How to Make a Pumpkin Out of Clay for Halloween

Halloween is all about decorations and candy. This craft for kids and adults alike will help you make your very own pumpkin. You can display this pumpkin next to the candy dish or by the candy bowl for when trick or treaters drop by. You could make a pumpkin for each stair leading up to your front door. The pumpkins would then be able to greet your visitors. You are encouraged to take this craft and add your very own special personal touch.

Things You'll Need

• Clay
• Paint
• Paint brush
• Newspapers or grocery bags
• Cup of water
• Butter knife or pumpkin carving tools

Instructions

1. Lay out some newspapers on your workspace so you don't damage any surfaces. If you don't have any newspapers you can always use grocery bags. The brown paper ones work the best, but you can still use the plastic if need be.

2. Get out your clay and begin to mold it in the shape of a pumpkin. You can start with the traditional pumpkin, which is round all over, but has a dent in the top. It comes with a brown stem out of the dent and a few green leaves off of the stem. You could also go with a more creative pumpkin, which would include carved out eyes, nose, and mouth. Just start playing with the clay, and an idea will come to you. You may need to add a little bit of water from time to time to help make your molding a little easier. It will also help to create smooth edges.

3. Use your butter knife (or pumpkin carving tools) to create any dents or marks in the pumpkin. For example, you can draw in some eyes, a nose and a mouth. The knife is just available to help you make some marks that you can't make with your fingers. The pumpkin carving tools will help you carve your pumpkin so that is becomes a jack-o-lantern. Jack-o-lantern's come is all kinds of faces which is where you can let your creativity come in to play. Make your pumpkin unique to you.

4. Give your clay time to harden. Depending on the type and brand it could take a few hours to a few days to dry.

5. Paint your pumpkin. You can do the traditional orange with brown stem or you can color it any way you want. If you gave your pumpkin a face, you may need some other colors such as yellow, if it is a jack-o-lantern with a glowing candle inside of it. Maybe you want to give your pumpkin a Halloween costume such as a Superman cape. Maybe your pumpkin is a female, and you want to give it purple hair and red lipstick. If your clay is dark, be aware that you may need to give your pumpkin two coats of white paint. Continue painting until your pumpkin is just the way you want it.

6. Let your pumpkin's paint dry and then display for all to see.

Tips & Warnings

• Feel free to use Play-Doh instead of clay if that is all you have.

• Wear a smock or apron when it is time to paint so you protect your clothes.