Trashy Pumpkins {A working mom tutorial}

I call this a "working mom tutorial" because my craft room isn't spotless, my pictures aren't good, I may ramble, and my project is unPinnable - but it sure made me happy!


See. My craft room is probably the opposite of spotless. In her defense, though - she's kinda in transition. We had a leak in this room and it's in disarray.

So, I'm going to show you how to make "trashy pumpkins." I call them trashy because I used trash bags. Also know as Wal*Mart bags or grocery bags. I save all of my trash bags. ALL of them. So, when I wanted to do a fall craft, they were PERFECT!

To start off, you gather your trash bags. Ball them up and stick them in another bag. Stuff and stuff until you think you have enough for the size pumpkin suitable for you (I did a small, medium, and large).

Close off your outside trash bag.
Twist it a few times
Tie it off with a scrap piece of twine or ribbon.
Cut off the excess.

Grab your desired fabric. It doesn't have to be fall fabric. It doesn't have to be orange. I love the whimsy essence of my trashy pumpkins. Cut yourself a circle big enough to cover the pumpkin. I used no science, no measurements, no patterns for this. I just eye-balled it. And yes, I did in my lap with my feet propped on the yoga ball (that only gets used when my husband plays video games).

Lay your tied off trash bags on top of your circle and baste (is that what it's called - whatever, loosely hand stitch) around the perimeter of the circle.

Once you've stitched all the way around carefully pull your thread tight. This will allow you to cover your punkin'. If your pumpkin grew in the process, you can just smash it down to fit. Remember to pull carefully because your thread may break. Filth and foul.

Cut yourself a strip of scrap fabric. It doesn't have to be symmetrical... and mine totally had rough edges. Then roll it up to make your stem.

Stuff your stem into the trash bags. No science here, just wiggle it in.

Then, you will do a whip stitch(?) or maybe it's a loops stitch. Anyways, attach your stem to your pumpkin by stitching it on somehow *wink*

Not easy on the eyes is it? Don't worry - you can shape it.

See? It looks more like a pumpkin now! Just add a little twine, scrap ribbon, or lace to the stem to kinda hide your sloppy hand stitches, and voila! Trashy pumpkin.

I couldn't decide where to put them, so they made a journey around my home.

{i interrupt this tutorial for a cute baby who somehow managed to get from  one side of her blanket to the other while I was playing with my pumpkins]

The pumpkins were lonely by themselves, so I decided to make a mini wreath to compliment them. Whatcha think?

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