I usually post recipes, but from time to time, I’ll post craft ideas, especially if it’ll decorate the table or surroundings supporting your wonderful food creations. Here’s a simple & sweet Pumpkin Craft that was completely free with items I had laying around the house. It’s a square pumpkin! I invited my aunt & cousin over for a new tradition of craft-making for each season & we had appetizers (Loved!) & a delicious apple pie mimosa (Oh my! Yummy!) & crafted for many hours! We had tons of laughs! We made an owl, a sign for Thanksgiving & this square pumpkin. My husband & I grab free pallets whenever we get the chance & we had a bunch of pallet blocks, so I thought, square pumpkin! I had a dowel already, in fact it was already stained with a dark maple stain & we cut that into smaller pieces for the stem of the pumpkin & I had raffia laying around, as well as craft paints, with a little extra stain.

raffia, to tie around dowel after for decoration

wood glue

dark walnut stain (optional)

rags for staining (optional)

more rags, for keeping messes at bay 😉

orange craft paint

brown paint, or walnut stain (like I used) for the stem (dowel)

compound miter saw, to cut dowels into 3″ pieces

sandpaper

paint brushes, small, or sponge brushes – whatever you prefer

1″ spade bit in drill – to cut a hole to place dowel in after

Directions:

1. Cut your dowel into 3″ piece with miter saw. *Make sure to wear goggles & watch your fingers! Sand bottom that was cut. Stain, if you’re staining. When dry, set aside for later.
2. Using a 1″ spade bit on drill , cut a 1″ deep hole down in pallet block to place dowel in for stem afterward.
3. After cleanup of saw, sand your pallet block (It will be imperfect, but that’s what gives it character). Paint orange. Let dry.
4. With wood glue, place a little glue into the hole on top of pallet block & place dowel on top. Hold down for a minute. You’ll need to stain the top of dowel (The end that was cut), to match rest of dowel.
5. After all set & dry, I used a little stain on a rag to give it an aged look & finish it off, but that’s up to you. You can leave it with just paint if you wish. If using stain, after approximately 15 minutes, sand a little to really age it.
6. Tie a few strands of raffia around the dowel & let hang over. Trim raffia if too long. Voila!!
7. *Optional: Paint a jack-O-lantern face on it if you wish, as well, or leave it plain, like I did.

It was so much fun that night!! I recommend hosting a craft night too! It’s a Blast!! Happy Autumn!!