Fantasy Jack-O-Lantern

Decorating with pumpkins is the most traditional way most of us celebrate Halloween. I'll admit I haven't carved that many pumpkins in my lifetime. My family has lived in areas where not many trick-or-treaters visit, so we rarely buy a pumpkin to carve. Instead, I've always had jack-o-lanterns made out of materials that will last for years.

I still have the terracotta jack-o-lantern that my parents bought me so many years ago, but now there are so many other choices for jack-o-lanterns. Faux pumpkins from the craft store look so realistic these days, so I had fun creating a new jack-o-lantern last year.

Use this tutorial only as a suggestion for decorating your jack-o-lantern to fit your own taste. If a happy pumpkin like mine isn't what you like, make one that is really scary. Have fun decorating the witch hat to suit your jack-o-lantern's personality. The hat in this tutorial is full of bling, but see the tutorial for my Spooky Witch Hat if you would like to use that one instead.

Have fun creating your own special pumpkin that can be enjoyed for many years to come!

If you are looking for a witch hat like the one I used, they can be found at Michael's or JoAnn's craft stores. You can also make one by cutting a large round circle of heavy paper for the brim of the hat. Form a cone shape with another piece of paper and glue or tape it to the brim to form the hat shape.

You'll need:

 

-medium size faux pumpkin

-paper mache witch hat (see notes about hat)

-candle holder (pick one about the size of the pumpkin)

-black craft paint

-paint brushes

-pencil

- white craft glue

-black glitter

-pumpkin floral pick

-1 purple plumage feather

-scrap of black felt

-Wire

-Scissors

-Wire Clippers (optional)

-Liquid Nails

-A variety of ribbons in Halloween colors

(I used a 1 1/2 inch wired purple ribbon, a 1 1/2 orange polka dot ribbon, 5/8 inch black ribbon with orange polka dots, a 5/8 inch wide ribbon with jack-lanterns, and a 1 inch ribbon for the hat band)

1. Paint candle holder black and allow to dry.

2. Using a pencil, draw a face on the pumpkin. When you are happy with the design, paint the facial features with black paint, then set aside to dry.

3. Paint the witch's hat black, remembering to paint under the brim since this will be visible.

4. Once the paint has dried, paint the craft glue in small sections on the hat, then cover with glitter. Repeat until the hat is covered with glitter. Once the top is dry, repeat so the underneath side of the brim is also glittered. Set aside to dry. (See photo in Step 5)

5. When the glitter is dry, take a piece of purple grosgrain ribbon and measure enough to make a hatband. Fold it in half lengthwise if needed to fit, then hot glue to keep in place. Secure to the hat.

6. Cut a small square of black felt to act as a pad for the feather and pick. Cut pick to size and shape feather with the blunt end of the scissors. Hot glue feather and pumpkin pick on the felt. Trim felt if needed.


Front

 

Back

 

7. Glue the feathered pumpkin pad near the hatband where the ends meet.

8. Make a bow. Any type bow from a simple hand tied bow to one more fancy like mine can be used.

9. Hot glue bow on the hatband, making sure to cover the ends of the feather pick.

10. Using a strong adhesive like Liquid Nails, glue the hat on top of the jack-o-lantern. Set jack-o-lantern on candle holder. Secure with glue if you want the pumpkin to always stay on the candle holder.

 

If you liked this post, visit my Craft Page for more Halloween craft ideas.

 

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