Learn how to make a Paper Mache Pumpkin! Whenever the fall season comes along, the one thing you can see everywhere is pumpkins. Pumpkin décor is something that always rings in the fall season and gets you ready for Halloween as well. While you can get fresh pumpkins to add to the fall décor in your home, they tend to not be very long-lasting. One long-lasting thing is paper mache pumpkins. These pumpkins are very easy to make and can serve as not only a fun fall-themed crafting session but as year-round décor as well.
How to Make a Paper Mache Pumpkin with a Balloon
Paper mache is a craft that has been in existence for a very long time. It is a process that takes some paper and glue and turns it into pieces that you can use as décor or as gifts. Before you start your paper mache pumpkin project, gather all your supplies and make them as easily accessible as you can. This will not only help you when you are further along in the process but also make the project much more fun as well. You can decorate them as you want and get as creative as you want.
Materials Needed to Make a Paper Mache Pumpkin
Paper Mache Paste
- Newspaper or Paper strips
- Big Bowl
- Water
- Flour
- White Glue
Paper Mache Pumpkin
- Balloon
- Jute Twine
- Scissors
- Scotch Tape
- Scissors
Decorations (Painting)
- Foam Brush
- Acrylic Paints (any colors of your choosing)
- Beads or stickers (optional)
Paper Mache Pumpkin Tutorial
Making a paper mache pumpkin is not a very long process and will not require a lot of effort on your part. There are a few steps that you will have to do that get classified as preparation. Once you have these steps done, you can start building your paper mache pumpkin, and then you're only a few hours away from decorating it and having your new fall decor ready.
How to Make Paper Mache Paste
You should mix up your paper mache paste first since that is the main thing you need in this project. Don't make this paste too far in advance as it can turn sour pretty quickly. If you do have to take a break, you can always a little bit of salt which will help stabilize it, and then you can store it till you're ready to make your paper mache pumpkin.
Step 1 – Mix Flour and Water
Take your big bowl and in it add equal parts flour and water and mix them together. You need to mix this mixture till it is smooth and has the consistency of watery pancake batter.
Step 2 – Add Glue
At this point, your paper mache paste is ready to be used as-is. But, if you want to add a little bit more integrity and stability to your mixture, you can add a touch of white glue. Mix the glue in until the mixture is smooth and consistent.
How to Make a Paper Mache Pumpkin Instructions
Now comes the fun part! Once you have your paper mache paste ready, you can start prepping for your paper mache pumpkin. The prep does not have a lot of steps and pretty soon you will be ready to combine everything together to create your paper mache pumpkin.
Step 1 – Blow up the Balloon
The first step is to get your pumpkin shape ready and for that, you need to blow up the balloon you have. You can blow it up as much as you want as that will then translate into the size of the paper mache pumpkin that you get at the end. Remember to keep in mind the amount of paper mache paste and paper strips you have.
Step 2 – Wrap Twine
Once you have your balloon ready, measure out a piece of twine that you can easily wrap around the circumference of the balloon. Tape this to the bottom of the balloon and start wrapping it around in vertical lines. You are basically creating a pumpkin shape with this twine so keep that in mind. Once you have twine wrapped around the balloon, pull it up just a little bit so that the balloon bulges out and makes the shape of a pumpkin. You will need a few pieces of twine for this part. The leftover pieces of twine get tied together at the top to mimic the shape of a stalk.
Step 3 – Dip and Cover
Get your paper mache paste and your paper strips and start dipping one strip at a time. Take this dipped strip and lay it on the bottom of the pumpkin balloon shape. Work your way up from the bottom as that helps you create more structural integrity in the whole pumpkin. You need to add a few layers of dipped paper to ensure that you have covered every inch of the pumpkin shape. Cover the twine stalk as well and you’re done.
Step 4 – Smooth and Dry
Once you are satisfied with your pumpkin coverage, you can let it dry out for about half an hour. Then you can go in and smooth out any bubbles or edges you can see and make sure every part is smooth and the curves are represented well. Let this dry out completely for a few hours.
Paper Mache Pumpkin – How to Decorate
Once you have your paper mache pumpkin ready and dry, you can start the fun process of decorating it as you please. You can go traditional and make it look like a real pumpkin, or you can use as many colors and finishes as you want and create some décor pieces that you can use year-round and not just around the fall time.
Traditional Pumpkin Décor
For the traditional pumpkin décor you need to get some fall colors together and a foam brush. Follow the steps below;
- Cover the whole pumpkin in orange paint. You will need two layers depending on the paint you have and how bright you want the color to be.
- Once the orange color has dried, you can add some details with brown and yellow colors. This adds depth to the pumpkin.
- Color the stalk in a few shades of green and your pumpkin is ready.
Contemporary Décor Pumpkin
If traditional pumpkins are not your thing, you can always turn your paper mache pumpkin into a unique décor piece for your home.
- Take your paper mache pumpkin and color it all over in a black or another dark color. You can use gray, emerald green, or even navy blue.
- Once you have covered the pumpkin in enough layers of paint and it has dried, you can use some gold paint to add details to the body of the pumpkin
- Paint the stalk with either the same gold color or any other color of your choosing. This creates a minimal and contemporary-looking pumpkin that can be used as formal décor.
Kid’s Rooms Décor Pumpkin
One of the most fun things about paper mache is that that it can be done with kids. If you are making this paper mache pumpkin with kids, it would make sense to decorate it for their room.
- You can use an array of bright colors and use a few layers to make them really vibrant. Make sure that the layers have had time to dry in between to ensure a smooth finish.
- Once these paint layers are dry, you can add some tape on top and create patterns with them. Add more paint in a different color on top and take the tape off when it is still wet.
- Let that dry and write or draw anything you want on top.
Centerpiece Pumpkin Décor
If you want to make more than one paper mache pumpkin, you can always turn them into centerpiece décor for your next dinner party.
- Make a few small paper mache pumpkins, following the same method as detailed above. Once you have your smaller pumpkins dry and ready, you can start to decorate.
- Use neutral colors with a few accent colors here there for the base layers. You can use one color across all the pumpkins or you use complementary colors.
- Once the base layers are dry, add some metallic paint details around the body and the stalks.
- When this is dry, you can display these pumpkins in a bowl and have a hand-made festive centerpiece for your dinner table.
How to Make a Paper Mache Pinata
Turn your paper mache pumpkin into a pinata by planning ahead and putting candy in the balloon before you blow it up. Add a string around the stem and you are ready for a Halloween party!
Paper Mache Pumpkin FAQS
How Long Does it Take to Make a Paper Mache Pumpkin?
If you have all the supplies on hand, a paper mache pumpkin really doesn't take long. The actual paper mache takes under 30 minutes. The longest step is just the drying time and also the painting. If you are painting in layers and need to let each layer first then this can take a few hours.
Can you Paper Mache a Real Pumpkin?
If you just need a paper mache pumpkin that doesn't last long, then you can certainly use a real one underneath. Paper matching over a balloon is ideal if you want to keep it as a decoration for more than a few weeks. Real pumpkins will rot underneath the paper mache so are not ideal.
Can I Make the Paper Mache Pumpkin Waterproof?
In order to make your pumpkin waterproof, you can add waterproof glue such as gorilla glue. Clear sealants like Modge Podge can also create a water-resistant barrier to make your pumpkin last longer.
How to Make a Paper Mache Pumpkin – In Conclusion
Paper Mache crafts are so easy and can provide hours of crafting fun for you and your kids. Making a paper mache pumpkin is very simple and will help you decorate for fall everywhere without having to wait for real pumpkins or worrying about them dying off before Halloween is even here. The supplies you need are not too special and most of us have them readily available in our homes. Once the pumpkin is dressed and has dried, there are so many possibilities as to how you can decorate it and use it around your home. From making pumpkins that are realistic to pumpkins that are suited to formal or whimsical décor around the home, the options are endless.
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