Mummy Pumpkin: Halloween DIY

This weekend I channeled my inner Martha Stewart and crafted a fun DIY decoration for Halloween – a Mummy Pumpkin.  I first saw this floating around Pinterest, and as a lover of Halloween and anything involving pumpkin, I knew I had to make it!  It’s a bit of a time hog, but not too hard to craft – a moderate DIY project.  All you’ll need is some patience and…

DIY Supplies:

• Cheesecloth (found mine at Joann Fabrics)
• Fabric Stiffener
• Scissors
• Artificial Pumpkin
• Hot glue, cement glue, or other type of strong glue
• 1 inch googly eyes
• Crafting knife
• Paint Brush
• Glow in the dark paint (optional)
• Wax paper

DIY Directions:

1. Cut cheesecloth into 14 (you might need more) 4×12-inch strips. Fold strips in half lengthwise. Apply fabric stiffener, following manufacturer’s instructions.  I laid down the cheesecloth on the wax paper and applied stiffener using a “stippling” method.  This allowed me to cover more surface area using less of the fabric stiffener.  The manufacturer’s instructions will tell you to wait until it’s dry to apply, but I applied immediately so it would dry to the pumpkin to act as it’s own adhesive.
2. Apply strips to pumpkin while it’s wet, leaving the top and bottom of the pumpkin uncovered.  I needed a little more than 14 strips.  Towards the end, I cut smaller lengths to cover areas near the top and the bottom. Let dry.
3. Glue eyes to pumpkin.
4. Cut four 4×6-inch strips of cheesecloth. Fold strips in half lengthwise. Apply fabric stiffener and cover each eye diagonally so a little of each eye peeks out. Let dry. (see pic below)
5. Carve out a small mouth from the layers of cheesecloth using a crafts knife. Paint the inside of the mouth black.
6. OPTIONAL STEP: Brush glow-in-the-dark gel paint onto cheesecloth.

I had so much fun making this cute DIY Halloween project, and if you’re interested in making one, DO IT!  I got my pumpkin from Michael’s, and most of my other supplies came from a bunch of different stores, to make sure the best deals were found.  Right now it’s sitting on our shelf in the living room in between 2 DIY jars of candy – Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and candy corn pumpkins 🙂