Paper Mache Pumpkin Tutorial
I love making seasonal crafts with the girls. This year because we have a bigger house we need more Halloween decorations and I thought the perfect craft would be to make paper mache pumpkins which can decorate the porch and be brought out year after year. The best thing is that this can be made with things you should have lying around the house.
What you will need...
Flour
Water
Balloon
Newspaper
String
Toilet roll tube
Tape
Marigold Extra Universal Disposable Gloves
Paint
Firstly rip your newspaper into small squares. Next make a papier mache paste out of the flour and the water. You can use PVA glue slightly watered down instead if you have it.
Blow up your balloon and tie the string around it tightly to form the ridges of a pumpkin shape.
Trim the toilet roll tube to size and tape on top to form the stalk.
Place the balloon on a bowl to keep it steady. Put on your disposable Marigolds - this is going to get messy!
Dip the pieces of paper into the flour paste and stick to the balloon. Keep doing this until the whole balloon has been covered in several layers.
Leave to dry in a warm place. Ours took 24 hours in front of a radiator to dry because it was a big balloon.
When it is dry make a small cut in the bottom of the pumpkin so that it will stand flat. You can then remove the balloon from inside by popping it and pulling it out.
Draw and cut out the pumpkin face of your choice.
Next, put on those Marigolds again and get painting!
You can light up your pumpkin at night with an electric tea light to make it look extra spooky!
The girls absolutely loved making this and the gloves really saved us from getting messy at all - we could just throw them in the bin afterwards which really made cleaning up so much easier. They don't have any powder inside and were thin enough to be able to use without them feeling like they were getting in the way, but they are also strong and durable. I'd definitely recommend having a box of these handy as they are so useful for all sorts of things, not just paper mache! They are great value too at only £5.99 for a box of 60.
What do you think of our Halloween craft - will you try to make a paper mache pumpkin this month?
Like this post? Pin it for later...
Disclosure - this is a collaborative post.
Erica Price
Really clever to make the ridges with string.
Milli gRace
This is a great idea - it looks so fun and less smelly than a real pumpkin!
Angela
What a fantastic idea. I bet Sylvia would love to do this with me. It's a fab tutorial thanks.
stephanie
What a great idea and a fun thing to do with the children - I've got my niece and nephew next weekend, I may have to do this with them as well x
StressedMum
Looks like you had great fun and the finished result is great x
Jenni - Odd Socks and Lollipops
Oh what a fab idea! It looks like such fun. I will have to give this a go with Boo, she will love it
Nikki
Wow these look fab! So effective too! Halloween is one of my favourite times of the year!
Lyndsey
Aww bless the pumpkins look amazing I will need to turn my sister on to this idea with her two!
L x
Rhian Westbury
I am so bad with paper mache, I always make a massive mess. But these have come out so good x
francesca
Oh thats so cool and way more kid freindly than carving a pumpkin!! I should do this with mine!!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
How fun is this! I can't wait to be able to do crafts like this with my little one.
Anna nuttall
Such a cool idea. Love Halloween craft. I should do this with my niece. xx
Emily Leary
That's so cute! My kids would love it and it looks nice and easy too.
Tara
I love Halloween crafts, this looks so fun haha
Milly Youngman
This looks so fun to make! I love a bit of Halloween crafting!
Nayna Kanabar
What a wonderful idea and it looks so lovely all lit up.
fashion-mommy
I absolutely love this idea. Paper Mache is so much fun and really cheap to do.
Sarah Bailey
Such a great idea! Paper Mache can be so much fun!
Zena's Suitcase
This looks so much fun. My girls would love to make this so pinning for an activity for them
Hannah
This is such a good idea - I'll have to do this myself xx
Harriet from Toby & Roo
I keep trying to persuade my boys to do some paper mache with me but they don't have the patience!
Ickle Pickle
I love this - what a great idea. Halloween is one of my favourite times of year 🙂 Kaz x
RachelSwirl
Wow this looks fab, fun to make and won't stink the house out!
Annie B
This totally beats buying an actual pumpkin that will last a few days! Also it's always great fun for you and the kids!
Charli Bruce
This is a brilliant idea, definitely going to be doing this with my daughter as soon as half term starts! xx
Lubka Henry
This is a very cool idea and quite interesting to make. Must be a very enjoyable activity for the little ones 🙂
Dani
Ahh this is great, I might even make myself one this Halloween! 🙂
Dani x