How To Dress Up Your Pumpkin

Y’all I can’t wait to show you how to dress up your pumpkin! They are so stinking cute!!!

I would love to tell you that this was totally my idea, but that would so be a lie. I was cruising Micheal’s website for idea for a fall project, when I came up Miss Heidi Swapp herself sharing how to dress up your pumpkin! You can see Heidi’s post here.

Heidi’s pumpkins were so cute, I couldn’t resist giving it a try.

Here’s what you will need to dress up a pumpkin:

1. Pumpkin of your choice.
2. Tattoo paper
3. Drill and 1/4 ” drill bit
4. Marquee lights
5. Utility knife
6. wet cloth

I bought this Tattoo paper on Amazon, however there are several different brands that are cheaper that I am sure would work just as well.

Step one is to set up your art. I found this free image at The Graphics Fairy . Be sure to “mirror” your art before printing.

To print follow the directions on your tattoo paper’s instructions.

This was the part that I was so nervous about and it took me all of a minute once I had chosen my design.

Once your design has been printed and has completely dried, cut out your design as closely to the the image as possible.

Next, lay your design face down onto your pumpkin and then lay a wet cloth on top.

Gently rub on your image, through the cloth, until the paper backing is completely wet. Once the paper backing is wet your design will be transferred.

Gently peel off the paper backing. Using your wet cloth gently press down any bubbles or loose edges that you may have.

Let dry completely!

Cut a hole in the bottom of your pumpkin just large enough for your hand to enter the pumpkin.

Next up, the fun part. Heidi’s supply list called for a string of her marquee lights. One problem. I couldn’t find them anywhere!

I found these letters that come with a light string of 12 at Michael’s. In the very back corner among  the clearance items. Score!

Time to drill! Heidi’s tutorial called for a 5/16″ drill bit, but I found that using the 1/4″ made the hole the perfect size for my lights globes.

Tip:  Try  a pilot hole in the bottom of your pumpkin before cutting out the bottom hole to see what size works best for you.

I decided to place my lights like Heidi did on her skeleton pumpkin. 5 on the bottom and one in each eye.

So cute!

Heidi had a couple of different colors of light globes, however since mine came from the clearance bin, all of mine were clear.

Sharpies to the rescue.  I just colored my eye light globes to a lovely amber color.

All that’s left to do is to put your string of lights into the pumpkin. I started with the lead light and poked it into the hole that I drilled, snapping them into the globe. I worked my way down until all of the globes had a light.

How to dress up your pumpkin could not be easier! If a skeleton doesn’t tickle your Halloween fancy, How a bout a cat, or a bat, or a witches hat? The possibilities are endless!

I can’t wait to make another one! It’s like eating candy, you can’t just eat one. So addicting.

Until next time…..

         Tammy

You can find me at these fabulous link parties:

Snickerdoodle – Create – Bake – Make Link Party