Simple Fall Crafts - Book Pumpkins

I am all about the simple fall crafts this year as my schedule seems to be stretched to the max.  Even better is when I can find simple fall crafts that cost me little to nothing like this book pumpkin.  I was able to make it from things I already had at home which gains points for frugality and recycling. 

 

Supplies Needed:

-book that is ready to be recycled

-piece of paper

-pencil

-scissors

-glue stick

-hot glue

-a stick for the stem

-tulle/ribbon/fabric

-Krylon spray glitter (optional)

Step 1:  Take the cover off of your book.  (I don't think my husband was ever so happy to see this book cut up)

Step 2:  Fold your piece of paper in half hamburger style.  Draw the shape for half of your pumpkin.

Step 3:  Cut out your pumpkin shape and unfold your paper to make sure it is the shape you want.  You will want a fairly flat bottom so that your pumpkin will stand on its own.

Step 4:  Fold your paper back in half (so you only have the shape for half of your pumpkin) and trace it onto your book.  I found that I could cut about twenty pages at a time.  Repeat this step until you have cut out all of your pages.  This take a little bit of time when you have over 500 pages in your book and can only cut 20 at a time.

Step 5:  This is more of a hint than anything.  Ever few cuts or so you will want to remove the extra binding from both the top and the bottom.

Step 6:  Another hint.  I would alternate between cutting right on the line and cutting a little bit inside.  Otherwise your pumpkin will start to grow in size and become lopsided.  Then when you are done cutting, open up your pumpkin and trim down any areas that look a little off. 

Step 7:  When your pumpkin has the shape you desire use the glue stick on the very front page and the back of the very last page to hold your pumpkin together and bring your pages around in the "circle" like shown in the very first photo.  It should look like a pumpkin.  Then fluff some of the other pages to help distribute them more evenly around.  I found that if you just slightly bend some of the pages in the direction you want them to go it will hold its shape better (Again I would grab 20 pages or so to bend slightly).  The more it stands up right the better distribution you will get.

Step 8:  (Optional)  If you are going to add glitter now is the time.  Take it outside and spray all of the edges.  I used Krylon Diamond Spray Glitter.  Next time I think I would go with either the silver glitter or gold glitter to make the contrast a little greater.

Step 9:  Using hot glue, attach your stick on top for your stem and wrap your tulle/ribbon/fabric to make the bow. 

I think this book pumpkin will help to tie in my other shabby pumpkin in with the rest of my collection.  The possibilities with this pumpkin are endless.  You could make smaller and larger pumpkins.  You could use distressing ink on the edges or use spray paint to add a little color.  You could use spray adhesive on the edges to add different glitter colors.  See where I'm going?   

Considering the other pumpkins mine is going to sit next to though I again wanted a very simplistic look.  I'm so excited that this project turned out. 

What simple fall crafts are you working on?

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