Spooktacular сraft: How to make stylish paper jack-o'-lantern for Halloween
How to make a decorative jack-o'-lantern for Halloween from paper (Illustrative photo: Freepik)
Halloween is not just a time for scary images, but also an opportunity to create decorations together as a family. To make a Halloween pumpkin, or jack-o'-lantern, you don’t necessarily need to buy a real vegetable; you only need some old notebooks, glue, and a balloon. The bonus of a fake pumpkin is that it can last all year round.
What you need for a paper jack-o'-lantern for Halloween
To make a jack-o'-lantern from paper and papier-mâché, you need:
- 1 balloon
- Thick string or ribbon
- Old newspapers
- 200 ml of glue
- 50-80 ml of water
- Acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes
How to make a jack-o'-lantern for Halloween with papier-mâché
First, prepare the papier-mâché. Tear the paper into small pieces and place them in a deep bowl. Old notebooks and newspapers are the ideal choice because the paper should be thin.
Avoid using napkins or toilet paper for the first layer of the papier-mâché pumpkin, as it will not hold its shape properly. However, they can be used for the final decoration of the main Halloween attribute.
Dilute the glue with a small amount of water to make it less thick.
The paper will dry faster if it is soaked only in the glue mixture. It’s best to crumple and lightly dampen the balloon beforehand to better replicate its shape.
Inflate the balloon to the size of the future pumpkin. Be careful not to overinflate it, as it might burst while you are wrapping it.
Tie the balloon with string or ribbon in the shape of the letter "H," pulling the thread to create the pumpkin segments. If desired, you can create more ribs for a more textured shape.
How to make a pumpkin from papier-mâché and a balloon (screenshot / Naukovi zabavlyaki)
After this, you can start covering the pumpkin with papier-mâché. It's important not to make the layer too thick or wet, as it will take a long time to dry. Also, wait for the paper layer to dry before applying the next one.
Creating the pumpkin stem is simple — just twist a piece of paper, leaving part for gluing. For additional decoration, lightly spray napkins or toilet paper with water, dip them in the glue mixture, and then form small balls or even hearts for sticking on.
Wait about a day for the glue to dry, although this also depends on the room temperature.
After that, you can paint the pumpkin — it’s better to do this before removing the balloon, as the decoration will hold its shape better. The pumpkin's color depends solely on your imagination; you can paint it in natural colors or even pink or gold. You can draw or cut out the eyes and mouth.
It’s best to use acrylic paints since they dry quickly and are not easily washed away. However, be sure to wash the brushes immediately.
How to paint a pumpkin for Halloween (photo: Freepik)
How to paint a pumpkin for Halloween (photo: Freepik)
How to paint a pumpkin for Halloween (photo: Freepik)
To turn the pumpkin into a vase, lantern, or box, use a sharp knife to make a hole in the top of the painted pumpkin by puncturing the balloon. Then, cut off the lid with the stem, just like when making a pumpkin lantern from a vegetable.
Additionally, we shared six ideas for decorating your home for Halloween.
Sources: YouTube channel Naukovi zabavlyaki, Ideika.
