Autumn Harvest Pumpkin

By: Annabelle Keller for Styrofoam Brand Foam

Your front porch is calling for this festive pumpkin. The pumpkin harvest leaves really bring out the color. Using a foam ball, twine and some other materials you'll have a nice outdoor craft.

Materials:

STYROFOAM Brand Products:
- Ball, 6"
Quilt batting, 15" x 28" strip
1/3 yd Fabric, pumpkin colored
Twine, 8 yds
Eucalyptus stems, two red, three gold
Silk flowers, three, assorted fall colors
Two dozen silk leaves, assorted fall colors
Berry clusters, three, red
Yardstick
Natural raffia, 8 yds
Serrated knife
Old candle
Soupspoon
Small wire cutters
Scissors
Low temperature glue gun and glue sticks

Instructions:

Wax knife blade with old candle. Cut a 1/2" slice from top and bottom of foam ball. Twist back of spoon against center of one flat side, forming a 1/2" deep well; this will be the bottom of the pumpkin.
Cut three, 5" x 28" strips of quilt batting. Wrap one strip around middle (equator) of ball; trim and glue edges so they butt together but don't overlap. Repeat for remaining two strips.
Cut 12" x 27-1/2" fabric strip. Glue 1/2" hem in one 12" side. Glue unfinished 12" edge over quilt batting and wrap fabric strip around ball; do not pull tight. Glue hemmed end over raw edge.
At bottom of ball, cut 1-1/4" wide tabs in fabric to within 1/2" of ball. Fold over and smooth tabs; glue ends into well. Repeat at top of ball.
Cut twine into 1-yd lengths. Wrap one length of twine around ball, dividing it in half; pull tight and tie at top of ball. Repeat with other three lengths, dividing ball into eight equal sections.
Cut leaves from stems; arrange and glue to top of pumpkin.
Cut raffia into 1 yd lengths. Bundle raffia with remaining pieces of twine; tie into bow with long tails and glue to center top of pumpkin.
Trim flower stems to 1/2"; arrange and glue around bow at top of pumpkin. Cut eucalyptus stems to 6". Arrange and glue eucalyptus stems and berry clusters around other dried materials.