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Whether fancy, sporty, whimsical, or glamorous, a decoupaged pumpkin is just FUN! Whatever your child's interests, you can find a way to turn your pumpkin into a feast for the eyes and a celebration of creativity. The grown-ups are sure to get in the act for this one! No one can resist getting their own favorite hobbies and interests displayed on the front porch this Fall Season.

What You’ll Need

small pumpkins and/or gourds
pictures of objects that you like, cut or copied from magazines
decoupage compound
paint brush
scissors

Instructions

1. Wipe pumpkins or gourds with damp cloth and dry thoroughly.
2. Cut pictures out of old magazines. You can cut out images for Halloween, or use something like flowers, Fall leaves, birds, Princesses, animals, sports equipment, or anything that interests your child and family.
3. Once you have a collection of pictures, carefully trim around the object in the picture very closely so there isn't any extra paper.
4. Carefully take your paint brush and brush a little decoupage compound on the back of a picture and stick it where you want it positioned on the pumpkin or gourd. It will hold lightly, and you will be able to move it around for a minute until it dries.
5. Choose your other pictures and, one by one, put a little decoupage compound on the back of each picture and position it on your pumpkin.
6. Let all the pictures dry so they are stuck securely to the pumpkin or gourd.
7. Brush a thin coat of decoupage compound right over the top of the pictures and all over the pumpkin or gourd. Let the decoupage dry and brush a second thin coat all over your pumpkin, right over the pictures. You should only need two coats, but do one more if you think you want more coverage.
8. OPTIONAL: If you used glamorous pictures, like pictures of Princesses, you may want to embellish your pumpkin even more with some sparkle. Try gluing some beads, sequins, or glitter on your masterpiece. You may even want to do a whole theme... perhaps Cinderella (it is a pumpkin, after all), her coachmen, maybe her slipper, all decoupaged on the pumpkin.
9. OPTIONAL: You may wish to carve your pumpkin as well and add candle light to your creation. Just carve it before you do your decoupaging.

Submitted by Gramma