STYROFOAM Crafts STYROFOAM Crafts
Pile o' Pumpkins
Designed by: Kathleen George

Typical Project Completion Time: 2-4 hours

Materials Needed
Pile o' Pumpkins

Download pattern (1,006KB PDF)

STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam:
Eggs: 5"; 4", two; 3", three

Other Materials:
Acrylic paints: black; brown; white; yellow
Gloss découpage medium
Orange tissue paper, various shades
Brown constructions paper
Wooden dowels: 1/4" diameter; 3/16" diameter
Serrated knife
Candle stub or paraffin
Fine-line black permanent marker
Pencil
Ruler
Wooden skewers
Rubber bands
Small bowl
Metal teaspoon
Paintbrushes: 1" flat; liner or small round
Disposable palette
Water basin
Paper towels
Scissors
Paper piercing tool or sewing needle
Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
Thick, white craft glue

Instructions
1. Wax serrated knife with candle stub or paraffin. Cut thin slice from top and bottom of each foam egg. Roll cut foam edges against work surface to round and smooth into shape.

2. Mark center top and bottom of each egg. Wrap three rubber bands around each egg, creating six equal vertical segments. Use marker to draw segment lines; remove rubber bands. Using blunt edge of wooden ruler or skewer, press 3/8"-deep grooves along lines. Rub cut edges with back of metal spoon to smooth. Insert skewer into bottom of each pumpkin for handle.

3. Using patterns, cut six sections from orange tissue for each pumpkin. Cut six sepals from brown construction paper; set aside.
4. Thin white glue with a few teaspoons of water in small bowl. Working on one section at a time, brush generous coat of glue/water mixture onto foam; place one tissue section on top. Carefully brush on more glue/water mixture, gently removing wrinkles and air bubbles as you go. Repeat for each pumpkin, allowing tissue pieces to overlap in grooves. Place skewers in heavy glass or jar to dry.
5. When dry, follow manufacturer's instructions to seal each pumpkin with a coat of découpage medium; let dry.
6. Cut several 1" lengths from dowels, cutting on an angle, for stems. Paint stems brown and place in scrap foam until dry.
7. Refer to photo to transfer face patterns to pumpkins; pattern A is for 5" pumpkin, Bs are for 4" pumpkins, and Cs are for 3" pumpkins. Referring to photo, draw on features with fine line marker; add highlights with white and yellow paint.
8. Use skewer to make small hole in center top of each pumpkin; glue stems into holes. Place dot of glue in hole at bottom of pumpkin, created by skewer, and gently press center of sepal into hole. Tuck points into hole as well and flatter paper back against bottom of pumpkin.
 
If you enjoyed this project, look here for more inspiring ideas:
Pumpkin Blocks
Pumpkin Block Tower
Cheering Pumpkins
 
Form No. 179-01523


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