Toolbox
- pumpkin
- craft foam sheets
- double-sided tape
- scissors
- sticky back Velcro
Every year when it comes time to decorate my Jack-o-lantern, it’s always hard to decide what sort of face to put on it. Scary? Cute? Funny? If only I had a dozen pumpkins and lots of time, then I could have a little bit of everything. But I don’t, of course, so I always have to choose just one or two designs. But then the other day, I spotted a Mr. Potato Head
I started with, of course, a pumpkin. I used a real pumpkin, but a foam one that can be re-used from year to year would be a great idea, too. Then I got a multi-color pack of craft foam sheets,
I cut eyes, noses, mouths, and eyebrows. Before long, I had six fun faces — a pirate, a monster, a cat, a clown, a goofy face, and a traditional Jack-o-lantern.
Next, I cut some small pieces of the fuzzy side of some sticky back Velcro
Then I got to play! Here are what each of my faces look like when in place.
But I couldn’t stop there! I just had to mix it up and make a really fun face. I have to admit that this was my favorite face of all.
I can’t wait to show my niece this new Jack-o-lantern. She’s going to have a blast playing with it!
Update! Some of you have asked for a template for the facial features. I’m afraid I won’t have time to make a nice formal template for you this year, but what I’ve done is put all my pieces into the scanner and scanned them. Half of them are on Scan #1 and the rest are on Scan #2. Hope that helps!
12 comments so far:
That’s really funny. I have to do crafts for my daughter’s preschool class and this seems like a neat idea! I may try something similar. Thanks!
Lysana, I’m sure the preschool kids would love it. My niece (5 years old) stopped by this morning for a visit, and played with the faces on my pumpkin. Her grandma had to drag her away! “Just one more face, please???”
This is great! I love the variety. Plus, the pumpkin will last throughout the Halloween season, and you can still cook it if you wanted. Just awesome! Thanks for sharing!
This is awesome, I’ll have to make one of these for my nieces and nephews! Thanks for posting!
That is so cute, what a fun idea! This would be so fun in a classroom. Each kid could do the face one day in October. Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.
SUPER FUN!!! Every kid (plus mom & dad) could get into this mr. pumpkin head craft!!!!!!! Love your faces.
Did you free hand these are did you have templates? If you used templates, can you share where you found them? I want to make one of these for my preschoolers to use.
Thanks, everyone, for the nice comments. I currently have the pumpkin sitting on my kitchen table and I have to admit that I can’t walk past it without changing the face and smiling.
Hollye, I cut the pieces freehand. I thought about providing a template for you guys, but ran out of time. Perhaps you can take my picture of all the face pieces and enlarge it and use that as a guide?
Readers, would you like and use a template? If enough of you say ‘yes’ I’ll make one
I stink at free handing anything. I am a pattern sort of girl! I will try to make patterns out of your photos, but if you makes patterns, that would be awesome!
What a great idea and no pumpkin mess. We actually carved our pumpkins today with our kids. You know scraping out the guts and seeds then cutting the pumpkin being careful not to cut yourself. Well the kids had fun and so did I, but your idea is much cleaner and a great way to try different things on the pumpkin. Once you cut it its done you can’t change it.
Thanks for the ideas
Yes, please post patterns or templates!! That would be wonderful
Hollye and Charlotte, I didn’t have time to make you a formal template, but I put the pieces on the scanner and scanned them in for you. Hopefully you can print the scans out and cut them to use as patterns. See the links at the end of the post above. Enjoy!