Paper Pumpkin

What You Need:

• Strips of cut construction paper, (8.5" x 1/2" or 1")
• 2 brads, or a mini stapler
• Green construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Pencil

What You Do:

1. Have your child lay out two strips of paper in an "X" pattern, overlapping them exactly at the center point.
2. Tell your child to continue making additional "X" shapes with the paper strips until the strips form a starburst pattern.
3. Carefully poke a brad through the center of all of the strips of paper and splay it out to secure the strips in place, or staple the strips in place at the center.
4. Your child can now lift the strips up to create a pumpkin-like shape. Make sure the strips are saggy and bulgy in the center and all of the tops of the strips meet at the top.
5. Secure the top of the strips with either another brad, or a staple.
6. Cut off any additional paper that may be hanging off the top edge.
7. Have your child take another strip of paper and cut it in half.
8. Staple, or glue it to the top of the pumpkin shape, from under the area where all of the paper is layered.
9. Have your child pull the paper up and curl it into a straw shape, using fingers or a cylindrical object, to create a pumpkin stem. Glue this long tube shape in place.
10. Draw and cut out two leaves from the green construction paper and glue them on either side of the stem. Let dry.
11. Set your paper pumpkin on a table, or attach it to a string and hang it from a tree or window.