Paper Mache Pumpkin Tutorial | DIY Halloween Decor

Materials:

• Balloons

• Rubber Bands

• Newspaper

• White All Purpose Glue (¾ cup)

• Water (¼ cup)

• White Acrylic Paint or Liquid Gesso

• Orange Acrylic Paint (I used the shade ‘Pumpkin’)

• Dark Brown Acrylic Paint

• Black Acrylic Paint

• Scissors or Box Cutter

• Paint Brush or Sponges

Method:

1. Fill a balloon with air. Place large rubber bands around the balloon in sections to give it a pumpkin shape. Rip the paper into strips of different lengths and about 2 inches wide.

2. In a plastic container, mix the water and glue until well combined. Dip the strips of paper one at a time in the glue mixture and remove any excess glue. Place each strip onto the surface of the balloon and smooth them out with your fingers. Continue until the whole balloon is covered except for a small space around where the balloon was tied close. Let this layer dry completely. Repeat the process and add two more layers. (If it is too messy to apply the glue with your fingers, you can use a brush to brush on the glue, place a strip of paper, then cover it with another layer of glue.) Let the balloon dry completely. The paper layers will feel hard to the touch.

3. Pop the balloon through the empty space that was left exposed.

4. Draw a Jack o’ Lantern face on one side of the balloon. Carefully cut out the face using a box cutter.

5. Roll strips of paper and dip them in the glue until damp. Place these on top of the eyes so that they look like angry eyebrows. Roll more strips of paper and place these all the way around the nose and mouth openings. Dip short strips of paper in the glue and place them over the eyebrows and borders around the nose and mouth so that they now have a smooth surface. Let dry completely.

6. Using a full sheet of paper about 10 inches in length, cut strips along the bottom of the paper about 4 inches in length. Roll up the paper and twist the part that isn’t in strips. Fan out the strips. Place these on the top of the pumpkin as a stem. Brush down the strips with glue. Let dry. Twist the stem into a hook shape and cover it completely in glue, let dry.

7. Cover the entire pumpkin in a layer of white paint or liquid gesso. Let dry. Paint the pumpkin in orange and if wanted, paint the inside of the pumpkin in black. Paint the stem in a dark brown color. Let dry.