DIY Project

Paper · Halloween · Preschoolers

Paper plate pumpkin

A fat orange pumpkin with a curly green vine that your preschooler paints, tears and glues all by themselves.

Paper plate pumpkin
LevelBeginner
AgesAges 3 to 5
Time30 minutes plus drying
Cost$2 to $5

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

How to make it

Safety

Tuck in the sharp tips of the pipe cleaner with a small fold before handing it over.

  1. Step 1: Paint the plate
    1

    Paint the plate

    Cover the bumpy side of the plate in orange paint. Streaks look great on a pumpkin, so no need to fill every spot.

  2. Step 2: Let it dry
    2

    Let it dry

    Leave it flat for about 20 minutes. That's one cartoon episode.

  3. Step 3: Tear a stem
    3

    Tear a stem

    Tear a small rectangle from the green paper. Little fingers love tearing, and it doesn't have to be neat.

  4. Step 4: Glue the stem on
    4

    Glue the stem on

    Rub glue stick on the stem and press it to the top edge of the plate.

  5. Step 5: Curl the vine
    5

    Curl the vine

    Wrap the pipe cleaner around a pencil, then slide the pencil out. Now you have a curly vine.

  6. Step 6: Tape the vine down
    6

    Tape the vine down

    Tape one end of the vine behind the stem. Hang your pumpkin on the fridge.

Edie's tip

Add a few drops of red to the orange for a deeper pumpkin color without buying another bottle.

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