I watched this video series when you posted it, and now about 9 years later, I am watching again to attempt to make decorations for halloween! This video is timeless, thanks so much for sharing it! Hope you are doing well and having fun creating new decorations!
I'm having a blast making my pumpkins! Just getting ready to start the bottom layers and can't wait to start their faces. Thanks for posting the videos. I'm watching for the second time so I don't forget to do anything.
I just want to say thank you for making these videos.My son and I are about to begin making a pumpkin as a home school art project since we are doing virtual learning at the moment and this is perfect for us to do together.
Watching all your videos again and loving them just as much as the first time around! I finally made my first paper mache project, but it wasn't one of these bad boys! Love you and your videos!
Your videos are so helpful! Normally I wouldn't watch a how to in its entirety... I usually just use them to get the basic idea and hen get bored and move on. But you have inspired me to start my pumpkins already this year in preparation for Halloween and I've binge watch your series twice already, often referring back to the videos for reference when making my own pumpkin. I hope you continue to make videos! I would love to have some more cool DIY tutorials.
I truly enjoy your instruction, obviously you are a teacher. Your personality is great too. Keep up the great work. After I master a pumpkin and check out your other videos I would love to see how to make a dragon using the cloth method for the "skin". Happy Days to you. Thank you soooooo much for sharing with us in this brave new world of virtual-space.
+Sky Crane Glad you enjoyed the videos. :) One of these days I'll try a dragon but the amount of time they require just daunts the heck out of me right now when I have so much else on my plate. The cloth method does look like a ton of fun though.
O.K. I am making one and wonder if you can use the clay on the top and bottom too...I notice you don't. Would it not make it stronger and all. Heh, thanks for the videos...love the way you give detail and great instructions....gotta check and see if you have more videos...I am new to this, YOU are so right, I love paper clay.! And now I want to plan another something....maybe something Christmas.
Stronger perhaps but I put a hole in the bottom so I can paint the inside and get the stuffing back out. The top I don't clay because I'm gonna put a stem on there eventually.
Excellent. I'm glad the videos were useful. If you feel like it send me a picture or two of your creations. I have the same name at gmail.com and I always like to see my 'grandkids.'
I love your videos. One thing I do is poke a hole through that garbage bag top, wire string through and hang it to dry. I will reinforce the plastic with masking tape for bigger pumpkins that will be heavy. that way I can do top and bottom instead of waiting in between.
That's a cool strategy. I have seen some people leave a loop of garbage bag exposed so they can hang theirs too. I will add this to the 'about' section of the video though. I think I will add it to the video on the top section so anyone who reads can get the tip before they start in earnest.
Have you ever tried carving with one of the fine tooth pumpkin saws? You would probably have to start with the xacto but then I think it might work...I'm starting mine I'm at the carving phase
I have used them before and they do work well. When I'm in no mood to brook with the mache armor I just reach for the dremel to tear through it unless I have some seriously fine detail. Detail tends to get lost in the paper clay phase though unless you have some very fine paper clay made with toilet paper as its bulking component. I have used a little saw when I did a fancy carve mache pumpkin.
Hello Drachenfang! I am here to thank you for your Paper Mache Pumpkins tutorials. I actually watched all of them in a row last weekend. Kinda was supposed to watch only the first one to see how to start paper mache, but quickly got hooked and thus, watching you was what I did on my Friday evening. I was not using my own computer and the TH-cam account that was used wasn't mine, so couldn't comment right away. By the way, did you cut your hair sometime before "Face time"? Anyway... We don't go crazy over Halloween in my country. Which is a real shame, since I do. I won't create a pumpkin, but with all the knowledge I got from you, for the starters I shall make some accessories for my Halloween outfit. Yes, I will dress up anyway. It makes me happy. Wish me luck! Because if I am successful, I shall move on to the bigger Paper Mache projects that have been filling my mind during the past few days. Thus, I thank you, good sir! Well done videos. Hyper entertaining. And thank you for making the mistakes too and leaving them in the videos. Hopefully I learned from them already. Have a good day!
+hiutale Excellent. I really appreciate your note and hope the costuming goes well for you. If you are doing costuming I highly reccomend th-cam.com/users/Mogrymillian who does some amazing things with worbla and LED's. Mache works very well too. May all your projecting go beautifully and send me a pic or two if you can. Thanks again. :)
Love your videos! I am working on a large one, trying to do a Punkinrot. Do you think 6 layers of the paper mache is enough? I know you mentioned somewhere that the larger ones sometimes want to collapse?
My first question would be 'How big?' If I was doing an epically massive one (say 4-5 feet tall) I would be using an internal 'skeleton' of heat bent pvc pipe or 8 gage wire. The biggest I have gone was about a 2' pumpkin (wide) and he didn't need any special reinforcement.
Thanks for your reply. It is about 2 feet across, so I guess I should be ok. I do have one other question, do you let it dry at all between layers? It took forever for my first 6 layers to dry...
Thanks for the link. So where do I get those paper towels? Hey, I too was thinner long ago...handled a tragedy with the drug of food, instead of walking like a very, mature person would do, or even if I had used drugs or wine I could have gone away for 6 weeks and achieved freedom from my addiction----food is the worst drug, its insidious, its a drug that MUST be used thru out the day, and it really turns your metabolism, body into a twisted machine....know both sides. You are a artist, creator...what class do you teach, what grade?
+Sky Crane I would search ebay to see about a good deal on those paper towels. That or ask around any place that has them if you could get the end of a roll that they are replacing. I teach science, grades 7-11.
Thanks for the idea re brown paper towels, going to try white cheap paper towels...I know you have probably tried this. Science teacher, very kool, I would have thought the obvious, Art. grades 7-11, teenagers...brave of you.
Well hello Drachenfang - I don't know your real first name so call you by your very interesting internet craft guy name - hey - WHERE CAN I POST MY FINISHED PUMPKIN SO I CAN SHOW OFF? I so admire you people who can do it for us on the You Tube but I want to show off too - so do you have a public arena for this?
+Gary Roth I don't sell them but if you wanted to you have to make sure that it pays for your time and materials. The materials cost per pumpkin comes to maybe $10-12 and then your time is worth whatever you decide it's worth.
As an Instructional Technologist and crafter for fun, I have to say that your paper mache pumpkin tutorials are 100% awesome. Not only have I watched them all in their entirety, I am referring back to them often while I am making my own. My design looks a lot like yours, but that comes from following your steps. I will change to a different facial design my next time around. I'm so excited to see this when it is finished. I am ready to start making my paper mache clay now. Thank you so much for this tutorial. I will post my progress as I am working. Here's a link to the picture that shows where I am right now: www.amyhissom.com/pumpkin/02.jpg
I'm glad you enjoyed the videos. I had a lot of fun making them. Mache clay is the most fun step. I think your pumpkins looks like it's off to a great start and I look forward to seeing more pictures. :)
Since I posted that comment, I made the paper mache clay (which I love) and have the base layer on. It is a little thicker in bulk around the eyes, nose and top teeth. I used almost the whole first batch of clay. I will make more tomorrow and then once this layer dries, I will build on it. I only left a small area clear of clay for the stem and the very bottom is still clear of clay, but I will cover those areas later. I just wanted to cover as much as possible for the first layer. I think I'm on the right track. I hope you know, you have created a paper mache junkie in me! ;) I know I am going to be hooked. I may have to have a workshop on this at our Community Center. Lord knows our town needs more activities for the kids to do. I'll be back again soon with more pictures. In the meantime, here's one of the first layer of clay finished: www.amyhissom.com/pumpkin/05.jpg
Yep you're just about up to the real fun sculpting phase. I love the craft because it is so amazingly versatile and because before I looked into it I never knew what it was capable of. Too many people remember paper mache as that silly thing you did in 2nd grade to make a model solar system or what not. The clay takes the art form to the next level. It would be pretty slick if you could teach a class on it. If you use cheap toilet paper instead of cellulose pulp the clay becomes VASTLY more detail retaining. I'm enjoying seeing the evolution of your pumpkin.
Yes, I too remember those days of school paper mache. This is much better! I have been lucky with the weather here in Ohio the past few days. I put that first layer on last night and when I got up this morning, I set the pumpkin out on my front porch with the sun beating down on it all day. It was at least 80 degrees or above today so the first layer is as dry as can be. I am getting ready to cut out the bottom now to remove the stuffing and clay that area. Might have to get another one started while that dries, then tomorrow evening I will start the fun sculpting part. I'll try the toilet paper in the future, but like you, I have a humongous bag of paper pulp! I'll be back tomorrow evening to post a picture of my facial sculpting. Talk to you soon! ;)
Got the face all done. I'll start on the stem tomorrow. I started on another one as well. I found a video that showed how to make skeleton hands and arms so I followed it to create those for the second pumpkin. I like the Stolloween pumpkin with the arms and thought I might give that a try. Here's some pics for you. Hope you enjoy! Pumpkin #1 so far: www.amyhissom.com/pumpkin/08.jpg Pumpkin #2 so far: www.amyhissom.com/pumpkin/001.jpg Hand and arm so far: www.amyhissom.com/pumpkin/004.jpg
Hello to my fave pumpkin man - question: Have I committed Jack-O-Lantern suicide? Because: instead of newspaper filling i used BUBBLE WRAP - yards of it! And instead of using newspaper strips I used somewhat course book paper - I didn't have the news on hand. And instead of masking tape I used blue painter's tape. At this point I am almost finished stripping and will carve my face, - BUT - tell me where I have gone wrong, if I have gone wrong - and I',ll juST CHUCK THE WHOLE DISASTER NOW - thanks loads!
You should be absolutely fine. So long as it is holding up the way you want it to then paper is paper and bubble wrap should hold up the internals with no big problem. Of course if you don't like how it is turning out I have no picture to see where any problems might be.
I watched this video series when you posted it, and now about 9 years later, I am watching again to attempt to make decorations for halloween! This video is timeless, thanks so much for sharing it! Hope you are doing well and having fun creating new decorations!
I'm having a blast making my pumpkins! Just getting ready to start the bottom layers and can't wait to start their faces. Thanks for posting the videos. I'm watching for the second time so I don't forget to do anything.
I just want to say thank you for making these videos.My son and I are about to begin making a pumpkin as a home school art project since we are doing virtual learning at the moment and this is perfect for us to do together.
Watching all your videos again and loving them just as much as the first time around! I finally made my first paper mache project, but it wasn't one of these bad boys! Love you and your videos!
Your videos are so helpful! Normally I wouldn't watch a how to in its entirety... I usually just use them to get the basic idea and hen get bored and move on. But you have inspired me to start my pumpkins already this year in preparation for Halloween and I've binge watch your series twice already, often referring back to the videos for reference when making my own pumpkin. I hope you continue to make videos! I would love to have some more cool DIY tutorials.
Thanks very much. Expect some new ones this summer. I just need to clean out the kitchen and have school end to get it all rockin'. :)
That's great to hear! Thank you!
YOU ARE AMAZING !!! THE BEST
THANKS FOR YOU VIDEOS
I truly enjoy your instruction, obviously you are a teacher. Your personality is great too. Keep up the great work. After I master a pumpkin and check out your other videos I would love to see how to make a dragon using the cloth method for the "skin".
Happy Days to you. Thank you soooooo much for sharing with us in this brave new world of virtual-space.
+Sky Crane Glad you enjoyed the videos. :) One of these days I'll try a dragon but the amount of time they require just daunts the heck out of me right now when I have so much else on my plate. The cloth method does look like a ton of fun though.
I love watching your videos! Put a registration mark on your bucket to mark a full rotation cycle. ;)
I probably could but I don't worry about it too much. Some of the mistakes I make are intentional to break up the filming.
You are a great teacher.
Thanks a bunch!
No problem. Happy crafting :)
You're too adorable!
Awww shucks *blushes*
O.K. I am making one and wonder if you can use the clay on the top and bottom too...I notice you don't. Would it not make it stronger and all. Heh, thanks for the videos...love the way you give detail and great instructions....gotta check and see if you have more videos...I am new to this, YOU are so right, I love paper clay.! And now I want to plan another something....maybe something Christmas.
Stronger perhaps but I put a hole in the bottom so I can paint the inside and get the stuffing back out. The top I don't clay because I'm gonna put a stem on there eventually.
Gracias por tus tutoriales! Saludos desde Mexico!
De nada. Feliz de que disfrutaste de los videos
I watched your videos a month ago and I want to let you know I've made two now.. :) thanks for the videos. I love them
Excellent. I'm glad the videos were useful. If you feel like it send me a picture or two of your creations. I have the same name at gmail.com and I always like to see my 'grandkids.'
Brilliant
What is the starch mixture? I’ve been trying to find the how to video.
I love your videos. One thing I do is poke a hole through that garbage bag top, wire string through and hang it to dry. I will reinforce the plastic with masking tape for bigger pumpkins that will be heavy. that way I can do top and bottom instead of waiting in between.
I should add I'm still a newbie. working on my first set. only one completed lol
That's a cool strategy. I have seen some people leave a loop of garbage bag exposed so they can hang theirs too. I will add this to the 'about' section of the video though. I think I will add it to the video on the top section so anyone who reads can get the tip before they start in earnest.
I added your advice to the third video in the series in the 'about' section.
Newbie Shmoobie, we're all just fun loving spooky crafters weather you're on your first one or your hundredth :)
I have a gallon of wood glue. Can that be use for paper mache or should I get some regular Elmer's glue?
Very cool! Your videos are awesome :)
Thanks very much :)
Have you ever tried carving with one of the fine tooth pumpkin saws? You would probably have to start with the xacto but then I think it might work...I'm starting mine I'm at the carving phase
I have used them before and they do work well. When I'm in no mood to brook with the mache armor I just reach for the dremel to tear through it unless I have some seriously fine detail. Detail tends to get lost in the paper clay phase though unless you have some very fine paper clay made with toilet paper as its bulking component. I have used a little saw when I did a fancy carve mache pumpkin.
Sorry to hear you moistened your bottom in this video... Also, thanks for making these. Still working on mine.
+PAGE 37 CREATIONS It's all a learning experience. I'd love to see yours when you're done.
Now I'm starting to feel stalky... I amn't TRYING to comment on all of these videos but, "All over the everywhere." is made of WIN.
I try to answer all questions and keep up with all the comments :)
Hello Drachenfang!
I am here to thank you for your Paper Mache Pumpkins tutorials. I actually watched all of them in a row last weekend. Kinda was supposed to watch only the first one to see how to start paper mache, but quickly got hooked and thus, watching you was what I did on my Friday evening. I was not using my own computer and the TH-cam account that was used wasn't mine, so couldn't comment right away. By the way, did you cut your hair sometime before "Face time"? Anyway... We don't go crazy over Halloween in my country. Which is a real shame, since I do. I won't create a pumpkin, but with all the knowledge I got from you, for the starters I shall make some accessories for my Halloween outfit. Yes, I will dress up anyway. It makes me happy.
Wish me luck! Because if I am successful, I shall move on to the bigger Paper Mache projects that have been filling my mind during the past few days.
Thus, I thank you, good sir! Well done videos. Hyper entertaining. And thank you for making the mistakes too and leaving them in the videos. Hopefully I learned from them already. Have a good day!
+hiutale Excellent. I really appreciate your note and hope the costuming goes well for you. If you are doing costuming I highly reccomend th-cam.com/users/Mogrymillian who does some amazing things with worbla and LED's. Mache works very well too. May all your projecting go beautifully and send me a pic or two if you can. Thanks again. :)
Love your videos! I am working on a large one, trying to do a Punkinrot. Do you think 6 layers of the paper mache is enough? I know you mentioned somewhere that the larger ones sometimes want to collapse?
My first question would be 'How big?' If I was doing an epically massive one (say 4-5 feet tall) I would be using an internal 'skeleton' of heat bent pvc pipe or 8 gage wire. The biggest I have gone was about a 2' pumpkin (wide) and he didn't need any special reinforcement.
Thanks for your reply. It is about 2 feet across, so I guess I should be ok. I do have one other question, do you let it dry at all between layers? It took forever for my first 6 layers to dry...
I dry all 6 at once. I hit it with a fan on high and I usually leave it on over night
how meany layers do u added in the pumpkin? plse reply
I always try to reply to questions. Six layers of paper strips are needed to maintain the strength of the structure.
Thanks for the link. So where do I get those paper towels? Hey, I too was thinner long ago...handled a tragedy with the drug of food, instead of walking like a very, mature person would do, or even if I had used drugs or wine I could have gone away for 6 weeks and achieved freedom from my addiction----food is the worst drug, its insidious, its a drug that MUST be used thru out the day, and it really turns your metabolism, body into a twisted machine....know both sides. You are a artist, creator...what class do you teach, what grade?
+Sky Crane I would search ebay to see about a good deal on those paper towels. That or ask around any place that has them if you could get the end of a roll that they are replacing. I teach science, grades 7-11.
Thanks for the idea re brown paper towels, going to try white cheap paper towels...I know you have probably tried this. Science teacher, very kool, I would have thought the obvious, Art. grades 7-11, teenagers...brave of you.
+Sky Crane Alternative education teens too and special ed. It keeps life interesting.
See if you can get that stuff to go thru a spray bottle instead of using the brush. It looks like it might...or not.
If I wanted to purchase an artist smock like yours, where would I look?
Mine is an old medieval reenactment tunic that was sewn for me ages ago. It's getting a little worn so now it's a smock.
It makes a great artist smock,,,,by the way I really like your You Tube Clips. Especially like the Halloween Pumpkin instructions.
Well hello Drachenfang - I don't know your real first name so call you by your very interesting internet craft guy name - hey - WHERE CAN I POST MY FINISHED PUMPKIN SO I CAN SHOW OFF? I so admire you people who can do it for us on the You Tube but I want to show off too - so do you have a public arena for this?
Yes I do. Here is the spot that I show off other's creations: facebook.com/UnhallowedHaunt
@@Drachenfang AWESOME - I'll post soon
How many layers? I missed this some how?
Usually 6
what would you sell these for?
+Gary Roth I don't sell them but if you wanted to you have to make sure that it pays for your time and materials. The materials cost per pumpkin comes to maybe $10-12 and then your time is worth whatever you decide it's worth.
As an Instructional Technologist and crafter for fun, I have to say that your paper mache pumpkin tutorials are 100% awesome. Not only have I watched them all in their entirety, I am referring back to them often while I am making my own. My design looks a lot like yours, but that comes from following your steps. I will change to a different facial design my next time around. I'm so excited to see this when it is finished. I am ready to start making my paper mache clay now. Thank you so much for this tutorial. I will post my progress as I am working. Here's a link to the picture that shows where I am right now:
www.amyhissom.com/pumpkin/02.jpg
I'm glad you enjoyed the videos. I had a lot of fun making them. Mache clay is the most fun step. I think your pumpkins looks like it's off to a great start and I look forward to seeing more pictures. :)
Since I posted that comment, I made the paper mache clay (which I love) and have the base layer on. It is a little thicker in bulk around the eyes, nose and top teeth. I used almost the whole first batch of clay. I will make more tomorrow and then once this layer dries, I will build on it. I only left a small area clear of clay for the stem and the very bottom is still clear of clay, but I will cover those areas later. I just wanted to cover as much as possible for the first layer. I think I'm on the right track. I hope you know, you have created a paper mache junkie in me! ;) I know I am going to be hooked. I may have to have a workshop on this at our Community Center. Lord knows our town needs more activities for the kids to do. I'll be back again soon with more pictures. In the meantime, here's one of the first layer of clay finished:
www.amyhissom.com/pumpkin/05.jpg
Yep you're just about up to the real fun sculpting phase. I love the craft because it is so amazingly versatile and because before I looked into it I never knew what it was capable of. Too many people remember paper mache as that silly thing you did in 2nd grade to make a model solar system or what not. The clay takes the art form to the next level.
It would be pretty slick if you could teach a class on it. If you use cheap toilet paper instead of cellulose pulp the clay becomes VASTLY more detail retaining.
I'm enjoying seeing the evolution of your pumpkin.
Yes, I too remember those days of school paper mache. This is much better! I have been lucky with the weather here in Ohio the past few days. I put that first layer on last night and when I got up this morning, I set the pumpkin out on my front porch with the sun beating down on it all day. It was at least 80 degrees or above today so the first layer is as dry as can be. I am getting ready to cut out the bottom now to remove the stuffing and clay that area. Might have to get another one started while that dries, then tomorrow evening I will start the fun sculpting part. I'll try the toilet paper in the future, but like you, I have a humongous bag of paper pulp! I'll be back tomorrow evening to post a picture of my facial sculpting. Talk to you soon! ;)
Got the face all done. I'll start on the stem tomorrow. I started on another one as well. I found a video that showed how to make skeleton hands and arms so I followed it to create those for the second pumpkin. I like the Stolloween pumpkin with the arms and thought I might give that a try. Here's some pics for you. Hope you enjoy!
Pumpkin #1 so far: www.amyhissom.com/pumpkin/08.jpg
Pumpkin #2 so far: www.amyhissom.com/pumpkin/001.jpg
Hand and arm so far: www.amyhissom.com/pumpkin/004.jpg
Moisten it with fluid 😂😂
Im doing paper mache at school but its just a pig!
Hello to my fave pumpkin man - question: Have I committed Jack-O-Lantern suicide? Because: instead of newspaper filling i used BUBBLE WRAP - yards of it! And instead of using newspaper strips I used somewhat course book paper - I didn't have the news on hand. And instead of masking tape I used blue painter's tape. At this point I am almost finished stripping and will carve my face, - BUT - tell me where I have gone wrong, if I have gone wrong - and I',ll juST CHUCK THE WHOLE DISASTER NOW - thanks loads!
You should be absolutely fine. So long as it is holding up the way you want it to then paper is paper and bubble wrap should hold up the internals with no big problem. Of course if you don't like how it is turning out I have no picture to see where any problems might be.
@@Drachenfang Yesssssssss - I SHALL PROCEED! Tanks
UNHallowed on