Thread: Pumpkinhead Scarecrow

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I decided to try my hand at some paper mache, it will be my first real completely hand made prop. It will (hopefully) end up as a cross between some kind of a pumpkinrot and the Gourdon Rotsworth from Stolloween. Thanks to everyone on this site that contributes and for sharing their knowledge, expertise and encouragement. Wish me luck!

I started with a dollar store "punching bag" type of balloon, (with the rubber band attached) and blew it up to about 18."

After it dried, I hot glued some tightly rolled (and taped) paper to give the pumpkin some shape.

Next up was covering the "splines" with paper mache. I did half at a time (top then bottom) with about three layers of paper, letting the first half dry overnight before finishing the 2nd half.

Somebody needs to tell me how to add more than one pic per post, please?

Next up was a hefty coating of white (Kilz) primer. I liked the way the paper wrinkled and they look like veins. I can't wait to try some real paint on this so they will really show up.

Next was cutting out the eyes and mouth. As you can see, the eyes were redesigned and redrawn several times before the cutting.

I haven't seen a pumpkin with a nose quite like this but I thought when I'm done, I'd texture it and color it something like the stem. A little unique?

I also added a strip of cardboard around the eyes and mouth because I plan to build up some depth around them with paper mache.

The next day I added a few layers of paper mache over the cardboard I added around the mouth and eyes. I liked the depth it added to the face. I also beefed up the nose by adding a bridge and covering it with several layers of paper mache.

I decided the mouth needed a little something to add some depth and interest, and to support some scarey teeth if I decide to add them. So I added some cardboard 1/4 "pipes" to the top and bottom "lips." A few spots of hot glue held them in place until I could cover them in paper mache. As you can tell, I'm kind of designing this as I'm building it.

Top lip covered with mache.

Here's what he (she?) looked like when I put it to bed last nite. Sorry for the blur, maybe it was the beers? I started on the stem, but I need to add a wire coat hanger for stiffness and for shaping. The stem started as a paper towel tube hot glued on and stuffed with twisted newspaper. Tonight it gets some accents to the eyes and then maybe another coat of primer? It needs to dry first though. This thing needs a name. Any ideas out there?