DIY Dollar Store Illuminated Pumpkin

Gotta love a project that comes entirely from the Dollar Store.

This DIY illuminated pumpkin  is just that.

Here is how to do it.

Gather your materials from your local dollar store:  A couple of balloons, white glue, some twine and some twinkle lights if you don’t already have some kickin’ around. You might want to use a pair of thin rubber gloves too.

I used two plastic containers.  One to pour the glue into the other to hold the inflated balloon.

Blow up the balloon to the size you want your pumpkin to be. I intend to make a couple more in different sizes to accompany this one.

Pour some white glue into one of the containers.  I used a foam brush to paint the entire balloon with glue, although you really don’t need to use the foam brush you can use your gloved hands.  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.  Start gluing your glue covered twine to the balloon starting at the bottom. Make sure to tuck your loose ends in behind the other twine nice and neatly.  Go in all different directions, leave some obvious holes, it doesn’t need to be perfect.

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.

Run your glue covered hands (and they will be) over all the twine, then place back on your container and allow to dry.  Remember to turn it around so the bottom dries too.

When your pumpkin is ALMOST dry (mine 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.

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. After you get the correct shape allow to completely dry, twine will be very hard.

So now your pumpkin will be stiff and have a hole at the top and bottom

At this point you can paint your pumpkin whatever color you choose. I chose two colours.  I sprayed mine with the dark bronze first and them lightly sprayed it with gold.  Both paints I already had on hand.  Glitter would be great as well, if you’re a glittery type of person.

For the lights, you can certainly use a small string of twinkle lights the way they are, but I found them a bit too green this way.

So I took some black spray paint and sprayed the cord being careful not to spray the lights.  I didn’t get the entire cord black, just enough to take away some of the green.

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

At this time of year it’s not hard to find a branch or twig.  The half dead tree in my yard provides me with twigs and dead branches all the time.  Insert the stem, glue it in place. Stand back and enjoy.

The lights cast the most amazing shadow on the wall

And with my black framed picture behind it.

I think I’ll make a couple more.  I hope you give it a try.

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