DLTK's Crafts for Kids:
Easy Pumpkin Craft

I've had a lot of requests for more paper plate crafts.  This Pumpkin is made with a paper plate.  I've provided templates for dinner sized and snack sized plates.  If you don't have paper plates, don't fret!  Just take a regular plate and trace it onto a piece of cardboard (old cereal boxes work great!) or use a margarine/ice cream container lid.

You can easily make a mask, by leaving off the template eyes and cutting holes.  Attach (glue and tape) a popsicle stick or unsharpened pencil to the bottom for the child to hold it to their face.  This is what we have done here.   Cutting the eyes out is an adult's job!

Thanks to a viewer that wrote..
"Last year I made this with my kids and instead of using leaves, I traced the boys hands and use them for leaves. It's just as cute and it give a added touch. I love to use handprints and footprints when I get a chance and I always make sure I save those crafts."...D-jay
 

Materials:

it all depends on what option you use... you'll will need

either

• paper plate (whatever size)
• cardboard cut into a circle OR
• margarine or ice cream container lid

either

• orange paint,
• orange construction paper OR
• orange tissue paper

either

• template pieces provided.
   
• black paint,
• black construction paper OR
• black marker
   

Instructions:

• Paint your paper plate orange
   
  OR
   
• glue orange construction/tissue paper onto it (rip 1 inch (ish) squares of construction/tissue paper and glue them on with a mixture of 1/2 water and 1/2 regular children's white glue.  This is sort of like mod podging)
   
• Let dry.
   
• Glue on face (paper mouth and nose).
   
• Paper stem and leaves. (leaves can be handprints cut from green paper)
   
• Paper circle cut round and round to make a squiggly vine.
   
• Cut out triangular eyeholes.
   
• Tape on a craft stick handle.
   

MAKE THE FACE/STEM

• Print out the template of choice.  Colour (where appropriate) and cut out the template pieces.  (Younger children may require assistance with the cutting.)
   
• OR skip the template and cut/draw your own pieces on construction paper and glue them on (this is what we did)
   
• OR draw/paint the mouth and nose with black marker or paint (see photo).
   

Templates:

• Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
   
• Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).
   

Small Plate Template   (color)   or   (B&W)

Large Plate Template   (color)   or   (B&W)

Printable version of these instructions