Halloween celebrations take place on the eve of All Saints Day in English-speaking countries. The history of this fun celebration has ancient Celtic roots. Around the sixteenth century, housekeeping began to beg for sweets.
This interesting tradition has survived to the present day. On the night of October 31, children and adults put on costumes of different characters, horror stories look especially funny, go home, knock on doors and beg for sweets and other sweets, as well as money, and in return promise not to be naughty. Previously, it was necessary to execute some kind of number.
Halloween symbol
The main symbol of this holiday is considered to be the "Jack lamp". Previously, it was made from turnips, but pumpkin was cheaper, and the poor switched to making vessels for candles from pumpkins. People believed that if you cut a terrible grinning face from a pumpkin, and put it on the windowsill, then all the evil spirits will bypass the house.
Now many people make such a pumpkin from papier-mâché. Using this technique, you can come up with any form, give it individual features, fantasize. This has become an interesting hobby for many hand-made masters.
What is papier-mâché?
Papier-mâché pumpkin is easy to make at Halloween celebrations. It is necessary to prepare unnecessary paper, it can be old newspapers or unnecessary notebooks written down by students.
You also need to pre-brew a paste. They make it as follows: take a tablespoon of wheat flour, slowly add one glass of cold water in a thin stream, while constantly stirring. Then put on a slow fire and, continuing to stir, bring to a thickening. It should be borne in mind that when cooling, the paste hardens even more.
What can be used for the base?
To create a papier-mâché pumpkin, you need to have a foundation. This is a form that is subsequently pasted with strips and pieces of paper. Many experienced craftsmen use an inflated balloon. To make the figure of a pumpkin ribbed and resemble a real one, the ball is tied up tightly with a rope, creating such sectors as in the photo below.
After completion of work and complete drying, the ball is simply punched with a needle, and its remnants, together with the rope, are pulled through the hole.
How to glue the ball?
When the papier-mâché pumpkin base is ready, proceed with gluing. Doing any craft, you need to know one condition for a successful removal of work from the basics. The first layer is not smeared with glue. The base or pieces of paper are moistened with water, and wet sheets stick to the figure themselves. If you make, for example, a cup, then it is better to cover it with vegetable oil, then dried papier-mâché will be easier to remove from the base.
The second layer of paper should already be applied to the paste. A piece of the ball is smeared (not all at once, since the paste dries quickly) and is wrapped with pieces of paper. The work must be done carefully so that there are no uncoated places.
To understand for sure that you have not missed anything, there is one tricky way. You need to choose different types of paper for gluing. For example, the first layer of pumpkin from papier-mâché for Halloween is made from a newspaper, and the second layer from a notebook into a box. Then - again the newspaper. So immediately when pasting it is clear that all places are covered or there are gaps. Thus, at least 5 layers are applied. If the shape should be rigid, then layers are added.
Useful Tips
1. Remember that the multi-layer wet model of papier-mache pumpkin you made for Halloween will dry for at least a week. It’s better to do the craft in advance, so that everything can be done in time for the celebration.
2. Many people make baskets for children to go home to collect sweets. To do this, holes are made in the resulting pumpkin on the sides. You can make a pen from matter or use a wire, and for convenience, wrap it with something soft in the middle.
3. When the papier-mâché dries completely, you can start cutting a funny or scary face. To do this, it is pre-drawn with a simple pencil or marker. These are the eyes, the openings for the nose and the most important detail of all Jack's lamps - a grin of sharp teeth. Then, along the contour with a knife or sharp scissors, all this is cut out.
4. If the figure of the pumpkin is intended as a lamp on the windowsill, then cut a round hole in the lower part for the candle. If this is a bag for sweets, then the figure is cut out the other way around. A hole with handles on top, and then comes a funny grimace.
5. You can still put such a mask on the child’s head. All that remains is to make a black satin cloak, and the costume for Halloween is ready.
Now you know how to make a pumpkin (papier-mâché) with your own hands, it remains to paint the figure.
Pumpkin coloring
After the form pasted over with paper is completely dry, the ball is blown off and pulled out in the made hole. Further, the workpiece is turned upside down with an opening, depending on the purpose of the pumpkin. Gouache paints are suitable for staining, you will also need a brush.
First, the whole pumpkin turns orange. Then you can draw a green stalk and even a leaf on top.
Key details and cut places are painted black for a frightening effect. The finished figure can be coated with acrylic varnish.
But it’s better not to put a candle in a paper pumpkin, as this is a fire hazard. Such a decorative product can only serve as a decoration of the interior of the room, a mask or a bag. It is still advisable to make a lamp out of a real pumpkin. It will not light up from a candle and will not lead to tragic consequences.
Now you know how to make papier-mâché pumpkin. This is easy and fun. A fantasy will help you design your product. Good luck