Pumpkin Head Halloween Costume

Step 3: Cover the balloon

This is where the paper mache skills really pay off. Cover the balloon with multiple layers of paper mache.
Leave the knot of the balloon exposed so that you can let the air out of it, this will be the top of the pumpkin. Do not cover the bottom of the balloon too much either as this will be the head hole.

I dillute my PVA glue with a little water to make it easier to slip the paper pieces into the places I want them to be. I ended up putting 6 layers of glue and paper on to my mask, leaving 4 hours for each layer to dry. I did this over 3 days but I guess the real hardcore builder could have it done in one day :P

Once dry deflate the balloon and remove it from the paper mache. Cut away some of the excess around the base so that you can finally get your head into the balloon. I used this excess to cover the hole in the top of the balloon, this way you only need to add two layers of paper mache (one inside and one outside) to give the join the same thickness as the rest of the balloon.