How to Make Paper Mache Jack O'Lanterns

This is a safe alternative to traditional jack-o-lanterns.

Paper mache jack-o-lantern's are an easy way to spook up your home for Halloween. The materials needed are inexpensive and the project will not require a lot of your time. This would be a nice project to do with the kids for Halloween. Your paper mache pumpkins will be safe since there is no fire involved and will last the whole season long.

Things You'll Need

• Orange tissue paper
• Yellow tissue paper
• Empty glass jars
• Balloons
• Wheat paste
• Paintbrush
• Sewing scissors
• Clothesline
• Clothespins
• Utility knife
• Battery operated candle

Instructions

1. Use your scissors to cut your yellow and orange tissue paper into 1-inch-wide strips. Place them on your workspace, then bring all of your other materials close by so you can easily reach them.

2. Blow up your balloon to the desired size you wish your pumpkin to be. Sit the balloon into the mouth of an empty jar and slather wheat paste on one part of the balloon. Place a strip of of orange tissue paper down the balloon from the top center to the knot. Apply paste over that strip, then add another strip slightly overlapping your first strip. Apply paste again and continue all the way around the balloon doing two layers of orange and then two layers of yellow tissue paper strips. Repeat each step to make subsequent jack-o-lanterns.

3. Hang your clothesline up where you can leave the pumpkin to dry. Use a clothespin for each pumpkin to hang them from the knot of the balloon. Leave them there long enough to completely dry.

4. Pop each balloon with your scissors after the paper mache has dried. Pull the popped balloon out of the pumpkin through the hole where the knot used to be.

5. Draw the face you would like your jack-o-lantern to have using a pencil. Carefully cut your design out with your scissors.

6. Cut a hole in the bottom big enough to slide your jack-o-lantern over your candle. Turn your candle on and sit the jack-o-lantern right over the top of it.

Tips & Warnings

• Make different sized pumpkins just by making your balloons bigger or smaller.

References

• Kids Turn Central: Halloween Craft Ideas
• Martha Stewart: Paper Mache Pumpkins