Pumpkin Ideas for kids to make-part 2

Here is the second section!

Light Bulb Pumpkin Craft

Materials:  Paint, Chenille Stem, Craft Foam or Felt, Craft Glue or Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks, Paint Brush, and Scissors

Instructions:

First you need to paint your light bulb orange. If you want to make your light bulb a little stronger before you paint it, consider covering it with a few layers of paper mache. Add more details to your pumpkin using paint. Paint the socket end of the light bulb brown to look like a stem. Paint a jack-o-lantern face on your pumpkin. If you need some inspiration, check out these free jack-o-lantern patterns.

Make darker orange lines on my pumpkin, but this is optional.  Wrap the chenille stem around a pencil so it looks like a spiral. Bend it in half to make a loop and twist the chenille stem around the socket end of the light bulb so you have a couple of inches hanging down the side of the pumpkin. To finish your light bulb pumpkin, cut a couple of leaf shapes out of green craft foam and felt and glue them to your pumpkin. Once the glue is dry you can hang up your pumpkin craft where ever you want!

Bumpkin Pumpkin

Materials:  Paper Mache Paste, Balloons (any size), Newspaper,  String, Paint, and Construction paper and Googly eyes (optional)

Instructions:

Make Paper Mache Paste.

Cut newspaper or newsprint into 2" wide strips.
Blow up balloons (as many as you like) and tie off. Attach string to tied end of balloon.

Once paper mache paste is cool, dip individual strips of newsprint into paste.

Apply strips to balloon one at a time. Repeat process until balloon is completely covered. The more layers the firmer your finished work will be.

Hang balloon by string in warm, dry area for at least 24 hours or until completely dry. Be sure to us a drip cloth to protect area.

**if you are making pumpkins - take a 1-2" piece of a paper towel or toilet paper roll. Hold on top of balloon and attach with newspaper strips to form stalk for pumpkin.

Bumpkin Pumpkin 2
Once paper mached balloon is dry:

Gently insert sharp needle into base of balloon - you should hear a pop and balloon pull away from sides of hardened shell.

Gently push in bottom of shell to form a dent - or base for the pumpkin to sit.

Do not force. If dent will not form, use a cardboard strip, about 1" wide, stapled into a circle as a base.

Paint body of pumpkin orange. Paint stalk green.

To decorate paint eyes, nose and mouth on pumpkin in desired "look". You can use googly eyes if you wish. You can cut out green leaves from construction paper and use green floral wire to form vines.

You can also cut out eyes, nose and mouth using a sharp bladed knife. Then cut a circle in the back and shine a flashlight inside. Do NOT use a candle or flame. These pumpkins are paper and will immediately burn.

Pumpkin Snot

Kids love slime, especially when they make it!  Let them help or make a batch and give it to them in a plastic pumpkin with the poem.

Blend together 2 cups of white glue (such as Elmers) with 1 1/2 cups warm water in a bowl.

Add red and yellow food coloring until orange for pumpkin snot.

Dissolve 4 tsp. of borax in 1 1/3 cups warm water in another bowl.  When dissolved add it to the glue/water bowl.

Squish with hands until desired consistency.  Print poem to add if desired.

Have fun but keep off of furniture, carpets and clothes!

Salt Dough Pumpkin Patch

Salt dough is a great medium for fun and creative crafting. Take this sparkly pumpkin patch for instance! Salt dough recipes aren't just for kids. Make these fun and festive pumpkins this Fall for your holiday decorating.

Materials:  1 cup salt, 2 cups all purpose flour, 1 cup water, orange acrylic paint, paintbrush, Gold glitter paint, and 2 green toothpicks, broken or cut in half

IMPORTANT NOTE: This recipe for salt dough makes a lot of projects. If you only plan on making a few, cut this recipe into fourths or in half.

Share your ideas on this or anything here on the blog either here or e-mail me at stipple@verizon.net  I look forward to hearing from you!