Monday, November 01, 2010

Punkin Head

...I finally got all of the pictures of the costume organized and loaded...so here goes...

...Scout wanted to be a 'Punkin Head Scare Crow' for Halloween this year - and we didn't even start the costume until we got back from Omaha...

...first he wanted to wear an actual pumpkin on his head - but we had to put the ixnay on that as it's just too heavy - not to mention gross...but tween boys sort of like gross...

... the first thing we did was to wrap a pumpkin in plastic wrap - I wasn't sure whether the papier maché would stick to the pumpkin or not...

...we did three layers of papier maché - letting it dry in between layers - the ruffle at the bottom will become 'leaves'...

....then we coated it with Mod Podge to smooth it out a bit...

..let that dry...

...then cut it off the pumpkin...

...The original pumpkin was unharmed - so Scout can still carve it up...

...for some reason - it was still a little bit damp inside...

...so we set it in a bucket to keep it from getting deformed and let it dry some more...

...then we primed it white - and put on the first coat of orange...

...then Scout painted the stem brown and put in some brown ridges around the pumpkin...

...and painted the ruffle of leaves green...

...back view...

...front view...

...somewhere in all the busy-ness of the weekend I neglected to take any pictures of Scout drawing the face - but he just drew it on the pumpkin and we carved it out with a serrated knife - just like a real pumpkin...

...but when he was done - I hot glued some window screen over the openings - both for stability and to 'screen' (haha) his face and make it a little bit harder to see him...

...and taped up the back with some clear packing tape...it still slides on and off easily...

...and Taa Daa - the finished mask...

...we added a bit of rope to finish him off...

...then Scout popped it on and we went out to the field to gather some straw to stuff the Scarecrow with...

...you'll definitely want to wear two layers for this part - we just cut some straw and using some clear packing tape taped it to the arms...

...and legs of the Scarecrow......we added a rope belt and stuffed some straw around that too...

...and there he is...the Pumpkin Headed Scarecrow...

...Scout really enjoyed Trick-Or_Treating...

...and he got so many 'Great Costume - Did you make it?' comments - I could just tell he was smiling as he answered yes...

...and a cultural note - almost everyone called him a 'Strawman' when they answered the door - not a 'Scarecrow' - is that regional - which do you say?...

17 comments:

  1. Incredible costume! I love handmade costumes. That was very creative and industrious of Scout and his mom! Peace, Angela

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  2. Oh man that was cool, and scary!

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  3. Anonymous3:44 PM

    Awesome costume!!!!
    We say scarecrow up here in PA.

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  4. Wow. What a lot of work - but worth it! PS we had a little snow for Halloween too.

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  5. Wow, what a great job on that costume, that's awesome! And I've always heard scarecrow, it's so funny how words can be different from region to region (like hotdish vs. casserole)

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  6. Boy, you have been busy. Scout looks so intent on his activities. All are great, especially the 'pumpkin' head. And his facepaint was good too. MOM

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  7. Fantastic costume Scout!

    We say scarecrow up here :0)

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  8. that is a cool Halloween costume. Halloween is not a big deal over here so I find the lengths people go to, to celebrate this holiday amazing. It looks like your whole community took park in the spirit of Halloween.

    I seen from you post below you have already had a little snow.

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  9. Cute costume! I think the paper mache pumpkin was a triumph - know what you mean about tween grossness for boys!

    We say scarecrow. Our most famous scarecrow is 'Worzel Gummage' who has different heads for different tasks e.g. 'I'll 'ave me readin' 'ead on'!

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  10. you have so much fun over there with your creating. :)

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  11. strange - i am just now able to see all the posts up to the storm door. i looked yesterday and they weren't there on my end. i think it has something to do with cache...

    that pumpkin head is uber cool!

    and i loved scout's face with the makeup - and then even cuter with the makeup half removed. funny.

    and yes, the peacock blue is blue-tiful!! love, k

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  12. fantastic costume!! :)

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  13. Now that is one awesome pumpkin mask. Very well done!

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  14. this. is. AWESOME! I SO know what me and hubby are going as next year!

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  15. wow that sure was hard work (makes me thankful for not having halloween here) but it sure looked great in the end!!!

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  16. When I was a kid my Mom did the same thing, except she actually wore the pumpkin, for a church Halloween party. I don't even remember what I went as (I was about 4 or 5) but I remember her. She word Dad's work clothes and work boots. No one knew who she was (apparently Dad kept me with him so that I didn't give her away.

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