Papier Mache Pumpkins

A fun family activity for the fall holidays, a papier mache pumpkin is excellent for Halloween or Thanksgiving decoration.

The finished pumpkin can be used as a reusable jack o' lantern, candy bowl, pumpkin-top hat, door decoration, scarecrow head, etc.

Step 1 Supplies

Dollar store bungee balloons
String
Newspaper
Water
Flour
Salt
Paint
Stick (approximately pupkin stem width)
Round piece of cardboard
Washer/smashed bottle cap (optional)

Tools:
Cutting device (Dremel, scissors, sharp serrated knife)
Scissors
Small nail
Hot Glue Gun + spare glue sticks

note: not all supplies are pictured

Comments

[Lady Steampunk]

Just started this project, I have the base coat of 5 balloons drying. Strings were difficult, so I ended up using rubber bands instead.

[mbrice]

~OOOOO~ I'm so excited!!! Want to get started right away :) Ty M

[kayla-chan]

Obviously balloons like you. They hate me so I ended up using a beach ball. It's just another option (and you just have to follow the lines already on the ball to make the ridges).

[unexpired]

Yeah, my second round I struggled with the strings a bit more. I thought about a beach ball, but couldn't find one since they were out of season!

[kayla-chan]

It got suggested to me by a lady at a craft store after I burst about 5 balloons. I was lucky to just catch the season but my pumpkin is fairly biggish...
And I had to add layers of tape to make the ridges larger but that wasn't too painful. I will hopefully throw up a picture once I finish it I just have to sand it and paint it and I'm done :)
But thank you so much for the awesome instructable, it was really helpful

[nail face]

wow i used to blow up the balloon and wrap tape around it, but this is just so much better then what i was doing lol

[saffron69]

Awesome...
Halloween hasnt caught on here in Australia.... sigh ... i wish it did just for the costumes =)
and so though ive playe with papier mache ive never made a pumpkin before...
i think my boy and i are going to have some fun with this.....lots of fun =)
thanks heaps

[bluelantern]

lol! cool! ill try to make one too....thanks!

[piperjon]

How cute! And you look fabulous in your punkin hat! :-D
Pj