Young House Love

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3 Fun Pumpkin Projects To Do With Young Kids

Since Clara’s still a few years off from knife-wielding age, we still scratch our heads each year for a toddler-friendly way for her to be involved in the pumpkin decorating process. When she was 5 months old we borrowed the outline of her hand to inspire a lady-like Jack-o-Lantern (a Jill-o-Lantern perhaps?)

Tissue 2010

Last year we took advantage of her new-found dexterity and let her finger paint some pumpkins that we had strategically taped off ahead of time to later reveal some designs.

Tissue 2011

And since she had so much fun last year (and we loved how they turned out) we did a slight twist on that idea by making tissue paper “sticker” pumpkins this year.

Tissue 2012

Anyone who follows us on instagram knows that Clara is obsessed with stickers. And although a pumpkin covered in her usual fare of Snoopys and Barneys would have been fun, we thought it might be even more exciting to try our hand at something we could customize. So we decided to make our own “stickers” with the help of some colorful tissue paper and good ol’ Mod Podge that we already had on hand.

Tissue 0 Supplies

Sherry used some leftover tissue paper from Clara’s pink-and-orange birthday party and cut a bunch of large and small circles using, of all things, a roll of electrical tape as her guide (tracing the outside made the big ones, and tracing the inside made the small ones). Use what you got, right?

Tissue 1 Circles Before Cutting

Then I basically just used a big paintbrush to coat the pumpkin with a thin layer of Mod Podge as Clara placed the tissue dots wherever she pleased. It was really that simple.

Tissue 2 John Painting

We spotted (pun!) these pumpkins at Kroger, and knew they would be awesome (we thought a lighter colored pumpkin would help all of the colors show up since sheer orange and pink dots on an orange pumpkin might be harder to see). Although they might look like typical white pumpkins, they actually have a hint of orangey-pink to them, so it’s a fun twist. Plus a portion of proceeds went to breast cancer research, so that was pretty great too.

Tissue 4 Clara Papering

You can see that the tissue did crinkle a bit as it went down. Bumpy pumpkin surface + toddler fingers = nothing perfectly smooth. But we didn’t mind, we were just happy she was having fun. I did occasionally dab some extra Mod Podge over top to help them stay down, which seemed to help.

Tissue 5 More Paper

The best part was that Clara was IN LOVE with the project. I realize she doesn’t look particularly gleeful in these photos, but it’s because she was so focused on it. She asked several times that night if we could do it again. Plus, we appreciated that it wasn’t nearly as messy as we had anticipated (note the table covered in craft paper). I probably ended up with more Mod Podge on me than she did (I did accidentally stick my forearm in it once) but since it’s basically Elmer’s Glue, it washed off easily with plain water.

Tissue 6 More Paper CU

We did two pumpkins in total, but the fun didn’t stop there. There were so many extra tissue dots that Clara kept on playing (sorting them, lining them up, singing to them, putting them on her head…).

Tissue 7 Playing With Paper

After she went to bed that night Sherry did a full coat of Mod Podge over the pumpkins just to ensure that all of the edges got adhered. The bonus was that it also gave the whole thing a nice smooth and glossy feel.

Tissue 8 After

We think they’re really fun- especially since we just used what we had around the house and came up with something sticker-ish for our sticker-obsessed girl. So if you have any toddlers who are into stickers, this could be a fun weekend project (and tissue paper is only around 99 cents, so it’s pretty cheap too).

Tissue 9 After Close

I attempted to get a cute picture of Clara sitting next to her pumpkin creations, but there was little interest in being still. And yes, she’s wearing the same shirt from the day before. We had dressed her in it as the “it’s ok to get messy” shirt for the project, but since it survived so well it became the next day’s outfit when paired with the skirt of her choosing.

Tissue 10 Clara Pointing

The most interaction I could get out of Clara was her singing “Rock-A-Bye, Baby” to them while swinging the glider-bench back and forth.

Tissue 11 Rocking

Then she discovered a broom nearby and it was like the pumpkins never existed. When a girl’s gotta sweep, a girl’s gotta sweep!

Tissue 12 Sweeping

And if you’re looking for some easy pumpkin paper crafts, our friends at Childhood Magic have a free pumpkin printable that you could use in a variety of ways and give kids of all skill levels an easy way to help you decorate for fall.

Psst – Sherry wants me to mention that for the first time ever she’s attempting to DIY certain aspects of Clara & Burger’s costumes this year, so we’ll keep you posted and share some pics as soon as they’re done (most likely right on Halloween if I know my wife…).

Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    Awesome pumpkin project! At my kids’ preschool the kids used hammers to pound golf tees into pumpkins. The kids LOVED it! There is a picture of a similar set up but using small nails and craft foam strips or paper and pounding them into a stump. There’s a photo of the stump project in action in their photo gallery here: http://www.allseasonspreschool.net/photos.php Maybe for Clara next year? I bet she would love to get her hammer on!

    Reply

  4. Amy @ Croquet & Cocktails says

    I tried watching the super cute Clara video while feeding my 4.5 month old. He decided she’s more interesting than the boob (and NOTHING is more interesting than the boob…). He keeps looking around. He might have a bit of a crush!!

    We’re bracing for Frankenstorm here in Norfolk! Love living in a flood zone… Good luck to you.

    Reply

  5. Gabbi says

    What a creative way to decorate pumpkins! I love how involved Clara is with the process. I also love how she mentions Home Depot…she’s totally a DIY couple’s daughter! :)

    Reply

  8. Courtenay says

    These look super cute, but I have a beef: both last year and this year you have taken perfectly good and ‘compostable’ pumpkins and turned them into something that will rot, but has to go to the landfill. You can’t compost a pumpkin that is covered in paint, or modge podge (unless you can wash off the mod podge once it has dried – maybe you can – it’s been a while since I used it). Anyway, no offense of course; I just wanted to share my view/opinion as you two are usually so environmentally conscious. I can’t justify having cute pumpkins for a few days if the cost is creating pumpkins that will sit in landfills for centuries (I’m not exaggerating – newspapers that are thrown out instead of recycled can still be read 60+years later… things in landfills don’t compost). What I might do is buy one of the foam pumpkins from Micheal’s and have my son do this to one of those – then I can keep if future years. The longevity of a foam one seems more justifiable for me.
    Thanks for the idea nonetheless!

    Reply

  9. Lindsey says

    We are decorating our pumpkins tonight and I am totally stealing this idea for my two year old daughter!! I love it!!!
    We’ll have to use different colors since we will be using what we have around the house but it should be great still! Off to find supplies now!

    Reply

  10. Lil says

    oh my gosh! thank you! we have 5 (long story) pumpkins at our house, and I wanted to decorate them with my little (she’s 2 months younger than Clara) and I couldn’t figure out what to do. 3 AWESOME ideas. So excited.

    Please keep the “my crazy toddler is easily distracted, has her own ideas, and won’t cooperate with picture taking” stories coming…it gives me hope that we’re not alone.

    Thanks for everything. It was fun meeting you in Cincinnati.

    Reply

  11. Lil says

    Me again…just read the comment above mine regarding the pumpkins not being compostable…if you’re feeling terrible about your pumpkins not being compostable, you could (read “could” with italics) cut just the outer skin off and compost the rest.

    Reply

  12. MrsSchil says

    I used copper, bronze and silver spray paint on three different sized/shaped pumpkins this year. They’re a happy little trio on our front step. Best thing about it was that I already had the paint!

    Reply

  13. Ally says

    Awww….look at your little “pumpkin” bean way back in 2010!

    Those cheeks and big eyes…you just want eat her all up :)

    And revvv up the Altima! Home Depot awaits Clara’s arrival! :)

    xox

    Reply

  16. Kate says

    I have to finish my Halloween “costume” before our first party tomorrow. I don’t have a real costume, but since I’m 6 and a half months pregnant I’m making a stenciled shirt with skeleton ribs and a baby skeleton over my belly (as seen a lost of places on the internet). Not the most creative ever, but hopefully it will be cute (and it was cheap, the black shirt I’m using is a Target maternity clearance for under $4 and I had all the other supplies!).

    Reply

  17. Anastasia Taboada says

    Such a cute idea for the pumpkins! Would look great with a traditional orange pumpkin and black tissue paper cut into ‘bat’ shapes! I might have to make one!
    You guys signed a 2 book deal right? You should totally do a book on kids DIY projects like this and your doll house and play kitchen! That would be so fun.
    Hoping this storm won’t ruin my plans to come see you in NYC!! <3

    Reply

  18. Alecia says

    I love the pokadots! I borrowed an idea from a friend for my 2.5 year old for our pumpkin ‘carving’ this year. We used a drill and outlined a face with lots of small holes. He LOVED it! Then he used a screw driver to poke through each hole and clean them out.

    Reply

  19. Pallavi says

    genius idea! and so design-y too! i think its totally appropriate for a 30 year old who’s too lazy to carve – right?

    Reply

  20. Katy says

    LOVE the polka dots. We used Mr. Potato Head accessories to decorate our pumpkins this year. The kids had a lot of fun choosing and switching out the different faces until they got the “perfect” pumpkin face:)

    Reply

  21. Heather says

    As you were spotting those pumpkins at Kroger, I spotted you. Don’t worry, neither of you were picking your nose. Just picking pumpkins.

    And too bad you guys weren’t there a half hour earlier because then you could have seen an “as seen on TV” fancy knife demo in the store and received a carving/cutting gadget for free.

    Signed,
    The gal with the babe in the bjorn and the kid in shopping cart full of groceries that walked by you.

    Reply

    • Heather says

      Would you believe I’ve actually spotted you guys multiple times in multiple Bon Air/Richmond places and never said hi because I’m awkward? haha! So true. I guess that’s what happens when you have kids the same age, live in the same area, and shop in the same places.

    • YoungHouseLove says

      No way!! You have to say hi! We’d love to meet you. Now I’m going to be staring at every mom with a kid thinking “is that Heather?” like a weirdo! Haha.

      xo
      s

  24. Anne says

    Loooove the idea! It looks fun and happy, but festive at the same time. What a creative family you are!

    I was just wondering why you downsized to one post per day. Is it because of the massive workload the two of you got on your hands; book tour and all? I’m not trying to critie you or else, I just happened to notice that there is some change – isn’t there? :)

    x A

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh no we’re on the same schedule we’ve been on for the last year and a half, which is two posts on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and then just one on Wed and Fri (except on Sponsor Shout Out Fridays when there are two). Hope it helps Anne!

      xo
      s

  25. Corie says

    Oh my! Clara is SO adorable! I love her! And I love her pumpkins — very cute and girly too!

    Comparing her to the last two Halloween is insane! She’s grown so much! *tears*

    Reply

  27. jessibee says

    Goodness…look at how much she has grown! It’s crazy…I don’t have kids but sometimes seeing Clara and the amazing way you two parent her makes me think.

    Reply

  28. Elise says

    Looks so fun!

    Our toddler pumpkin tradition is that the girls get to pick the pattern and help gut the pumpkins and then mommy has to carve the design. This year my 3yr old wants a Clifford the Big Red Dog pumpkin, but I can’t find a pattern, so I will be making this one up. Wish me luck!

    Reply

  29. Kate says

    I’m totally loving the old picture of Clara at 5 months old – so cute! I can’t wait for mine to come (due Jan 30th). I’m definitely filing away your pumpkin ideas for the next few years!

    Reply

  31. Shannon says

    I bought some craft pumpkins (since real ones rot quick in FL) and spray painted them. One of them even got some ORB action!!!

    Reply

  32. caroline says

    loved how fun and colorful this was!

    i painted one of mine this year a lovely gray, then cut out the letter ‘n’ — it turned out wonderfully with the orange popping against the grey and the clean lines of a modern N, not a fancy one.

    i only blogged about 10 different pumpkins. im sick.

    Reply

  33. Alondra says

    I just checked out your video on the R Home website! Too cute (especially Clara and her little green poncho)!! And congrats for making it on yet another mag cover :)

    Reply

  34. Claudia says

    Love the pumpkins! Anything with tissue paper and Mod Podge is a winner. My daughter and I did the same thing with the ceiling fan blades and mirror frame in her bedroom with torn pieces of turquoise, dark blue and lime green tissue paper. I still don’t know which one of us had more fun.

    Reply

  36. Mary says

    Sherry–Definitely make the Halloween costumes. I made my son’s costumes when he was little by making papier mache animal hats (similar to the duck hat featured on this site http://ultimatepapermache.com/available-sculptures ). The hat didn’t cover his cute little face so no problem walking and trick or treating. I paired the hats with colored sweatsuits and over the years he was a toucan (the first one I made), a frog, an ant (he was reading books about ants at the time), Simba of Lion King fame (my best effort) and later on he was one of the Dragonball Z characters (he was a bit tired of being animals by then). Just fold the newspapers lengthwise to make thick “strips” to construct the base, adjust to fit, staple, tape to cover the sharp staples, and papier mache away. Who knew that a jumbo paper clip box would make a nice lion nose base? Anyway, lots of fun. Sort of wish my son wasn’t in college and most likely averse to an animal hat at this age! :) And Happy Halloween!

    Reply

  38. Jessica @ Quirky Bookworm says

    Eleanor came into the room as I was reading this, and said “Mom, remember when I made those polka dot pumpkins??” (aka – Mom I really want to make those).

    And she pointed out “I like that girl’s bike dress. She has a bike dress and I have a Minnie dress.” So, I feel like Clara may have a new follower. :)

    Reply

  40. Linda says

    Those are really pretty pumpkins – and Clara’s concentration is amazing. As well as how clearly she enunciates Home Depot. I have to admit I’d love to eavesdrop on the parent/teacher conferences at her school – I wonder if Clara is already leading the class in redecorating/remodeling the classroom.

    I hope you and your families ride out the storm safely.

    Reply

  41. Christine says

    Great idea! As of mother of three children, six and under, we decided to paint our pumpkins as well. On the plus side, painted pumpkins last longer than carved pumpkins.

    Reply

  42. Gabby says

    I loved everything about this post! I never had a daughter but if I did, I would have wanted her to be just like Clara!!

    BTW, I’m surprised no-one asked: did anything else happen to find its way into your cart at Krogers? A little Graeters perhaps????

    Oh and I’m in Europe, but the Frankenstorm is all over the news here, so I just wanted to say ‘take care’ to anyone who might be affected. Keeping fingers crossed for you all. :)

    Reply

  45. Heidi P. says

    AAAaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! I LOOOOOOOVE IT!!!!!!!!! Darn you and your cute ideas!! :) I still have a few pumpkins left for decorating… hmm….
    This is my first attempt at a halloween costume too! Wow it makes me feel like a real bonified mom. Jason’s going to be Mater from Cars! It’s turning out pretty well so far, but he’s gonna need a wide berth for moving among other kids!

    Reply

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