Hello everyone!

I am so excited to be joining another challenge with my friends over on Instagram.  This challenge is for each of us to do a project by using pumpkins in a creative way.   Thinking outside the box!  We can use a real, faux or home made pumpkins, we were told to just be creative and inspirational.  This evening is the time that we will be sharing our project on Instagram.  You my sweet friends are the first to see it here!

I will be making two paper mache pumpkins.  I knew I wanted to work on my Fall front porch and needed pumpkins for my planters.  They are huge planters so I will need extra large pumpkins.  The size I was thinking would be so expensive and you know me……decorate on a budget!  🙂  I went on Google and searched “DIY large faux pumpkin” and a couple popped up.

This project was not a one-dayer DIY.  It took me a good week to complete.  Mostly due to the drying time of each step.

I hope you will enjoy my DIY tutorial for The Great Pumpkin challenge!

Let’s get started.

Here are the items that I will be using to get started making two large pumpkins.

1. Two large yard trash bags.
2. duck tape
3. A lot of newspapers
4. rocks or anything to give your bag some weight

Starting with my bag.  Opening it up and add my weight to the bottom.  I used broken up brick.

Taking my newspapers I crumbled each page up until I had the bag full.  I closed the opening with duct tape.

With the top part of the bag I made a stem for my pumpkin.  Using duct tape I formed a long neck stem.

I continue using the duct tape and went around the bag to make the ribs of the pumpkin.

I wanted two pumpkins.  I made sure they match in size and shape.

So excited that my trash bag full of newspaper actually turned out to look like a pumpkin!:)

Now comes the messy part of the project…….paper maching!!

To make the paper mache

To make Paper Mache you will need:

• large bowl
• flour
• water
• whisk

I placed the flour in the bowl and added water and started whisking the mixture into it became a pancake-like batter.  You don’t want it too thick or too thin.  Each time I made a batch it got easier.

I started ripping newspapers into strips.

After the first couple of pieces I figured out an easier way to do this.  I placed a strip into the paste and then took it out and placed it over a stem glass let it drip dry a little before applying it to the bag.  This seem to work a lot better.

I did two coats of paper mache.  I did one coat, let dry and then the second coat.

At this point I was getting excited and couldn’t wait to start painting.  BUT…I had a couple more steps to finish before starting that step of the project.

Once the top part was good and dry I turned the pumpkins over and did the bottom section the same way.

I notice some places wasn’t glued to the bag.  I had to cut the newspaper that wasn’t glued down before adding the layer of paper.

Starting the bottom part of my pumpkins.  Adding a layer, letting that dry and then adding another.

Once it was all good and dry I grabbed some premixed joint compound and spreading that evenly over both pumpkins. Did the bottom first, let dry, turned both over and did each top.

Let that dry for 24 hours.  Once that was good and dry I should of sanded lightly all over. UGH!  But I got impatient.   I couldn’t wait to start painting my pumpkins!

Time to Paint the pumpkins!

I used chalk paint and craft paint, it doesn’t matter what type of paint you used.  I even grabbed a can of orange spray paint for the bottom portion.  Giving my pumpkin some depth I used a darker color in the indentations or the ribs of the pumpkin.

I gave the pumpkins two coats of paint.

After the paint dried I applied two coats of polyurethane.   This should protect the pumpkins from the weather.

Time to decorate the pumpkins

Using some green mesh and twigs I applied to the stem of the pumpkins.

I also added some faux Fall leaves to the planter.

Here is my “Great Pumpkin” challenge!

So what do you think?  It took a little….OK a lot of time, but it was so worth it! 🙂  I think it brought some interest to the front porch.

I think I might make some smaller ones, but will wait to see how well these hold up through the Fall season.  I will give you an update later this month.

I am so happy that you stopped by.  I hope you will stop over on Instagram and check out my stories to check out my friend’s projects.  A very talented group of friends!

Give this girl a click if you like what you have seen on the blog today! 🙂  Click the LIKE button and SHARE it with your social media friends!  You can pin this to your PINTEREST page to save it until you are ready to take the plunge and make one or two of these large pumpkins.  The buttons you need to click are at the bottom of my page.  I would love for you to be part of my family so follow me on all of the social media.  Facebook {{HERE}} Instagram {{HERE}}and Pinterest {{HERE}}.  Come by and say Hey!

Stay strong and stay blessed!

XO  Terrie