Shelf Pumpkins

Sure you can buy lots of pre-fab witches, wolves, monsters, and ghosts.  But, Crafty Life and Style hopes you are filling up the house with handmade Halloween decorations this year.  If you like to leave subtle little reminders of the season around the house...here is one idea, shelf pumpkins. 

Here's what you need:

1-12x12 piece of orange fabric.

2-5x6 pieces of green fabric (or infant socks)

1-black marker

1-scoop of bird seed

1-package of cotton balls or other stuffing

3-tan rubber bands

Several strips of tan and green raffia

Glue gun
Scissors

Sewing machine and associated products optional

First lay out your 12x12 orange fabric.  Place the scoop of bird seed in the center and spread into a small circle for the base of your pumpkin.  This will help weigh down your pumpkin and hold it in place on your shelf.  Fill the center with cotton and begin to lift the corners of your orange fabric, bunching up the sides to form a round ball.  Keep pushing down your cutton as you pull the fabric tighter and stuff as much filling in as you need until the pumpkin is the desired size.  You will have extra fabric on top.  Just wrap a rubber band tight around the top to hold your pumpkin together.  Then, cut the excess fabric, leaving a small "stem" at the the top of your pumpkin.  Now, wrap the raffia around the stem, tie it in place, and reinforce with glue.  Now you are ready for the legs.

There are a couple of options for the legs, depending on whether or not you have a sewing machine.  If you want to try to sew it...here's what you can do:  Lay a 5x6 piece of green fabric.  Fold it the long way, with the inside facing out.  In order to create a point on the toes, you need to draw a sew line similar to what I show below.

Once you are done, flip the fabric so the inside is back on the inside.  Put some cotton in the botton of the foot.  Then, tie it off with a rubber band about 1 1/2 inches from the bottom.  Tie raffia around the rubber band, use glue to secure it and make a ribbon with the raffia.  Repeat the process for the second leg.  Once the legs are ready, fold the legs above the feet until their flat.  Flip the pumpkin over and sew the flat end of legs to the rump of your orange ball.  Put the pumpkin right side up and draw your face on as the final step, so everything is even.  If you don't have a sewing machine and want to avoid sewing the legs...you can try to ad-lib with a pair of cute infant socks or stockings.  In the end, you have a cute little pumpkin to sit on a shelf at work, home, or in your car.  Thanks to Crafty Grandma for this one.