Fall Crafts: Making Paper Bag Pumpkins

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

25 Sep 2008 11:34 PM

My daughter is far too young to wield a knife and carve crazy caricatures on fresh pumpkins so this time of year I am constantly on the look out for more age appropriate craft ideas. This next paper bag pumpkin project was a hit last year with our 3-year-old playgroup. Not only is it festive, but also simple and affordable.

This particular project also proved especially helpful for my family as I was searching for craft projects my daughter and I could make for my ailing grandmother who had recently been placed in a nursing home in Hawaii following a severe stroke. Given that these paper bag pumpkins are so light we were able to make a slew of them, pack them up and ship them to Hawaii without going broke in the process. My mom said they arrived in perfect shape and was able to decorate my grandmother's new "home" with homemade pumpkins. Apparently, they were such a hit with the nursing home staff that they ended up making a few for Thanksgiving and using them as décor throughout the facility.

PAPER BAG PUMPKINS

Materials:

Small paper lunch bags

Newspaper

Orange paint

Green paint

Paintbrushes

Rubber bands

Green ribbon

Directions:

Protect your table with a drop cloth, newspaper or old tablecloth.

Stuff each paper lunch bag with balled up newspaper. (It will not take more than one page of newspaper to fill each bag.)

Once your bag is full secure it with a rubber band.

Paint the paper bag from the rubber band down with orange paint. Then, paint the paper bag from the rubber band up (should only be a small bit) with green paint for the stem. (Do this on all of your pumpkins. You can make enough for an entire pumpkin patch or enough to place in different places around your home.)

Once the paint is dry, take the ribbon and wrap it around the tops of the pumpkins to make it look as though the they have vines.

Display indoors or outdoors.

Related Articles:

How to Make a Unique Fall Wreath with Your Kids

Go Batty this Halloween

Homemade Holiday Decorations: Fun with Pinecones

Simple Halloween Crafts: Fun with Paper Plates

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Decorating Tips For The Children's Thanksgiving Table

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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