into a faux-antique mirror with a spirit trapped inside.

Start by getting a frame the size you’d like your finished “mirror” to be. Find an image of a face you want to use as the ghost (I found a vintage photo of a girl using Google image search), and blow it up so the face is life-size. Print the image out in black and white. Remove the glass from the frame and wipe off any smudges using glass cleaner and a paper towel . Lay the glass down on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area and position the printout face up underneath the glass where you want the ghost to appear. Shake a can of Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint ($13.99) rigorously—essentially until your arm is tired. Then use it to very lightly spray the entire glass piece; let dry (this will probably take less than a minute). Now spray 4 or 5 thin coats over the glass except where you want the image to be visible in the final mirror. Let each coat dry completely before spraying the next one and shake the shit out of the can between each coat. To achieve the mercury glass effect that makes the mirror look antiqued, use a spray bottle to lightly spray water on the glass before each coat. Once you are done, coat the entire glass with a clear coat spray, such as Krylon Acrylic Crystal Clear Top Coat ($7.49), to seal. Flip the glass over; the unpainted side will have a mirrored reflection. Using double-sided tape, affix the printout to the inside of the frame’s backing so that the face will show through the part of the glass that has only one coat of paint. Assemble the frame. When you look into the mirror the single coat will have a slight mirror effect but the image will still be visible, ready to scare any unsuspecting looking-glass gazers. 

Tutorial by Callie Watts Photograph by Megan Senior; Devil jar and goblet: Irene McCollam Ceramics

T his article originally appeared in the  Oct/Nov 2015  print edition of BUST Magazine.  Subscribe today ! 

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Haunted Halloween Specter Mirror DIY Decoration

September 27, 2023 By Elizabeth Hudec 6 Comments

Make this extra creepy haunted Halloween specter mirror and make your DIY Halloween decor the spookiest in the neighborhood!

RELATED: Outdoor Halloween Decorations: Make A Rotting Corpse Scarecrow

A Haunted Halloween Specter Mirror for a Scary Decor

How to make a haunted halloween specter mirror.

Terrify your Halloween guests with this startling and eerie haunted specter mirror. Hang it in the bathroom, hallway, or anywhere in the house to give them a memorable fright!

Only a few simple supplies and easy steps, and you can make your own Halloween mirror trick to decorate your house with. Now, without further dilly dally, let's get this fun DIY specter mirror project started!

What You'll Need to Make a DIY Specter Mirror

• Old picture frame with glass (Goodwill)
• Mirror Effect Spray Paint (Hardware Store)
• Black Spray Paint (not pictured – Hardware Store)
• Black/Grey Cheesecloth (Dollar Tree)
• Fake Crows (Dollar Tree)
• Scotch Tape
• Scrubbie/Rough Cloth
• Black Garbage Bags

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make a DIY Specter Mirror

Step 1. spray paint mirror.

To make a Halloween haunted mirror, first, remove the glass (and art), and spray paint the frame black.

Step 2. Coat with Mirror Effect Spray

Lay the glass on some plastic or newspaper, and give it a hearty coating of the Mirror Effect spray on one side. I used the Rust-Oleum brand, and was very happy with it!

Don’t apply the coat too thickly, but do make sure all of the glass is covered, and you can’t see through to the other side.

RELATED: 25 Creepy Halloween Decor Ideas To Increase Your BOO Factor

Step 3. Scrub for Ghostly Effect

Rub the paint off in blotchy, uneven patches for a ghostly effect. Don’t rub away an area bigger than your photo or you’ll see the edges of the paper as hard lines!

Step 4. Mount Creepy Photo

The spray-painted side should be pressed against the paper. If you want more of the picture to show, flip the glass back over and rub away some more paint.

If you want less showing, you can do a quick re-spray on the “rubbed-away” area, and then try scrubbing away a little more gently when it dries.

Step 5. Add a Black Background

So, I simply used one of the trash bags which had been my painting surface-protection and sandwiched it between the glass and the cardboard backing.

Step 6. Finishing Touches

Drape some tattered black cheesecloth around the corners, attach some sinister ravens, and you’re done. Now, you can put your DIY masterpiece of a haunted specter mirror on display!

Watch this video from Living to DIY with Rachel Metz for another idea to complement our DIY specter mirror here:

There you go, DIY junkies and tricksters! A haunted Halloween specter mirror you can add to your Haloween decorations this year.

Now you know how to make a haunted mirror for your Halloween decor. Have a fun time scaring the heck out of your guests and trick-or-treaters with your own creation!

Will you take on this creepy haunted specter mirror project for your DIY Halloween decor? Tell us your plans for it in the comments section below!

• 17 Fun and Spooky Halloween Party Food Ideas For Your Little Monsters
• 19 Spooky And Fun DIY Ideas To Throw A Halloween Party At Your House
• How To Make a Shabby Chic Dog Leash and Treat Wall Hanger | DIY Pet Project

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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on October 23, 2014, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

[…] Haunted Specter Mirror | DIY Halloween Decoration […]

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[…] Via Diyprojects […]

[…] are quite a few ways to create a ghost in a mirror; so just download a creepy skull image from the internet and printed it out. Give the glass a good […]

[…] spray paint dollar store pumpkins to match your current decor, or embrace the spooky season with ghostly mirror figures. The best part about fall is that the decor can be focused around whatever you want — nature, […]

[…] greenback retailer pumpkins to match your present decor, or embrace the spooky season with ghostly mirror figures. The perfect half about fall is that the decor could be centered round no matter you need — […]

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Haunted Mirror (and DIY Chalkboard)

Our favorite month, Spooktober, is approaching, and I feel like I am racing with time. As usual, I have a pretty long “to do” list before we can welcome The Night of Shadows and Ghouls. But on the bright side, almost everything in the list needs just little fixes to spookify them, like the Haunted Mirror (and DIY Chalkboard) I recently finished.

I found this tabletop mirror at the  Put & Take  past spring. I literally jumped on it the moment I saw its frame. As the mirror had a worn spot, Greg told me to leave it, but I told him “Nope! I have a great plan for it ;-)” And as soon as we got home, I took the mirror out and started working on the frame.

Do you remember the flower pots I refinished past spring? I refinished this frame when I finished those flower pots, so I used the same color homemade chalk paint . And yes, I used the same wet distressing technique to show some of that gold color beneath. And again yes, I forgot to take pictures of the painting process, hence I am now referencing my Refinished Flower Pots in case you like the color or the painting style 😀

Here is a closer-up picture, so you can see the details.

Once I finished the frame, I started working on the mirror. First, I needed to dissolve mirror’s silver backing. After searching online, I found a few ways to do it: some use muriatic acid , some use MSR (known as Mirror Silvering Remover) and some use paint/lacquer stripper . Since we had paint/lacquer stripper on hand, I went for that option. But right after reading the user instructions I dumped this job on Greg I offered Greg to become the mad scientist in my project. He was ecstatic to take part in my project! hahahaha…

Seriously though… this stuff is nasty, so you need to be careful when you are using these types of chemicals. As Greg already used it many times in his projects, he knew what he was dealing with. But like me, if you never used paint/lacquer stripper, please make sure you use it per the manufacturer’s instructions. I also suggest to work with it outside where you have fresh air, wear latex gloves and a good mask that works especially for chemical fumes. Maybe I sound like my mom here, but really…it is always better to be safe than sorry, right?

Okay, now that we are finished with our little Health & Safety orientation, let’s get back to the dissolving step, shall we?

After donning his PPE (personal protective equipment), he poured the paint stripper on the back of the mirror, and let it sit for a while.

Then, using a razor blade , he started scraping the backing off.

And a bit more…

…and a bit more.

When he removed a good amount of silvering, he gave the mirror back to me to wash the nasty stuff off. I wanted glass to look a bit hazy, so I chose a scrubber instead of a sponge.

I scrubbed it enough to create that spooky scratched look on the glass.

Now it was time to find a creepy picture to tape on the back of the mirror. I searched for something suitable in  my Halloween Printables Pinterest Board .

After settling on a picture, I printed it out and cut it to size. Then I taped the image to the back of the mirror and placed the mirror in the frame.

To secure the mirror in it’s place, I used my Logan Dual Point Driver and drove flexible points into the frame.

As for the chalkboard part, I used the mirror as a template for my board and marked the size.

Then I cut the board with my scroll saw , but a jig saw could also give the same result.

Next, I sprayed it with Rust-Oleum chalkboard spray paint .

When the paint dried, I conditioned the chalkboard with a piece of chalk (rubbed the chalk all over the painted chalkboard)…

…then wiped it of with a soft cloth.

And here it is: the DIY chalkboard! Don’t worry – the pictures of the Haunted Mirror will be right after 😉

Aren’t those eyeballs the cutest things ever? I bought them at GrandinRoad.com . I honestly love them…one of the best Halloween decorations I’ve bought online 🙂

Here is a close-up of the eyeballs .

And noooww… the Haunted Mirror!

What do you think?

Yes, that is Greg’s hand there in the picture above. He always knows how to give me jump scares! LOL.

Some closer-up pictures for you. While it is not the most horrifying Halloween decoration ever, I just love that subtle effect.

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DIY Spider Wreath

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I think the subtlety makes it more horrifying. It would freak me out if I saw it in someone’s house.

Thank you Jen! I have to agree with you. (I know this will sound funny but) Especially the last picture gave me the creeps last night when I was preparing the post. 😀

The Haunted Mirror is so sweeeeeeeeeeeeet. I love it !! Great job !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you, Mary! 😀

Both of these projects are great. Do you switch out the mirror with the chalkboard or do you have two frames?

Thank you so much, Paula! I’m trying to get as practical as I can for seasonal decoration. So yes, I keep the mirror for Halloween, but I do switch out the mirror with the chalkboard for the rest of the year. 😉

Oh I love the chalkboard frame, and the awesome haunted mirror. Yall come up with the coolest Halloween projects. I love that the frame can be used all year by changing it out, it’s too beautiful not to. Love the color and heavy distressing.

Haunted Magic Mirror

Introduction: Haunted Magic Mirror

For a while now I have wanted to make a Magic Mirror. I decided to make a haunted one for Halloween that would follow people walking by my desk at work. Parts I used: 1. Raspberry Pi 2 or 3 2. SD Card with Raspbian Lite 3. Pi Camera 4. Old LCD Monitor - Preferably with HDMI 5. Acrylic see-through Mirror 6. 8' of Molding 7. 8' of 4x1 Wood 8. Power Cables(2) 9. HDMI Cable 10. Ghost pictures (36) 11. Spray paint 1. Hammered Copper 2. Sea Glass 3. Black 4. Clear Coat Tools I used: • Wood glue • Clamps • Miter saw • Table saw • Router

Step 1: Build the Frame

You will first need to remove the LCD panel from the plastic case. Once you get the monitor disassembled measure the outside edges.

• Use wood glue and corner clamps to assemble the frame.

Now we need to create back pieces to cover the Electronics and hold everything in..

I placed the LCD into it position so that the Board were square and then removed them once the corner clamps were in place.

• I chose to glue them down to the baseboard at this time and used regular clamps to hole them in place.
• I also glued a board across the bottom to hold down the bottom of the monitor assembly.

Step 2: Paint the Frame

My theme this year is recovered sunken treasure so I wanted a cooper covered in green patina look.

• I then applied a Clear Coat to seal everything in.

Step 3: Put the Mirror Together

Once the frame is dried I cut the mirror to fit inside the grooves I cut with the router. Now we need to assemble the components.

• After testing the motion tracking the camera could not see very will through the mirror so I used some acetone and a Q-tip to remove the reflective coating around the hole.
• I cut a crossbar for the top to hold the LCD panel in. I used pocket screws to hold it into place.
• I used adhesive Velcro and masking tape to hold the Pi, camera, and cables down.

Step 4: The Code

Here is the code for ghost_2.0.py. Note that python is a very specific TAB syntax you will need to use the included file. import picamera.array import picamera import cv2 import numpy as np import os from imutils.object_detection import non_max_suppression from imutils import paths import imutils import time import pygame from pygame.locals import * import sys import random ### ESC key to Exit Program ### def event_handler(): for event in pygame.event.get(): if event.type == QUIT or (event.type == KEYDOWN and event.key == K_ESCAPE): pygame.quit() sys.exit() ### The Main Loop ### def main(): # setup for Camera and OpenCV ### Start the Camera ### camera = picamera.PiCamera() stream = picamera.array.PiRGBArray(camera, size=(640, 480)) ### set the resolution I used 640x480 so I could use 36 Pictures ### camera.resolution = (640, 480) ### Set frame rate at 16 to reduce the stress on the Raspberry Pi ### camera.framerate = 16 ### set the inital values of the tracking variables ### motionCounter = 0 avg = None cntSleep = 0 imgNum = 1 # setup for Pygame ### import the Ghost images. You can change the info here. ### ### if you have have a differnt number of Pictues change the xrange ### Ghost = list([pygame.image.load('Ghost/Ghost_{0}.jpg'.format(i)) for i in xrange(1,36)]) CLOCK = pygame.time.Clock() ### This is to setup the Gui-less display ### driver = 'fbcon' os.putenv('SDL_VIDEODRIVER', driver) ### initialize pygame ### pygame.display.init() size = (pygame.display.Info().current_w, pygame.display.Info().current_h) ### display the size of the screen ### print("Framebuffer size: %d x %d" % (size[0], size[1])) ### Turn off the Mouse ### pygame.mouse.set_visible(0) ### set the Dsiplay to Fullscreen ### DS = pygame.display.set_mode(size, pygame.FULLSCREEN) ### Initially fill the sceen Black ### DS.fill((0,0,0)) pygame.display.update() #main while loop while cv2.waitKey(1) != 27: ### Capture the stream from the camera ### for f in camera.capture_continuous(stream, format='bgr', use_video_port=True): ### Check for ESC ### event_handler() ### Capture the image and compare it to the previous image ### imgOriginal = f.array stream.truncate(0) imgOriginal = imutils.resize(imgOriginal, width=500) imgGray = cv2.cvtColor(imgOriginal, cv2.COLOR_BGR2GRAY) imgGray = cv2.GaussianBlur(imgGray, (21, 21), 0) if avg is None: avg = imgGray.copy().astype("float") stream.truncate(0) continue cv2.accumulateWeighted(imgGray, avg, 0.5) frameDelta = cv2.absdiff(imgGray, cv2.convertScaleAbs(avg)) thresh = cv2.threshold(frameDelta, 5, 255, cv2.THRESH_BINARY)[1] thresh = cv2.dilate(thresh, None, iterations=2) ### Motion Tracking ### (_, cnts, _) = cv2.findContours(thresh.copy(), cv2.RETR_EXTERNAL,cv2.CHAIN_APPROX_SIMPLE) for c in cnts: if cv2.contourArea(c) < 5000: continue ### The bounds of the Changed area #### (x, y, w, h) = cv2.boundingRect(c) if x > 0: ### Take the x cordinate add half of the Width ### ### This gets the center of the motion on the x-axis ### ### Divde by 18 and add 1 to get the Picture number ### ### Int() make it a whole number Round() rounds down ### z = int(round((x + (w/2))/18)) + 1 ### Rather than allow the Ghost to jump from center ### ### we have it cycle through till we hit new center ### while imgNum <> z: ### If it is new motion just diplay the fist ### if imgNum == 0: imgNum = z ### Debug ### #print("Picture Start = Ghost_" + str(imgNum) + ".jpg") DS.blit(Ghost[imgNum], (336, 0)) ### If its to the right go up 1 image ### elif z > imgNum: imgNum += 1 ### Debug ### #print("Picture + Ghost_" + str(imgNum)+ ".jpg") DS.blit(Ghost[imgNum], (336, 0)) ### if its to the left go down 1 image ### else: imgNum -= 1 ### Debug ### #print("Picture - Ghost_" + str(imgNum) + ".jpg") DS.blit(Ghost[imgNum], (336, 0)) pygame.display.update() ### Debug ### #print("Picture = " + str(z) + ", x = " + str(x) + ", w = " + str(w)) cntSleep = 0 continue ### Make the Ghost Disapear after 10 rounds with no Movement### if cntSleep > 10: ### Debug ### #print("Black Screen") DS.fill((0,0,0)) pygame.display.update() ### Set the next movement to the First movement ### imgNum = 0 ### Debug ### #print("Sleep = " + str(cntSleep)) cntSleep += 1 ### Debug #### #timerCnt += 1 #print("Timer = " + str(timerCnt)) #if timerCnt >= 100: # quit() return if __name__ == "__main__": main()

Attachments

Step 5: the ghost.

You now need to capture your subject.

• Name the images Ghost_1.jpg to Ghost_36.jpg looking to the right (1) to the left side (36) of the frame.

Step 6: Installing the Software

I am assuming you now how to get Raspbian onto the Raspberry Pi so I will not be covering it in the tutorial. If you need help you can use this tutorial . I used the lite version to avoid the overhead of the gui. Used the following software:

• pygame - should already be installed in Wheezy

Before we get to installing the software we need to enable a few items in the raspi-config .

sudo raspi-config

• This will come in handy when installing OpenCV.

I used the tutorial by Adrian at PyImagesearch to install OpenCV. I did skip the virtual environments because I could not get it working with sudo which is required to display images without a GUI. I also skipped the Python 3 steps because everything worked with the python already installed within Raspbian. You know it worked if you can so the following without an error.

sudo python

Once you get OpenCV installed and working you need to install the python-pycamera module.

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install python-picamera

The python module for pygame should already be installed you can test that everything is working together with following commands. If you dont get any errors then everything is working.

import picamera

import pygame

If pygame errors out try the following commands.

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install python-pygame

Step 7: Setup and Copy the Files

You will need to copy the files and setup the folders.

• ghost_2.0.py
• mkdir Ghost
• sudo python ghost_2.0.py
• If the file works then create the launcher script to start on boot up. I used this tutorial .

Thank you for Viewing this tutorial. Have fun creating.

Participated in the Halloween Decor Contest 2016

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First Time Author

Question 2 years ago

This is so awesome! Could I pay you to make this for me or at least do the computer part? Let me know! Thanks.

6 years ago

Pretty cook,