Posted on Feb 1st 2016
Scarecrows,
Pumpkins, & Ghosts, Oh My!
Copyright2000,
Amanda Formaro
http://familycorner.com
Scarecrows are actually very easy to make and look like
you spent hours assembling them. For a friendly scarecrow,
use either a plastic smiling pumpkin for the head, or
a carved or painted pumpkin with a happy face. Choose
a long sleeved shirt or coat, a pair of pants or jeans,
and a hat if you choose. You may even go so far as to
include shoes for it's feet and gloves as it's hands.
Stuff the clothing with newspapers or dry leaves to
keep the scarecrow from getting too heavy that you can't
carry him. If you have straw available, poke some out
from inside the shirt collar and wrist cuffs of the
shirt. If not using gloves, you can use straw or sticks
for the hands. Secure all the clothing together with
safety pins, or by hand sewing 8-10 stitches every 4-6
inches or so.
Spooky Scarecrows
Follow the instructions above for the clothing, simply
replace the happy pumpkin face with a scary or angry
expression.
Another option is to use planks of wood set up easel
style, then drape lengths of cloth all over to form
ghostly apparel. Using more wood, and a few nails, hammer
arms so that they are pointing out to the sides. Using
a spooky carved face and leaving the hat off gives an
eerie appearance! A Grim Reaper can also be constructed
this way by using black sheets or cloth and forming
a hood over the pumpkin head.
Carved Pumpkins
With Halloween comes the tradition of carving pumpkins.
You can carve an extravagant expression or a simple
smile. Be certain to use caution when using any sharp
object to carve the pumpkins. Be creative. Draw your
ideas on paper before carving to eliminate mistakes
you cannot reverse.
For some really cool, free pumpkin carving patterns
visit http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/halloween/pumpplans.html
and for wonderful carving instructions be sure to hit
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/halloween/jack101.html
Painted Pumpkins
An alternative to carving is painting. This is very
popular with families with small children. Kids want
to be a part of the process, and this is a wonderful
way to let them decorate their own pumpkin. You can
use markers or tempura paints. Because you are not cutting
into the pumpkin, it will last longer and you will be
able to use it in recipes after the holiday. Just be
sure to wash all the paint off!
Ghosts, Webs, & Spiders
Simple hanging ghosts can be made from squares of white
fabric. Place the square of fabric down flat on the
table. In the center of the fabric, put a balled up
wad of fabric scraps, cotton, or yarn. Using newspaper
as the stuffing is not recommended because of rain drenching
the paper and possibly bleeding the ink through the
white fabric. Wrap the fabric around the ball in the
center and tie off with a piece of orange or black yarn.
Use a black marker to paint on eyes and a mouth. Make
longer ones by using larger scraps of fabric. Hang ghosts
in a tree or from your doorway.
Spiders and webs are fairly easy to decorate with. You
can purchase small plastic spiders and webbing at craft
and discount stores. Thread webbing across bushes and
windows to create an eerie effect. String it through
trees and branches and over doorways.
To make large yard spiders, fill a black plastic garbage
full with dry leaves or old newspapers. Tie off the
end. Using another black garbage bag, fill again, but
only 1/3 of the way. Tie off. The smaller bag is the
head. Attach the head to the larger bag (body) with
packing tape. Using yet another black garbage bag, cut
lengthwise into thin strips, enough for eight legs.
Tape or hot glue sides together once you have lined
them with a filling such as leaves or newspaper. Hot
glue or tape legs to body.
Halloween is such a fun holiday. Be sure to make the
most of it and follow our safety precautions here http://www.thefamilycorner.com/cgi-bin/dir/jump.cgi?ID=562
for a fun night of Trick-or-Treating!
Amanda Formaro is the entrepreneurial
mother of four children. She and her husband live in
southern Nevada. She is also the owner of FamilyCorner.com
Magazine. Subscribe to her free holiday newsletter,
Family Holidays, by sending any email message to mailto:holidays-on@mail-list.com