Gold Swirl Pumpkins

Add pizazz to papier mache pumpkins with swirls of gold paint and metallic green leaves on wire stems. These elegant pumpkins makes for fantastic autumn decorating, including as table decorations for a fall feast. 
 

The autumn leaves in this wreath, painted in antique gold, moss green and barn red metallic, will keep their vibrant colors. Decorate your home for autumn gatherings with this beautiful homemade wreath. 
 

Size: 12" Wreath

Materials:

• STYROFOAM brand foam 12" beveled craft foam wreath*
• Brown bags (thinner paper is preferable)
• Acrylic metallic paints: gold, antique gold, copper, moss green, barn red
• Glitter gold acrylic paint
• Small natural sponge
• Paint palette or old china plate
• 12" of 5/8" gold ribbon
• Scrap of gold curling ribbon
• Low-temp hot-melt glue
• Scissors
• Pattern

Allow paint to dry between steps.

1. Preparation. Cut away bottom of each paper bag and any printed areas.
    
2. Paint paper. Place small amount of paints on palette. To color brown paper, dip a damp natural sponge into metallic paint Note: Sponge paint on in a thin layer; thick paint will make the paper stiff. To add variety to leaf color, combine some different gold paints on palette before sponging onto paper. For an aged look, add a bit of moss green to several of gold paints. Create another color by adding barn red to some of the gold. Add gold glitter paint over top of colors as you like. Make a variety of pleasing colors that look good together. Let dry.
    
3. Cut leaves. Cut painted papers into 2 1/2" to 3" wide strips. Fold down center of each strip lengthwise with painted side to inside. Fold leaf pattern over folded painted paper and cut out leaf around pattern. Open leaf out flat, painted side up. About 200 leaves are needed, so cut out 24-36 of each color.
    
4. Assemble. Use low-temp hot-melt glue to apply glue to bottom half of each leaf. Press first row of leaves around inside edge of wreath, overlapping leaves and alternating colors as you go. To glue second, third, and fourth rows, tuck bottom of leaf underneath tips of preceding row. Glue leaves into any spaces that seem empty or in areas where colors seem unbalanced.
    
5. Finish. Make a small bow from gold ribbon. Add a few curls made from curling ribbon to bow. For hanger, make a loop from a few inches of ribbon and glue to top back of wreath.

For unique Thanksgiving craft ideas, try these fun little Turkey Napkin Rings that your guests will love as they sit down to feast. Enjoy the ease of thanksgiving crafts.

Materials:

• 1 12 x 18 Cocoa EZ Felt Sheet
• 1 12 x 18 Red EZ Felt Sheet
• 1 12 x 18 Yellow EZ Felt Sheet
• 2 3/8" Diameter Google Eyes
• Fabric Glue
• Scissors
• Turkey Napkin Ring Template
• Paper Clips (optional)
   

Steps:

1. Using your template pieces, cut out the according pieces on the below colors of EZ Felt:
   Brown: Napkin Ring
   Red: Feathers and Wattle
   Yellow: Turkey Head/Neck
    
2. Fold the Brown Napkin Ring into a circle with ~3/4" overlap. Glue into place.
   TIP: We use paperclips to keep our crafts in place while drying!
   
   
    
3. While the napkin ring is setting, let's create our Turkey's face. Layout desired location for the google eyes and wattle. Glue into place. Let dry.
   
   
    
4. Glue the feathers to the back of your napkin ring.
    
5. Glue your turkey's face to the front of your napkin ring.

Materials:

• 1 - Cocoa EZ Felt Sheet, 12 x 18
• 1 - Red Soft Felt Sheet, 9 x 12
• 1 - Tangerine Soft Felt Sheet, 9 x 12
• 4 - 3/8" Diameter Google Eyes
• Fabric Glue
• Scissors

Steps:

1. Trace around your child's hand onto a piece of Cocoa EZ Felt twice.
   
   
    
2. Cut out hands from EZ Felt Sheet.
    
3. Cut corresponding slits on each felt hand. One hand will have a slit going from the middle finger to the center of the palm. On the other hand, the slit goes from the bottom of the palm to the center point of the hand.
   
   
    
4. Glue google eyes onto the thumbs of the hands. This will be your turkey's head.
    
5. Cut 8 Feather Shapes each from the Red and Orange Soft Felt Sheets. Also cut an oval shape from the Red Felt.
    
6. Glue feathers and oval to the turkey like shown above. Repeat for the other side. You will have to recut the slit from Step 3 on one of the hands.
    
7. Slip together.

Materials:

DecoArt Products Required
SoSoft Fabric Acrylics

• DSS41 - Burnt Sienna

SoSoft Dimensional Writers

• DD102 - Cadmium Yellow
• DD104 - Festive Red
• DD115 - Black

Supplies

• Foam plate
• Small round brush
• Paper towels
• Water
• 3/8" and 3/4" round foam pouncer brushes
• Natural canvas aprons

Instructions:

Preparation: Cover work surface with newspaper. Lay aprons flat on surface. Have wet paper towels and soap ready to clean hands at sink.

Adult Apron

1. Squeeze and spread Burnt Sienna onto foam plate. With fingers spread slightly, press hand flat into paint and then press hand flat onto apron bib area. If more solid handprint is needed, use small brush to lightly fill in hand shape.

2. Use 3/4" pouncer brush dipped in Burnt Sienna to stamp random dots over apron surface and around handprint. Repeat with Cadmium Yellow and Festive Red Writers. Allow to dry.

3. Use Cadmium Yellow to create small triangle for beak shape on turkey head; paint lines for legs and feet. Use Festive Red to paint small heart-shaped waddle under turkey head and to paint words below turkey.

4. Use Black Writer to paint dot eye on turkey and curved line for wing shape.

Child's Apron

1. Repeat same instructions as above, but assist with stamping handprint and use smaller pouncer brush when stamping dots on apron.
 

This cute turkey craft is easy to make using household items and great autumn treasures from the outdoors. 

Materials:

For Each Turkey Decoration

• 1 throwaway CD
• 1 sheet of “fun foam” from a craft store
• 1 small pinecone
• 1 almond, shell on
• 1 long brown nut or brazil nut, shell on
• 2 small white beans
• 2 pipe cleaners, one red and one yellow
   
• black marker, for the turkey's eyes
• 1 small bag of unsalted, shelled pumpkin seeds
• 2 or 3 tablespoons of unpopped popcorn
• pair of scissors
• medium-heat glue gun
• bottle of regular white glue

Steps:

1. Place, and glue the CD, SHINY SIDE UP, on the “fun foam.” Then trim around it to cut off the extra.
    
2. Fold the yellow pipe cleaner in half. Then, fold each half in three smaller folds, to make two bird feet. Make the middle fold of each set of three – slightly bigger than the folds on either side of it, for a longer middle toe. Then glue it to the base of the pinecone, so the feet stick out from underneath.
    
3. Determine where the larger brown nut should be – to make the body of the little turkey. With your thumb, push in several of the “petals” of the pine cone in the front, centered above where the feet stick out, to accommodate that large nut. This is where the body should be. Then glue the nut in place. Let the glue “set.”
    
4. Cut a piece about 1-½ inches long from the red pipe cleaner. Bend it in half. That’s the wattle. Glue it on, on the top of the large brown nut, so the loop hangs down in the front a little bit. Let the glue “set.”
    
5. Figure out the best side of the almond, and where you want the eyes to go. Then glue each small white bean in place for the eyes. Let the glue “set.” Then, carefully mark in dark pupils onto the white beans, completing the eyes.
    
6. Glue the almond turkey head in place, on top o the ends of the red pipe cleaner wattle. Let the glue “set.”
    
7. Drizzle a line of white glue around the outer edge of the CD. Arrange the shelledpumpkin seeds on it, so they’re glued into place there. Let the glue dry.
    
8. Using white glue, glue the popcorn all over the rest of the exposed surface of the CD, so that the turkey looks like he’s sitting in the corn! 
   
   
   Crafter's Note: Stand a place card in the front under the turkey's chin to use as a placecard holder.

Materials:

DecoArt Products Required
Americana Acrylics

• DA114 - Light Cinnamon
• DA143 - True Ochre

Americana Brushes

• DBF2575-B - Flat 3/4"
• DBF3008-B - Shader #8

Americana Spray Sealers

• DAS13 - Americana Matte Spray

Supplies

• Craft gourd, foam filled, 10" long, 5 1/2" at widest part
• 3" felt top hat
• Two 15-mm wiggle eyes
• Foam plate
• Lo-temp glue gun and glue sticks
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Ruler
• 2/3 yard of 1 1/2" wide black grosgrain ribbon
• Craft foam sheets: red, brown, green, orange, white, and purple
• Foam filled pumpkin, 8" high x 10" wide

Steps:

Preparation: Remove all stickers or tags from pumpkin before painting.

1. Remove stem from pumpkin. For turkey body, refer to photo for position and glue bottom of gourd to top of pumpkin. Fill in any remaining gaps between surfaces with glue.
    
2. Use flat brush and Light Cinnamon to paint gourd and pumpkin shape and let dry.
    
3. Use shader brush and True Ochre to paint stem for beak of turkey; let dry.
    
4. Spray turkey shape with Americana Matte Sealer and let dry.
    
5. Cut two 11" x 2 3/4" strips from red, orange, green, brown, and purple foam. Refer to photo and, on one end of each strip, cut rounded point for feather tips. (Use first one for pattern on others.)
    
6. Trace waddle pattern onto red foam; cut out shape.
    
7. Trace feet pattern onto orange foam; cut out shape.
    
8. Trace collar pattern onto white foam; cut out shape.
    
9. Slip round opening of waddle shape over beak and glue waddle that surrounds beak to head.
    
10. Wrap collar ends around neck, overlap ends, and glue between layers and between collar and neck. Trim excess ends at back if not aligned neatly.
     
11. Glue wiggle eyes to head, overlapping top of waddle.
     
12. Glue felt hat on top of head.
     
13. Refer to photo and glue back third of feet underneath turkey shape, with toes extending in front.
     
14. Tie ribbon into bow and trim ends evenly; seal ends of ribbon to prevent fraying. Glue knot of bow over center front of neck at top of collar.
     
15. To assemble tail feathers, overlap 1/2 ends of brown foam strips evenly with pointed ends outwards; glue together. Arrange remaining strips into fan shape, alternating colors and overlapping straight ends of strips at left corners, beginning at left side. Glue straight ends to brown base and glue between layers. Trim excess where tips extend off edge of brown strip.
     
16. Glue center of brown strip to back of turkey at upper center area of pumpkin around sides at back to fit shape. Glue center top of feather fan to back of neck over collar where it overlaps to hold feathers upright.

Helpful Hint
To seal ends of ribbon and prevent fraying, use handheld flame lighter or wood burning tool to singe ends of ribbon.
 

Materials:

DecoArt Products Required
Americana Acrylics

• DAO62 - Terra Cotta
• DAO67 - Lamp (Ebony) Black
• DAO79 - Brandy Wine
• DA201 - Primary Yellow
• DA259 - Cocoa

Americana Writers

• DAW19 - Christmas Red
• DAW67 - Black
• DAW230 - Christmas Green
• DAW234 - Calypso Blue

Americana Spray Sealers

• DAS12 - Americana Gloss Spray

Supplies

• Foam plate
• Paper towels
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Ruler
• 1" flat brush
• 1/4" flat brush
• 1 3/4" round foam pouncer brush
• Black yarn (We used Lion brand boucle.)
• Five 7" craft feathers, one each of yellow, red, blue, green, and black
• Lo-temp glue gun and glue sticks
• Three papier mache round boxes (8" high, 8" across lid; 3" high, 7" across lid; 5" high, 5" across lid)

Instructions:

INDIAN TABLE TOPPER

Preparation
Remove any price labels from papier mache pieces before painting.

1. Refer to photo and draw 2" band around bottom of 8' box. Use Cocoa to paint above line on upper portion of box.
2. Use Terra Cotta to paint below line on 8" box and on top of 8" lid, 7" box and lid, and 5" box.
3. Use Primary Yellow to paint sides of 8" and 5" box lids.
4. Use Lamp Black to paint top of 5" box lid.
5. Squeeze small amount of Brandy Wine onto foam plate. Dip pouncer brush into paint; press and twist in place on front of 5" box for cheeks.
6. Use 1/4" brush and Cocoa to paint lines for fringe below Cocoa area of 8" box.
7. Use all four Americana Acrylic Dimensional Writers to paint dots for beads at top of fringe. (We painted one black dot between each fringe section at top, then alternated remaining colors and painted two dots of each color over top of each fringe section.)
8. Referring to photo for placement, alternate colors when painting designs on Primary Yellow lid bands for waistband and headband. Use Christmas Red Writer to paint zigzag lines. Use Calypso Blue Writer to paint wavy lines. Use Christmas Green Writer to paint dotted lines.
9. Use Christmas Red Writer to paint mouth on 5" box, with ends of mouth over cheeks. Use Black Writer to paint ovals for eyes.
10. Glue rims of 7" and 8" box inside matching lids. Center and glue 7" box over 8" box.
11. Center 5" box over 7" lid. Refer to photo for placement and use pencil to draw curved line for necklace, with ends going under where 5" box will be and curve going over lid onto front of box. Remove 5" box. Use Black Writer to paint over pencil line; allow paint to dry. Referring to photo, use Christmas Green Writer to paint four lines across black line; paint three shorter lines with White between Christmas Green lines. Use Christmas Red and Calypso Blue Writers to paint dots for beads on necklace. Allow all paint to dry thoroughly.
12. Center and glue 5" box base over 7" box.
13. Spray Indian shape and 5" box lid with Americana Gloss Spray and allow to dry.
14. Cut 21 28" lengths of yarn for hair. Center yarn lengths over 5" box; glue yarn lengths to rims of box. Place dots of glue inside band of box lid and place box lid over yarn and box to secure. Trim hair to even lengths.
15. Glue feather quills to band at back of box lid.

PILGRIM TABLE TOPPER

Preparation
Remove any price labels from paper mache pieces before painting.

1. Refer to photo and draw line 2" from bottom of 7" box; draw narrow triangle over 2 band at front to form collar shape.
2. Use Snow White to paint collar area and base of 7" box.
3. Use Milk Chocolate to paint bottom section of 7" box for shirt, 7" lid for hat rim, and 5" box (not lid).
4. Use Lamp Black to paint lid of 5" box.
5. Use Base Flesh to paint 6" box and lid.
6. Squeeze small amount of Melon onto foam plate. Dip pouncer brush into paint; press and twist in place on front of 6" box for cheeks.
7. Use Dazzling Metallics Gold Writer to paint rectangle buckle on hat band and dots for buttons.
8. Use Americana Acrylics Black Writer to paint tie.
9. Use Christmas Red Writer to paint mouth.
10. Use Calypso Blue Writer to paint large ovals for eyes.
11. Glue rim of 5" box inside 5" lid. Center and glue top of 5" box to top of 7" lid. Glue rim of 6" box inside 6" lid. Center and glue base of 6" box over base of 7" box. Center and glue inside of 7" box lid over 6" box to complete pilgrim shape.
12. Spray pilgrim with Americana Gloss Spray and allow to dry.
13. For bangs, cut 14 3" pieces of yarn; glue one end of each inside front rim of hat rim. Cut 50 5" lengths of yarn and continue gluing them around hat rim. Refer to photo and trim hair to shape.

HELPFUL HINT: Allow paint to dry after each coat. Hair dryer on low setting can be used to speed drying process. Let dry between steps.
 

Use glitter dust and metallic paint to create this richly fall-colored trio of pumpkins for autumn decor.

Materials:

DecoArt Products Required
Dazzling Metallics

• DA205 - Copper
• DA261 - Festive Green --- NEW!!
• DA263 - Splendid Gold --- NEW!!

Glamour Dust

• DS61-3 - Glamour Dust Gold

Multi-Purpose Sealer   (You could possibly eliminate this step to protect the ozone)

• DS17 - Multi-Purpose Sealer

Americana Spray Sealers  (You could possibly eliminate this step to protect the ozone)

• DAS13 - Americana Matte Spray

Supplies

• 1" flat brush
• Water container
• Palette or plastic plate
• Paper towels
• Newspaper
• Three small real or foam pumpkins

Instructions:

1. Use 1" brush and Multi-Purpose Sealer to coat pumpkins. Let dry.
    
2. Use 1" brush to paint pumpkins, one each, Copper, Festive Green, and SplendidGold.
    
3. With newspaper underneath to catch excess, sprinkle Gold Glamour Dust on top of wet pumpkins.
    
4. Once dry, seal pumpkins with Americana Matte Spray.

Enjoy the sweet scent of delicious lollipops when your turkey is out for presentation. Using scrapbook papers, beads and other materials including lollipops you can have this neat looking turkey. Everyone will love your idea.

Materials:

• STYROFOAM* Brand Foam:
  • Ball, 5"
  • Egg, 2-3/8"
  • Sheet, 1" x 12" x 18"
• Beads, 5mm, two
• Lollipops, 14
• Decorative scrapbook papers: an assortment in fall colors and patterns; corrugated paper; textured brown paper
• Paintbrush, 1"
• Thin white craft glue
• Low temperature glue gun and glue sticks
• Serrated knife
• Old candle
  Pattern

Steps:

1. Pin or tape tail feather patterns to foam sheet. Wax knife with old candle for easier, smoother cutting. Cut front and back tail feather sections from foam sheet. (IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure an adult is available to help in cutting the foam pieces.)
    
2. Cut slice from bottom of 5" ball so it will stand. Slice 3/4" from back of ball; this is where tail will attach.
    
3. Cut small, angled slice from wide end of egg. Twist cut end of egg against front of ball until two parts fit together snugly.
    
4. Glue egg onto body using low temperature glue.
    
5. Tear textured brown paper into 2" squares. Working on one section at a time, spread glue generously over turkey body; press torn paper onto glue. Spread glue over papers, applying liberally to edges, so papers lay flat. Continue, overlapping pieces as you go, until body is covered. HINT: It may help to insert a chopstick or dowel into bottom of body to hold while gluing. Place stick in glass while glue dries.
    
6. Following tail pattern, cut decorative papers to fit sections. Glue papers onto tail but do not cover papers with glue. Place flat, heavy object, such as a book, on tails to hold down paper until dried.
    
7. Cover top, curved edges of tail sections with 1" paper strips.
    
8. Assemble turkey with low temperature glue:
   
   
   • Glue two tail pieces together.
      
   • Glue body to front of tail.
      
   • Cut wings from corrugated paper; glue onto sides of body.
      
   • Cut out beak, roll into a cone, glue on head.
      
   • Cut out comb; glue over beak.
      
   • Glue on eyes.
      
   • Using metal skewer or tips of scissors, poke holes through the paper along top edges of tail pieces; make nine evenly spaced holes on large tail section and five holes in small section. Insert lollipops.

Materials:

DecoArt Products Required
Texture Fierro

• TXF04 - Iron Green
• TXF08 - Green Gold

Texture Terra Cotta

• TXT03 - Grand Canyon

Americana Brushes

• DBFN6504-B - White Bristle Fan 4

Supplies

• Water container
• Paper towels
• Silk or synthetic autumn leaf garland
• Low-temp hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Papier mache pot
• Foam pumpkin

Steps:

1. Use fan brush to apply Texture Terra Cotta over pumpkin and Iron Green on stem.
    
2. Use fan brush to apply Texture Fierro Green Gold over papier mache pot.
    
3. To assemble, position and adhere garland on pot rim. Position and adhere pumpkin on pot.

Helpful Hint
Let dry between steps.
 

Create a pin that shows off who and what you are thankful for this year. 

Materials:

• Fabric Glue
• Scissors
• 12 - 1" Long Pinbacks with Safety Clasp
• 1 Red EZ Felt Sheet, 12 x 18
• 1 Yellow EZ Felt Sheet,12 x 18
• 1 Tangerine EZ Felt Sheet, 12 x 18
• 1  Cocoa EZ Felt, 12 x 18
• Stick-It Felt 1" Letters

Steps:

1. Cut out 1 Each of Leaves on all 12 x 18 Sheets of EZ Felt. You should have 4 Oak Leaves, 4 Maple Leaves, and 4 Standard Leaves
    
2. Pick out what you are thankful for. Use the 1" Stick-It Felt Letters to arrange on your leaf of choice.
   TIP: If size becomes an issue, you can always glue pictures of items that people are thankful for on the leaf.
    
3. Remove adhesive-backing from Letters and place on Leaf.
    
4. Glue 1" Pinbacks to back of Leaf. Let dry.

Materials:

• STYROFOAM* Brand Foam:
  • 12" x 4" cone, one
  • 4" ball, one
• Orange chenille stems, 14
• 1/2"-3/4" wiggle eyes, two
• Clear glass marbles
• Felt, 9" x 12" sheets: brown, flesh, two each; white, orange, red, one each
• Fine-gauge spool wire
• Paints: black dimensional fabric; brown acrylic (optional)
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Fine-line black permanent marker
• Compass
• Candle stub or paraffin
• Wire cutters
• Needlenose pliers
• Awl or ice pick
• Medium flat paintbrush
• Disposable palette
• Metal tablespoon
• Extra-long straight pins
• Large-eye sewing needle
• Serrated knife
• Paper towels
• Thick, white craft glue
• Low temperature glue gun and glue sticks
   

Steps:

1. Press opposite sides of foam ball on a hard surface to flatten slightly. Wax serrated knife with candle stub or paraffin and cut ball in half.
    
2. Refer to diagram to cut top 4" from foam cone. Mark a line around cone 5" from base. Indent cone on line by pressing foam onto square edge of a counter or table. Note: This will become turkey's neck.
    
3. Refer to diagram to hollow out lower 5" of cone and one half ball by scooping out foam with a tablespoon. Leave approx. 1/4"-1/2" outer shell intact, working carefully to avoid cracking foam. If desired, paint bottom 1" of cone and half ball brown to match robe.
    
4. Place a chenille stem over beak pattern and shape, following outline. Trim the excess stem and then glue shape to orange felt. Let dry and then cut felt beak around chenille stem outline.
    
5. Cut two chenille stems in half. Using patterns, cut one wattle from red felt and two wings from brown felt. Glue wattle and two wings to matching felt, sandwiching a chenille stem between layers. Let dry and then cut wattle and wings from doubled felt, cutting around original shapes. Trim chenille stem flush with wattle but do not trim stems at base of wings.
    
6. Cut out remaining turkey patterns as indicated. Also cut two 2-3/4" x 4-1/4" menus and one 8" x 2" hat bottom from white felt.
    
7. Glue a white tip to top of each flesh tail feather, overlapping pieces approximately 1/8". Glue a chenille stem vertically to center back of each assembled feather, letting it extend 1" at bottom. Layer and glue felt menus together. With black dimensional paint, draw a vertical line down center front of each feather and lettering on menu (see photo). Allow to dry.
    
8. Following patterns, overlap corresponding edges of head and robe pieces 1/4" and glue to form tubes. Turn. Gather felt at top of head 1/4" from edge. To gather felt throughout, use a large-eye needle with fine-gauge wire and hand sew gathering stitches where indicated. Gather felt on wire and then twist wires together to secure. Trim excess wire.
    
9. Place robe on cone with top of felt 1/4" above indented neck. Gather robe around neck. Place head on cone, positioning robe seams at sides and head seam at center back. Spot glue head to body.
    
10. Fold beak in half diagonally with chenille stem to inside. Glue layers together and then glue base of beak to center front of head (see photo). Glue narrow end of wattle to base of beak and then shape. Glue wiggle eyes side by side above beak.
     
11. Refer to diagram to shape a chenille stem, forming a forked foot with attached leg. Trim stem as necessary. Bend leg perpendicular to foot and then wrap bottom portion with a separate chenille stem. Leave approximately 1/2" at top of leg unwrapped. Repeat to make a second foot/leg.
     
12. Use an awl or ice pick to form tiny holes in sides of robe near top and bottom to attach wings and feet/legs. Glue chenille stems extending from wings into armholes and feet/legs into remaining holes. Bend wings forward and then glue menu between them with lettering facing front.
     
13. Overlap and glue short ends of hat bottom to form a tube and then turn. Glue hat bottom to head just above eyes with seam at center back. Hand sew gathering stitches around hat crown 1/4" from edges. Pull threads to gather stitches and form a fabric yo yo, knotting ends to secure. Glue yo yo, gathered side down, centered on hat bottom to form chef's hat.
     
14. Insert and glue feathers in foam body at lower back of robe. Shape feathers, letting them fan out toward sides.
     
15. Turn cone body on end and weight hollow area with glass marbles. Align hollow half ball on bottom of cone with flat sides together and pin in place temporarily. Test turkey's rocking motion, adding or subtracting marbles as necessary. When satisfied, remove pins and glue ball to cone permanently.