Create an Everlasting Pumpkin

By Nancy A. Cavanaugh

    Carving pumpkins is a lot of fun, but you can only keep them around for a week or so even if you use all the tricks for preserving it. If you’re looking for a pumpkin that will last a bit longer, try making one out of paper mache.
    Note: These shouldn’t be used outside as they will be destroyed in the rain.

What You Need:
    1 cup water
    1 cup flour
    Wax paper
    Balloon
    Newspaper
    Pen or marker
    Craft knife (adults only!)
    Paint – orange, green, black and yellow
    Paintbrush
    Varnish or decoupage glue
    Battery-operated candle

What to Do:
    1. Mix the water and the flour to make a paste. Make sure there are no lumps and should be thin but not watery. Add more flour or water if needed.
    2. Cover your work surface with wax paper or some other covering that the paste won’t stick to.
    3. Blow the balloon up to the size you want your pumpkin to be. A good size is about six-inches wide.
    4. Rip the newspaper into strips that are approximately one-inch wide by six-inches long.
    5. Place a strip of newspaper into the paste, wiping off the excess, then carefully cover the balloon with two layers of newspaper strips. Leave a small area about the size of a nickel uncovered on the bottom. Allow the pumpkin to mostly dry then pop the balloon and remove it.
    6. Continue to cover the entire pumpkin with several more layers. If it is getting too wet looking you can let it dry a bit then go back to it. You can create the look of a pumpkin by building up areas with extra strips of newspaper. Make a stem and add it to the top. Allow to dry completely.
    7. Draw a face on the pumpkin and a circle around the top, like you would for a real pumpkin. Have a parent use a craft knife to cut the sections out. If you prefer, you can paint them on later.
    8. Cover the pumpkin with at least two coats of orange and green paint. You can also use one coat of white then the orange and green. You shouldn’t be able to see the newspaper print. Allow to dry completely. You can paint on the face now if you’d chosen not to cut it out. Allow to dry completely.
    9. Cover with a clear varnish or decoupage glue following the directions on the bottle. Allow to dry completely.
    10. Place a battery-operated candle inside and display.

Make Your Own Trick or Treat Sack

By Nancy A. Cavanaugh

    This year when you go trick or treating, you can carry a sack that you created yourself.

What You Need:
    Old white pillowcase
    Wax paper
    Fabric paint
    Paint brush
    Newspaper
    Thin ribbon (about 1 yard)
    Tape

What to Do:
    1. Wash and dry the pillowcase.
    2. Cover the work surface with newspaper.
    3. Cut the wax paper so that it fits in the pillowcase. Overlap the pieces and tape them together if needed so that entire inside of the pillowcase is covered.
    4. Paint the pillowcase with a Halloween theme using fabric paints. Let dry completely. If you wish, you can paint the other side once the front is completely dry.
    5. Cut a small hole in the pillowcase casing then thread the ribbon through it. Tie a knot and hide it in the casing. This will allow you to pull the bag closed and be a shoulder strap. Alternately, Mom or Dad can sew the ends of the ribbon to the seams at the top of the bag to create a shoulder strap.