Carving a haunted jack-o-lantern for Halloween is fun. But this requires more or less masterful carving skills, which not everyone has. This task is often much more complicated, especially for younger children, because the whole thing only works with a sharp knife and a lot of strength. A nice alternative to this are painted and differently decorated pumpkins. That's why we've put together some great ideas for autumn crafts with children. Children aged 5 and over can take part and even experiment with different materials. However, only under the supervision and guidance of an adult.
Painted pumpkinsoffer the advantage that, in contrast to carved ones, they stay fresh for much longer and do not get moldy. By the way, the works of art you create will bring you joy year after year if you use artificial pumpkins as craft material. There are now many decorative items that look particularly realistic.
Crafting with children aged 5 and over – turning pumpkins into forest animals
No matter whether you are a boy or a girl, the world is of forest animalsexciting for all children. For this reason, we are sure that these pumpkins lovingly designed as forest animals would fascinate your children. Below we show how you can transform the pumpkins into an owl, a raccoon and a fox.
The following materials are required:
– Craft paint in gray and turquoise, possibly also orange
– Sponge brush
– Construction paper in gray and orange
– Felt in gray, orange, off-white, brown and black
– black pen
- Scissors
– Hot glue gun
Simply print out the templates provided (Ctrl+P or Command+P) and use them as templates to cut out all the parts from felt and paper. Depending on how big your pumpkin is, you can adjust the size of the templates.
For the fox pumpkin you need an artificial pumpkin in orange, construction paper in orange, felt in off-white, scissors and glue. Using the templates, cut out the tail and ears from construction paper. The other elements are made of felt. Glue the matching pieces together. Then all the pieces are glued to the pumpkin using glue or a hot glue gun. Then use the marker to paint on the eyes and nose.
For the raccoon pumpkin you need a plastic pumpkin in white, craft paint in gray, a sponge brush, construction paper in gray, felt in black and off-white, a pen, scissors and glue.
Paint the entire pumpkin with the gray paint and let it dry. Using the templates, cut out all the parts: tail, ears, eyes, nose and belly. Using the black pen, draw four wide, evenly spaced stripes on the tail. Glue the matching pieces together. Then all the pieces are glued to the pumpkin using glue or a hot glue gun. Then use the marker to paint on the eyes and nose.
For the owl you need an artificial pumpkin in white, craft paint in turquoise, felt in brown, off-white and orange, a marker, scissors and glue.
Paint the entire pumpkin with the turquoise paint and let it dry. Using the templates, cut out all the parts: eyes, beak, wings and belly. Glue the matching pieces together. Then all the pieces are glued to the pumpkin using glue or a hot glue gun. Then use the marker to draw the eyes and feathers on the belly.
Cute pumpkin deer
You need a medium-sized pumpkin (15 cm Ø) and the following craft materials:
To paint the pumpkin:a mixing palette or a water cup, a flat painting brush, a thin fine liner painting brush, a stippling brush set (Ø 1.5 cm, Ø 2 cm, Ø 3 cm, Ø 5 cm and Ø 7 cm) and acrylic paints in white, turquoise, caramel brown and black.
For decoration:4 wooden spatulas (flat wooden sticks), glue for wood, felt fabric in light brown, scissors, a cutter, paper towels.
Directions:
Using the flat paint brush, paint the entire pumpkin caramel brown. For best results, apply two coats or use a white primer. The paint should be allowed to dry briefly between each layer.
Mix equal parts of the acrylic paints brown and white to get the color beige. Briefly dip the large stippling brush (Ø 7 cm) into the paint and make an impression. This will be the deer's nose.
Make two impressions for the eyes using white paint and the smaller stippling brush (Ø 5 cm). Then use the fineliner brush to give the eyes a teardrop shape. Allow to dry.
Use the turquoise acrylic paint and the small stippling brush (Ø 3 cm) to make dots in the eyes. Allow to dry. Make black dots on the eyes and nose with a stippling brush (Ø 1.5 cm). Use the thin fineliner brush and black paint to paint on the eyelashes and mouth. Dip the handle of the brush in white paint and add highlights in the pupils to give the deer expression.
Divide two of the wooden spatulas into two equal parts. Deliberately glue two pieces asymmetrically to each entire wooden stick. Then cut out two oval ears from the brown felt. Fold the ears over each other at the bottom to create a slight funnel shape. Use the cutter knife to make two small slits at the top right and left for the antlers and ears. Insert the wooden sticks into the pumpkin and secure them with glue. By the way, the ears would fit better in a horizontal slot.
Even smaller children can use the sponge brushes to apply dots in different sizes and colors and create real works of art. But so that older children don't get bored, they can try working only with a pencil and a thin brush. Or maybe you can recreate the picture above?
Make your own hedgehog family
A super simple craft idea that even younger children can make: a hedgehog family made of pumpkins! All you need is three artificial white pumpkins of different sizes, yellow glass beads, flat black pebbles for the eyes and mouth and of course glue. The easiest way is to use a hot glue gun. But you can also use a power glue like e6000.
Simply decorate the entire pumpkin with the glass beads, except for a small area where the hedgehog's face should be.
Place a dab of hot glue on the pumpkin and press the glass bead into place. Wait briefly until the glue hardens. Crafting with children wasn't so easy!
Make a unicorn
This cute unicorn will delight every little princess! The glittering horn made of polymer clay and the red mane made of yarn make the pumpkin a real eye-catcher!
You will need: artificial pumpkins in white, spray paint in pink, cotton yarn, modeling clay, craft glue and a flat brush, cardboard in pink and white, glitter powder in gold, scissors, a hot glue gun and a black permanent marker.
First paint the white pumpkins pink. Allow to dry.
The hornform from modeling clay. Bake the mixture according to the instructions on the package or let it dry. Once it's ready, coat it with craft glue and sprinkle the glitter powder on top. Allow to dry. When the glue is completely dry, seal the glitter powder with a second layer of glue.
The unicorn mane is made from red cotton yarn. But you can also create a mane in rainbow colors.
Wrap the yarn around your hand 15 times and tie the many pieces of yarn tightly together in the middle. Then cut the threads in half. Use the same technique to make multiple fringes, for example 8 pieces.
Use the hot glue gun to attach all of the twine pieces directly to the pumpkin stem.
Cut the ears out of construction paper and glue them onto the pumpkin.
Sketch the eyes, nostrils and mouth with the pencil. Then trace the lines with the permanent marker.
Then glue the horn on. First mark the exact spot with the pencil, then apply a large dab of hot glue and press the horn. If the glue leaks, use a toothpick or wooden stick to remove it before it cools. And done!
