Illuminated Twine Pumpkin Project

Instructions:

1. Use two plastic containers— one to pour the glue into the other to hold the inflated balloon.

2. Blow up the balloon to the size you want your pumpkin to be.

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3. Pour some white glue into one of the containers.  You can use a foam brush to paint the entire balloon with glue. If yu don't have a foam brush, you can also use your gloved hands.

4. Cut a good length of twine and dip the entire cut piece into the container with the glue. Cut it as long as possible but not too long so that it gets all tangled up.

5. Start adhering your glue-covered twine to the balloon, starting at the bottom. Make sure to tuck your loose ends in behind the other pieces of twine nice and neatly.  Go in different directions, and leave some obvious holes. It doesn’t need to be perfect!

6. Leave a hole at the top and at the bottom of your balloon.  Just get your fingers in there and pry the wet twine apart into a nice neat hole at both ends.  The top hole doesn’t need to be too big, just big enough to insert a stick or stem. The bottom hole should be slightly bigger — big enough to place your pumpkin over a battery operated tea light or to insert your twinkle lights.

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7. Run your glue covered hands over all the twine, then place the piece back on your container and allow to dry. 
   Note: Remember to rotate it so the bottom dries too.

8. When your pumpkin is ALMOST dry (the example took about 2 hours), it will still be slightly pliable. Pop the balloon. Be warned that your twine will still be stuck to the balloon and the entire pumpkin might seem to cave in, but you’ll be able to get it back into shape.

9. Once the balloon is out of the pumpkin, take your hands and make an indent at the top to form the top of the pumpkin where you will eventually put your stem.

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10. After you get the correct shape allow your project to completely dry. The twine will be very hard, and your pumpkin will have a hole at the top and bottom.

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11. Once dry, you can paint your pumpkin whatever color you choose. We chose two colours.  The dark bronze was used first and then the pumpking was sprayed lightly with gold. Glitter would be great as well, if that's more your aesthetic.

12. For the lights, you can certainly use a small string of twinkle lights the way they are. However, if you find them a bit too green, feel free to take some black spray paint and spray the cord— just be careful not to spray the lights.

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13. Insert your lights into the bottom of the pumpkin, and allow them to bunch up.

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14. Insert the stem, glue it in place. Stand back and enjoy.

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