Pumpkin deco ideas for all ages...
Before you begin any of these projects, it's best to clean the pumpkins with soap and water. Dry thoroughly.
'The Melted Crayon' Pumpkin
Supplies:
- White pumpkin
- Crayons (approximately 16 for average size pumpkin)
- Tacky glue or hot glue
- Hair dryer
- Exacto knife
- Old sheet, garbage bags or cardboard to protect work surfaces.
Directions: See video on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pasquesihomeandgardens/videos/10158550744986212/
1. Remove paper wrapping from the individual crayons. To make it easier, it might help to score the paper first with an Exacto knife. Don't allow kids to do this step on their own or without supervision.
2. Cut or break the unwrapped crayons in half.
3. Place the pumpkin on top of an old sheet. (A good project to do outdoors!)
4. Arrange crayons around the stem of pumpkin. Add a touch of super glue or hot glue to keep them in place when using the hair dryer.
5. Use the hair dryer at a low heat setting and direct the heat to melt the crayons. Tip: The lower heat setting will make it easier to direct the flow of the melting crayon wax.
6. When finished, allow the crayon wax to harden and you'll have a one-of-a-kind pumpkin! Try another one!
'Gold Star Magic' Pumpkin (pictured)
These elegant pumpkins are perfect to display in groupings on fireplace mantles, buffet tables or wherever you'd like a little Halloween sparkle. Place votive lights around the pumpkin to cast shadows and make the gold leaf really glow.
Supplies:
- Small or medium-sized pumpkin (If you find a white pumpkin, no need to paint it white.)
- White acrylic paint
- Gold Leaf sheets (available online or at craft stores)
- Metal Leaf Adhesive
- Small brush to apply adhesive
- Tracing paper & pencil to apply the outline of your 'star'.
- Cardboard, plastic or newspaper to protect work surfaces.
Directions:
1. Cover the stem with masking tape to avoid getting paint on it if you are spraying paint.
2. Cover your work surface with plastic, newspaper or cardboard.
3. Draw an outline of the star on pumpkin. Fill in the shape with the adhesive with a small brush. Allow adhesive to dry completely. It should be clear.
4. Apply Gold Leaf onto 'star' area to create a gold star.*
* How to apply Gold Leaf/ Brush-on Glue: Before applying Gold Leaf sheets, brush on Metal Leaf Adhesive to the pumpkin's surface where you want to apply the Gold Leaf. Apply adhesive to pumpkin's surface with a soft brush. Make sure there are no brush strokes. Once surface is covered, allow glue to dry about 30 minutes or until clear. When glue gets tacky, lay a sheet over the glued area and brush gold leaf sheet gently until it adheres to the pumpkin skin. Keep applying Gold Leaf until glued area is covered.
Clean up Tip: Clean up extra wet glue with soap & water.
The 'Easy Chalkboard Boo' Pumpkin (pictured)
Black Chalkboard Spray Paint was used for this pumpkin but you can other colors,too.
Supplies:
- Pumpkin or pumpkins
- Black Chalkboard Spray Paint
- White Chalk... (If you like the classic chalkboard look, all you need is basic Crayola chalk. You can easily shade or outline by just changing the pressure applied to the chalk.
- Bronze, gold or copper acrylic paint for stem
- Cardboard, plastic or newspaper to protect your work surface
Directions:
1. Spray pumpkin in a location where you won't worry about overspray. (Apply in a garage with ventilation or spraying them on the lawn works best for me. The overspray will be gone after a few mowings.)
2. Elevate the pumpkin on a cardboard box on top of the plastic sheeting or cardboard. This will let you spray more of the underside of the object.
3. When using spray paint, it's best to do a few light coats rather than one heavy one, as paint will have a tendency to drip.
4. Allow to dry completely. Approx. 30 minutes.
5. Spray a second coat for the best chalkboard finish.
6. Paint the stem with bronze acrylic paint.
6. Allow paint to dry 24 hours before writing on pumpkins with chalk.
7. Write BOO! or any message with the chalk stick.
The 'Book Club' Pumpkin (pictured)
This is an easy & unique pumpkin collage project... especially for a book lover.
Supplies:
- Pumpkin with smooth skin
- Many photo-copied pages of your favorite horror stories*
- Mod Podge Sealer & Adhesive (matte or gloss, Indoor or Outdoor depending on where you want to place your pumpkin)
- Small wide brush for applying Mod Podge
Directions:
1. Cut pages into 1- to 2-inch wide strips.
2. Brush Mod Podge onto pumpkin where you will apply paper strip and on back of paper strip.
3. Continue placing strips vertically on pumpkin. Place next to each other as you continue to cover the entire pumpkin, if desired.
4. Allow to dry. (Approximately 30 minutes.)
5. When finished, brush on Mod Podge to cover the entire pumpkin to seal it.
6. Allow to dry 24 hours before placing on indoor surfaces or outside.
*Horror book suggestions:
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- Dracula by Bram Stoker
- The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
- The Shining by Stephen King (For this pumpkin, copies of book pages with handwritten notes from the director of 'The Shining', Stanley Kubrick, were used.)
- Through the Woods by Emily Carroll
