Carefully snip the string holding the tag of the tea bag and remove it. Fold open the tea bag and empty all the tea into a bowl. You can still use the tea leaves to make tea with a diffuser, or add it to your compost. You can also use it in soaps or bath bombs!

Smooth the tea bag out and place it on a sheet of parchment paper before drawing on your ghost faces and designs with a marker. It will bleed through, so ensure you protect your table top surface.

Once your designs are finished, use your fingers to carefully open up the tube, then stand it up on the baking sheet.

When you are ready, light the top with a lighter. It should catch fire quickly. Step back and prepare for the flight.

It will burn down, then as it reaches the base it will lift off and your ghost will take flight!

After the Flight

After it takes off, the ghost tea bag will shoot into the air, then the ashy remains will gently float back down to the baking sheet. They are very light and therefore susceptible to air currents. If you hold your hand still the ash may fall back into your hands. Don’t worry, it is perfectly cool by this point!

You can check out the Steam Powered Family for an explanation of the science behind this activity.