How to Make a Papier Mache Jack O Lantern
Special thanks to Scouts Aotearoa for sponsoring this activity.
Jack O Lanterns are an iconic part of Halloween.
Rather than wasting a good pumpkin (which will rot over time!), try making this super simple homemade Papier Mache Jack O Lantern.
Papier-mâché is a French term which translates to “chewed paper”. It is a crafting technique that has been used for hundreds of years. When the glue is combined with paper and left to dry, it hardens and can be used to create all sorts of solid items.
What you need:
A balloon
String
Old newspapers
Orange paint
A paint brush
A black marker pen
Flour
Water
Salt
REMEMBER...
Always ask permission from a grown-up before starting any craft project.
What to do:
Paiper mache is a messy business. Before beginning this activity, make sure you are wearing old clothes and have a place to work that will be easy to clean up afterwards - often it’s best to papier mache outside.
Decide how big you would like your pumpkin to be and blow your balloon up to that size and tie the end off (to stop it from going down).
Tie the end of a piece of string to the tied-off end of your balloon.
Next, wrap the string around the circumference of the balloon and pull it tight, so that the balloon bulges around the sides of the string. Tie the two ends of the string together.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 with two more pieces of string so that your balloon appears to be separated by string into six bulging parts.
Next, make some homemade papier mache glue by mixing 1/2 cup flour with 3/4 cup water until the mixture is smooth. Add 1 tablespoon of salt to prevent your glue from growing mould later.
Tear old newspapers into approximately 2cm wide strips. Try not to use pages of the newspaper that have lots of dark photos on them, as this will require lots of layers of paint to hide later.
One at a time, dip the newspaper strips into the glue mixture to wet them thoroughly, then run the paper strip through your fingers to remove any excess paste before laying the strip flat on your balloon.
Repeat step 7 until you have completely covered your balloon with one layer of newspaper.
Allow your first layer to dry before applying a second and then a third layer.
Top tip: don’t apply multiple layers at once as it will take hours, or even days, for the papier mache to dry if you apply multiple layers without drying time in between each.After applying your final layer, allow your pumpkin to dry thoroughly. This may take a day or two (depending on the weather).
Once your pumpkin is dry, you can use sandpaper to sand off any imperfections. However, we skipped this step as we liked all the lumps and bumps our pumpkin had as it made it look more authentic.
Next, paint your pumpkin.
We used orange paint, but you could get creative and try making your pumpkin look more realistic using shades of orange, green and brown.Once your paint is dry, use a small bowl as a stencil and draw a circle around the top of your pumpkin (where the balloon tie is). Then, ask an adult to help you cut around the line, using scissors or a craft knife - the balloon inside should pop when you do this.
Slowly remove the top of your pumpkin and peel the balloon and string off.
Using your black marker, draw two eyes, a nose and a mouth on the outside of your pumpkin.
Finally, fill your Jack O Lantern bowl with goodies to give out to trick-or-treaters.
Extra ideas…
Punch holes in the side of your pumpkin, just below the opening at the top. Then loop some string through to create your own tick-or-treating basket.
Instead of cutting the top off of your pumpkin, try cutting the bottom off instead. Then, ask an adult to help you cut the eyes, nose and mouth out of your pumpkin. Finally pop a battery-operated, fake candle inside your pumpkin for a spooky night-light.
Did you give it a go?
Send us a photo of your Homemade Jack O Lantern and you might find your creation featured on the Upstart website … AND win a prize!
About Scouts Aotearoa…
We empower youth through adventurous experiences to lead lives that make a positive difference.
Scouts welcome young people between 5 and 26 and is open to all genders, ethnicities, religions, and abilities. All you need is a sense of adventure and fun!
The Scouts programme is designed to give you ownership of your own adventures.
We want every young person to feel empowered, have adventurous experiences and play an active part in improving their communities
