Tissue Paper Patchwork Pumpkin Craft

This Patchwork Pumpkin started out as a kids craft, but it ended up as a “Me” craft. It was a great way to unwind and make my own keepsake Halloween decoration.

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The other day I had what I “thought” was a great idea for a kid’s craft. I had picked up a few paper mache pumpkins from the craft store for the kids to decorate for Halloween. I thought that involving messy things like glue and tissue paper would make it more “fun” for my kids. What 6 and 7-year-old doesn’t enjoy getting dirty, messy and sticky? That would be my 6 and 7-year-old. Oops.

My idea of cutting up tissue paper and dipping the squares into glue to make patchwork pumpkins was disastrous. This rainy afternoon activity was quite possibly the least fun craft I could have presented them with. As I sat down with my kids, I handed them each a pile of tissue paper and told them to have “fun” and cut the paper into any size and shape they wanted. My son bailed on us after the first snip.

“I don’t like this.”

And he ran off to build a zoo.

My daughter and I shrugged our shoulders and kept snipping away. I poured us each a plate of glue and we began dipping the tissue paper into the glue. I couldn’t help but notice my daughter grimacing each time she dipped her paper into the glue. I asked her if she would like to use a paintbrush instead?

She looked up at me and thought really hard about what she was going to say.

“Mom, this is really boring. Can I go play with my dolls?”

“Of course!” was my answer.

But – I was a little disappointed. Not disappointed that my kids didn’t want to join in on the craft, but disappointed because I was having so much fun. I sat there with my paper and glue and paper pumpkin and wondered what I should do. Should I stop and go play with them? Go attack the mountain of laundry? Maybe clean the bathroom?

Then another thought seeped into my head. What if I just sit here and continue to enjoy myself – without the kids? Maybe the craft wasn’t fun for them, but I was really enjoying myself. I had no problem dipping my paper into the glue and smoothing it all over my pumpkin. It was relaxing to me. Being able to sit down and create something, it was really nice. My kids were happily playing with their toys, why shouldn’t I continue?

So I did. I continued to craft away. And no one noticed. They had fun their way and I had fun my way. I will try to remember next time when I want to craft – kids can be optional!

PATCHWORK PUMPKIN CRAFT

Materials:

• Paper mache pumpkin
• Tissue paper
• Elmer’s clear school glue

Directions:

Step 1: Cut tissue paper into squares.

Step 2: Wipe glue onto small sections of the pumpkin. You want the tissue paper to be saturated. After you apply it, wipe another coat of glue on top.

Step 3: After first layers of squares dries, make another layer of squares on top. Let dry.

Happy Crafting,

Daniele

Want more Halloween crafts?

• Salt Dough Ghosts
• Glow in the Dark Monster Mason Jars
• Skeleton Wreath
• Skull Planter

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