Friday, October 12, 2007
Scary Spider Pumpkins for Halloween
| By Agatha Curtis Make your own scary little spider this Halloween from a mini pumpkin and a few other inexpensive items, easily found. Spiders are easy and fun to make and can be used for decorating or for gifts. Mini pumpkins range around 4” in diameter, 3” in height including stem, and are found in the produce section of your grocery store. I have seen them priced at two or three pumpkins for $1. You will need the following items: mini pumpkin, black pipe cleaners, clear acrylic spray, black acrylic paint (craft paint), white or red or yellow acrylic craft paint, paintbrush. You can find the clear acrylic spray in the spray paint section of your store. Acrylic paints such as those used in crafts are my choice for the body of the spider, but you could substitute black spray paint if you plan to mass produce or if you have some on hand. Cover your work surface with newspapers and, if using spray paint, ventilate well. First, spray a light coat of clear acrylic spray on your pumpkin and let it dry. This will help seal the surface, the paint will adhere better and your painted pumpkin will last a little longer. Then, coat your entire pumpkin with black paint. Acrylics dry fast, so this won’t take too long. Paint the stem or leave it natural. Using the white or red or yellow acrylic paint, make circles for the spider’s eyes and let dry. Paint small black pupils in the eyes. When all paint is dry, spray another light coat (or two) of clear acrylic spray over the entire surface of your pumpkin. Let dry between coats. You have a choice on the spider’s legs. For long legs, take one pipe cleaner (these measure about 10 or so inches) and bend it into a vee in the middle of the pipe cleaner. About one-half inch from one end, bend the pipe cleaner end up. This gives you one leg for your spider, with the last little bend being the “foot.” If you would prefer short legs, cut your pipe cleaner in half, then bend the same way (or leave off the “foot” bend and just make one vee bend, if you prefer.) Take a pencil point and make small indentation holes in the top half section of your pumpkin. Four holes for legs beginning on the left from the spider’s eyes and four on the right side. Hold your pipe cleaner close to the end opposite the foot bend, and gently insert it about one-half inch into an indent. The legs can be adjusted up or down, close in or flare out, after you have all eight inserted. Scary Spider Pumpkins would be a great craft for kids or adults, but remember that they are not toys. Keep out of the reach of babies and young children due to the paint and pipe cleaners. Happy Scary Halloween!! Labels: Halloween, homemade craft, pumpkins, scary |
posted by Krista at 6:44 PM
