go to DLTK's Homepage
25 Newest  Activities Top 10 Activities

  
[Halloween Index]   [Pumpkin Crafts]
  

DLTK's Holiday Crafts
Dryer Vent Pumpkin

My husband is always teasing me that I never design crafts that he enjoys helping with.  Lisa, one of our viewers and a girl scout leader, sent in this idea which completely fit the bill!  (I wish I'd thought of it!)  In my defense though, it was her husband Bill's idea *grin*.

I'd say this is a craft for older children (9 or 10) as you're using spray paint (which won't come out of clothes)... but if you had good adult supervision (1 adult for each child) you could do it with younger kids)

Materials:

  • 4" flexible vinyl ducting (like they use to vent dryers and appliances)
    • you can see what it looks like to the right (a little like a snake or slinky)
    • white works better than metal
    • a 20 foot length of it will make 18 - 2' pumpkins
    • You can use any size venting (we used 3 different sizes to create 3 totally different pumpkin sizes)
        
  • 2 twist ties (per pumpkin)
      
  • orange, high gloss spray paint
      
  • green raffia or silk ivy
      
  • scissors
  • wire cutters
  • sharp pencil or nail


vinyl ducting

Instructions - Adults:

  • pre cut the vinyl ducting into 24 inch sections (you will need scissors to cut through the vinyl, then a wire cutter to snip the middle wire apart)
      
  • Temporarily gather the vinyl ducting into a circle to form the pumpkin.  Using a sharp pencil, poke 2 sets of holes through the joined ends, one set on top and one set near the bottom.
      
  • Release the ducting so it isn't joined anymore (we'll let the kids do the permanent joining)

Instructions - Children:

  • Gather the vinyl ducting into a circle so the holes match up
      
  • use twist ties or zip ties through the holes to to secure the pumpkin closed. (snip off the ends)
      
  • Using orange high gloss spray paint, lightly coat the entire pumpkin.
      
  • Let dry 30 minutes.
      
  • Finish by stuffing green raffia or silk ivy through the center (working from the top) to give your pumpkin a vine effect.

It turns out sooo cool!  It looks just like a real pumpkin!

 

Printable version of these instructions