Thursday, October 27, 2016

Pumpkin Photo Holder


HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!
On a desk, on a shelf, or on a mantle...There are pumpkins, pumpkins, everywhere!! 
I'm back again with the Xyron Design Team and today I'm bring you a project featuring fabulous products from Quick Quotes and Xyron to create this Pumpkin Photo Holder!

Supplies Used
Farmhouse Paper Pack (Quick Quotes)
Mini Faux Pumpkin
Martha Stewart Deluxe Paper Trimmer (EK Success)
Leaves (Recollections)
Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks (AdTech)
Jumbo Paper Clips (Recollections)
Hemp Twine
Round Nose Pliers

**Optional**
Blue painter's tape
Ruler

 I started off with a small faux pumpkin. These are the ones that look relatively real on the outside but are foam in the inside. The foam core is important and I'll go over why a little bit later.

I measured my pumpkin. You can easily use a measuring tape to get the measurements. But if you don't have one (or if yours grew legs and walked away, like mine are known to do) then here is an alternative... use blue painters tape!!

Just measure from the center top to the bottom center and run your tape down the side of you r pumpkin. When you get to the center, tear the tape. Lay the tape next to your ruler and measure.

Now, you have the exact measurements you need to create strips to cover your pumpkin. My 4" pumpkin needs strips that are 6.25" long. I trim them to 6.25" long by 1" wide. For my the pumpkin shown I needed a total of 17 strips.

 Once my strips were all cut, I inked all the edges using the Quick Quotes' PowderPuff Chalk Ink in Coral.

Then crumpled each strip. This breaks down the paper fibers and makes it more pliable.

Then I opened the strips back up and flattened them out.

doing this also give a really nice distressed look to the papers.

Next, I ran all my strips through my Xyron Creative Station using a permanent adhesive cartridge.

Then simply peeled and applied the strips onto my plastic pumpkin, slightly over lapping each strip and working my way around to make sure there were no gaps.

To make the wire holders, I took jumbo paper clips and straightened them out before re-bending them with round nose pliers and curling them into spirals. 

I didn't worry about them being perfectly rounded and actually really liked the wonky look to these!!

Next, I took a piercing tool and poked small holes into the top of the pumpkin. This is where that foam core is important... if this was a hollow pumpkin the wires would not stand snug and securely. I applied hot glue to the tips of my wire before inserting for permanent placement.

Then, I inked a few leaves with more chalk ink. I little inked the tops with more Coral and the edges with Amaretto. And before the ink dried, I took a water brush and blended the inks out to soften the colors and make it look more natural.

So far it is STINKIN CUTE!!!

But I can never leave well enough alone...

So... I glued a chipboard sign to the center holder and made a hanging sign to tie around the pumpkin. 

EEEEKKK!! LOVE IT!!

And here is my finished 
PUMPKIN PHOTO HOLDER
Ready to give as a gift or put out for display!

I think this one will be going with hubby to put on his desk at work!!

Hope you enjoyed today's project!!

Until next time...
HAPPY CRAFTING!!
~Mitsy




4 comments:

  1. Just ADORABLE!!!

    Sue
    http://suek86401.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. Absolutely adorable! Thanks for the idea. I happen to have two paper mache pumpkins just waiting to be altered. :)

    ReplyDelete