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diy paper mache pumpkin
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Paper Mache Pumpkins

Learn how to make a paper mache pumpkin using inexpensive supplies! This is a fun family activity for your fall decorating.
Prep Time30 minutes
Active Time3 hours
Dry Time3 hours
Total Time6 hours 30 minutes
Yield: 2 pumpkins
Cost: $2

Equipment

Materials

  • Balloons
  • Roll of twine
  • Wine corks - 1 per pumpkin
  • Newspaper
  • Craft paint or spray paint orange and brown
  • Felt
  • Mod Podge

Instructions

  • Blow up a regular party balloon to slightly over half full. Use a clip or clothespin to hold the balloon shut securely. You will need to add more air in a bit.
    Blue balloon, scissors and twine
  • Cut a length of twine and secure around the balloon from the top to the base with a knot.
    Tying a loop of twine around the balloon
  • Repeat with two more strings around the balloon, forming a snowflake at the top (the opposite end of the neck that you blow into).
    Top of the balloon with the twine crossing
  • Inflate the balloon to a little more than two-thirds full, or whatever your desired size. This is to create the pumpkin ribs. Tie off the end of the balloon.
    Tying the balloon shut
  • Adjust the strings to make the ribs of the pumpkin more even.
    Tying three twine loops around the balloon
  • Open a newspaper page and cut into small pieces using the scissors. My pieces were about 1” x 1”.
    Cutting newspaper into squares with scissors
  • Working in one area at a time, apply Mod Podge to the balloon surface with a paintbrush. Stick a newspaper piece down into the Mod Podge, and then brush over the top. Continue doing this with additional pieces of newspaper and Mod Podge.
    Applying magazine pages to the balloon with Mod Podge and a paintbrush
  • Continue applying strips of newspaper and Mod Podge, going over the twine, from the top of the balloon towards the neck. You’re going to cover the entire balloon with one layer and let dry.
    Covering the balloon and twine with decoupage medium and newspaper
  • Repeat this process two more times. You want three layers of newspaper and Mod Podge on the balloon. Let completely dry before painting.
    Two additional layers of newspaper added to the baloon
  • Paint the pumpkin with a layer of orange paint and let dry completely.
    Painting a first layer of orange paint on the pumpkin
  • Paint a few additional layers of paint and set aside the pumpkin to dry completely.
    Painting two layers of orange paint on the paper mache pumpkin
  • Dip a paintbrush in some brown paint and tap a lot of it off. Brush some of the paint into the ridges between the pumpkin ribs. If you need to remove paint, wet another paintbrush and brush some off. Repeat with the rest of the ribs and let dry.
    Adding brown paint between the pumpkin ribs with a paintbrush
  • Using the felt, cut leaves or a topper that can sit under the wine cork stem. Hot glue it to the top of the pumpkin. A hole was cut in the middle of my topper so that the stem could be glued directly to the pumpkin.
    Hot gluing the felt topper
  • Cut a length of twine. Hot glue one end to the base of the wine cork. Wrap the twine around the cork and secure the end near the top with hot glue. Trim with scissors.
    Wine cork wrapped in twine
  • Attach the wine cork to the top of the pumpkin with a hot glue gun. Let cool completely before displaying.
    Hot gluing the wine cork to the top of the pumpkin
  • Repeat to make an additional pumpkin. This time you can make the balloon smaller when you inflate it so that your second gourd is slightly smaller than the first.
    paper mache pumpkins

Video

Notes

If you don't want ANY newspaper print showing through your pumpkins, consider covering them with white primer spray paint first before painting orange.
A fun twist on this would be painting as a jack o lantern! Plus the kids would love it.