Last updated on October 26th, 2021 at 12:45 pm
Pile o’ Decoupaged Pumpkins:
Paint and decoupage a pile of pumpkins in this styrofoam craft project, which typically takes two to four hours to complete. Includes a free printable pattern for six different pumpkin faces.
by Kathleen George
MATERIALS NEEDED:
STYROFOAM* Brand Foam:
Eggs: 5″; 4″, two; 3″, three
Other Materials:
- Acrylic paints: black; brown; white; yellow
- Gloss decoupage medium
- Orange tissue paper, various shades
- Brown construction paper
- Wooden dowels: 1/4″ diameter; 3/16″ diameter
- Serrated knife
- Candle stub or paraffin
- Fine-line black permanent marker
- Pencil and Ruler
- Wooden skewers
- Rubber bands
- Small bowl
- Metal teaspoon
- Paintbrushes: 1″ flat; liner or small round
- Disposable palette
- Water basin and paper towels
- Scissors
- Paper piercing tool or sewing needle
- Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
- Thick, white craft glue
PROJECT 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 decoupage 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.
*Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company.
Project reprinted courtesy of The Dow Chemical Company, Manufacturer of Genuine STYROFOAM(R) Brand Foam.
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