Jack-o’-lantern papier mache candy bags

I have had many accidents in the kitchen, mostly cuts, very few burns. Some of my most traumatic cuts have involved butternut squashes and pumpkins, so every Halloween I stay well away from them. Which is a shame as I love the artistry involved in carving a pumpkin, so I have decided to carve the papier-mache kind.

It’s been a while since I have worked with papier mache, but it was like riding a bike. Hopefully many of you craft-loving readers will be inclined to making your own trick or treat bags, and even if you are not heading out covered in fake blood, knocking on strangers’ doors hoping to get free sweets, you can use these as serving bowls for sweets at your house party.

It may look like a lot of steps bit it’s really easy – if a bit messy- but because they are supposed to be scary pumpkins the “carving” doesn’t need to be perfectly smooth, a few bumps and jagged teeth will give your pumpkins character.

Don’t forget to get the kids involved too!

What you’ll need:

Balloons

Ribbon or string

Any type of white scrap paper, cut into strips – I used tissue paper

Modge podge or craft pva glue

cup/glass/jar

scissors

paintbrush

hole puncher

yellow and orange tissue paper, cut into strips

clothespin and clothesline

Black paper or black plastic

1. Blow air into a balloon until you reach the desired size

2. Mix approximately 3 parts Modge podge or glue with 1 part water

3. Prop the balloon on top of a cup/glass/jar, brush a little of the glue mixture on the balloon and lay the strips of white paper over the balloon. Smooth it out gently using the brush. Make two layers with white paper. For this project I would not use newspaper or any strong coloured scrap paper as the darkness of the print will come trough the layers of tissue paper that will be added. You do not need to cover the entire balloon—leave about 3 inches of margin from the balloon’s opening.

4. Repeat the process by draping a strip of orange tissue paper vertically from the balloon’s crown to its knot, brushing the glue over the strip. Add another strip so that it slightly overlaps the first, and brush on more paste. Continue around the balloon.

5. After one layer of orange tissue add another two layers with a mix of orange and yellow.

6. Hang the balloons on a clothesline by their knots (indoors) and leave it to dry overnight.

7. Pop the balloons and cut the top of the jack-o-lantern

8. Using your scissors or craft knife cut the mouth and eyes – I freestyled it but you can pencil an outline before cutting it out.

9. Cut a few bits of black plastic and stick it on the inside to give a shadow effect to the eyes and mouth. 

10. Punch a hole on each top side of the pumpkin. These holes will allow you to attach a ribbon or string to make a handle for your trick-or-treat bag.