Decorating Ideas With Pumpkins, Gourds and Hay
In the fall, decorations tend to take on a more natural look and feel, both for the home and outside. Use pumpkins, squash and gourds to convey the bountiful harvest and purchase hay bales to set them on. Bales of hay can be purchased from a local farm or feed store. You can also buy smaller imitation hay blocks or bales at craft stores. Does this Spark an idea?
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Carving and Painting Pumpkins
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Purchase large orange pumpkins that are good for carving, such as Aladdin pumpkins. These have smooth, rounded sides. Cut the top off and scoop out the seeds. Print out a pattern or draw your own on the pumpkin and begin carving. Place the top back on the pumpkin. Carved pumpkins do not last more than a week, so if you want to use them throughout the fall season, you will need to carve new pumpkins periodically. Painted pumpkins will last all season. Choose a pumpkin that you like and paint a face or design on it using a brush and craft paint. Allow it to dry thoroughly before putting it out in the elements.
Placement
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Pumpkins scattered around the yard randomly doesn't present a good image. Instead, strategically place them on your porch, front steps or along the driveway. Place pumpkins on alternate sides of steps that lead to the front door. For example, place a pumpkin on the first step to the left; another pumpkin on the second step to the right. Continue to the top. Fill a basket with smaller pumpkins and gourds and place it by the front door; set it on a small chair or table to get it off the ground so it can be seen. Hollow out different gourds and poke a few holes in their sides with an awl. Place a tea light candle inside and line them along the driveway or walkway. At night, light the candles; the lights will shine through the gourds like little lanterns.
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Hay Rounds
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Hay rounds work best if you have a large yard or grassy area in which to place them. These rounds must often be purchased directly from a farm that bales their hay in this manner. They are big cylinders of hay that lie on their sides, so that the circular part is showing. Hay rounds are very tall, often as tall as a person. Because they are so large, they must be moved by machinery, so they may not be practical for the average homeowner. If you already have the rounds on your farm or property, however, they are perfect for decorating. Paint the circular section with white paint and add eyes and a mouth with black paint, to create a ghost. You can also create jack-o'-lanterns using orange and black paint.
Hay Bales
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Hay bales can be used for many different things. Stack several together to make a display area for pumpkins, gourds and scarecrows. This would make a great spot to take pictures during a party. If you have a large area, stack the hay bales and make a maze for people to walk through, which is another good party idea. Or line the driveway with hay bales and put your gourd lanterns on top to show them off.
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References
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