Yarn Pumpkins

Materials

• 21 pieces of orange yarn, cut to 36 inch lengths

• 2 ounces of white glue

• 1 12-inch balloon

• 1 brown pipe cleaner and 1 green pipe cleaner

Directions

1. Blow the balloon half full

2. Tie one of the pieces of yarn to the end of the balloon. Hang the balloon from a cabinet or shelf (it’s easier than trying to manipulate the balloon when it’s lying on a flat surface)

3. Pour the glue into a small bowl

4. Dunk one of the pieces of yarn into the bowl of glue, and swirl it around gently with a plastic fork to get it completely covered

5. Hold the end of the piece of yarn with your fingers, then gently run it between the tines of a fork to remove the excess glue

6. Take the glue covered yarn strand and wind it around the balloon, making sure to secure the yarn by pressing down the ends

7. Repeat with the remaining pieces of yarn

8. Hang to dry for 24 hrs

9. Press your fingers down under the yarn to detach the glue from the balloon – around the entire surface of the balloon

10. Make a very small hole in the balloon close to where the knot is, let air deflate slowly and pull the deflated balloon out through one of the openings in the yarn

11. Make the pipe cleaner stem and vine by wrapping the pipe cleaners around your baby finger, tuck it into place

adapted from One Little Project