Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Book Page Pumpkins

I have been so busy teaching and trying to settle into my new home. 


"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary..."
 ~Edgar Allan Poe 

However, October is my most favorite month, so Nel and I managed to squeeze in a spirited craft night!


I have been wanting to test out the book page pumpkins that I have seen floating around Pinterest. 


All you need are a few pumpkins from the Dollar Store, extra book pages that you don't mind tearing up, Mod Podge, a little Spanish Moss, and a simple tree branch or twig. 


We began by tearing pages from a duplicate book copy that Nel owned. (Honestly, I cringed a little while tearing up the pages!)


Next, we painted our pumpkins in parts with Mod Podge and secured the book page strips to them. We then applied Mod Podge all over the book pages. 


This craft can be a little messy as it turns out best if you use your fingers to flatten the book page strips to the pumpkin as you are Mod Podging. We also found it easiest to paint our pumpkins in sections at a time. 


Once we covered our pumpkins, we let them dry overnight, then we hot glued Spanish moss and a twig to each. Pretty simple!


"There is no exquisite beauty...without some strangeness in the proportion." 
~Edgar Allan Poe  

~Jess

25 comments:

Susie said...

Jess, That is a great job, I really like those pumpkins too. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

It's me said...

So Nice jess !!...lovely done...enjoy autumn love Ria...x!

Unknown said...

ciao Sheri...un saluto dalla sicilia....

Angelsdoor * Penny said...

Jess,
They look great! I love this idea.
Thanks so much for sharing
fondly,
Penny

Sola Scriptura said...

What a clever idea for the pumpkins. I wish you many more craft nights in your new home! I trust you are feeling more and more settled in the new house ;)

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I like the Poe quote and love your pumpkins. Thanks for showing us how you made them. They look neat next to your scarey books! Hugs, Diane

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

Thanks so much for the DIY - great instructions. They are really great! Will have to go to the Dollar Tree and get a few and make some.
Thanks so much.
Mary

NanaDiana said...

Really, really cute. You did a nice job. I am with you- I cringe a bit using real book pages no matter how old or decrepit the book. xo Diana

From The Heart said...

I love this...I want to make one!

Tina said...

nice work

TARYTERRE said...

What a clever idea. I LOVE them.

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Ladies,

What fun! love the pumpkins and they look great displayed on the ghost story books.
Hope you are enjoying the week
hugs
Carolyn

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

These are so cute, and what fun to make a night of it! Love how you used the scary books for props, too! xo Karen

Teresa said...

I love crafts with book pages. I'm hopeless. So these are my favorite pumpkins this year ;)
I also cringe a little when ripping books... it doesn't seem to care that I have the book, I've read it and wasn't that good - it still looks like desecrating ahahahah
And there's the fact that I end up reading it while ripping it apart.
I once made a jewelry box in a hollowed book and I could feel my hands shaking :silly:.
Better you than me as I love this craft. Glad you took some time to have fun with sis.
Happy Halloween,
Teresa

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh, now these are WONDERFUL!!!! And I congratulate you on your new teaching job! I am in my 12th year and this has been quite a great but very busy year. It is imperative that we teachers take time for ourselves and our passions (besides teaching) so we can come back to our charges refreshed. ENJOY!

Unknown said...

this is gr8 idea
looks very good
hope u are having good time there

Petra Butková said...

Nice decoration :)

http://byfoxygreen.blogspot.sk/

Attic Clutter said...

oh very cute jess
thanksfor coming over
SHERI..
hope your week is a lot of fun stuff (:)
hugs,patty

Deserae said...

Very clever and oh soooooo cute!!!
~Des

Things and Thoughts said...

I love this idea with the newspaper. Very beautiful result.We don't celebrate Halloweeen here but there is something which attracts me in all this atmosphere.
Happy weekend to all of you.
Olympia

Imogen said...

This is a genius idea and I love it. I hope you are enjoying your favourite month. I have seen some really great decorations around lately that I want to buy :)

Ivy and Elephants said...

Quick and easy is just what I need!
Thanks for the inspiration, I will try it with my kiddies at school.
Hugs,
Patti

Anonymous said...

I noticed these on Pinterest earlier this week, Jess. LOVE how yours turned out, and you embellished them perfectly with EAP's quotes.
xoxo

Magda Carvalho said...

Great ideia :)
*new follower in the blog :)

http://retromaggie.blogspot.pt/

Anonymous said...

What a clever idea! I love it Jess!