Thread: Crazy-cheap pumpkins???

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Hey all! I want to make a "pumpkin patch" in my front yard this year. I want to collect a whole huge honkin' bunch of fake pumpkins for it. They can (and in fact should) be different, not matching. Anybody have any clue where I can find super uber cheap 'kins???

And anyone have an idea on creating a realistic-looking vine & leaves?

I don't have a solution for you, but interested in seeing if a good idea pops up. I was thinking of 'macheing a bunch but, I won't have the time.

'K...I'm going to check out Dollar Tree and see if they have any yet.

Other than mache, I'm not sure. You could collect a bunch of Michael's coupons, get some friends together & make a run on them for their pumpkins, but I'm afraid they've already put their 'kins on sale so you'll need the right coupons.

Have you thought about renting? You live in a terrific place to rent props. You might get the look you want, plus not have storage issues later on. I know when I lived in Charlotte I was a couple blocks away from Morris Costumes and used to rent many of my props for my parties. You are in the middle of movie/tv studio land...there is bound to be several opportunities there.

If I don't ever have to paper mache another pumpkin in my life time, I'll die a happy man.

Heh heh! Thanks, guys. I looked at my Dollar Store...they had H'ween stuff but no pumpkins except minis. I did get three Autumn Inspirations realistic-looking pumpkins at JoAnn's for $5 each. I don't consider that crazy cheap but it was still a pretty good deal for real-looking 'kins.

Balloons + 2 coats of papier mache + toilet paper rolls + outdoor flat latex paint + craft acrylic in orange and green + sealer = cheap and fast papier mache pumpkins. Get all different sizes of balloons, blow them up, then pop them after the second coat dries. Split a toilet paper roll in half and tape it to the top of the pumpkin. Put two coats of mache on that. Prime with outdoor flat latex paint to seal the mache, then paint orange and green until you're happy. Repeat until you have enough done.

I second that trentsketch! Cheap and realistic pumpkins don't go together. Saw one at hobby lobby for 29 bucks. I thought you gotta be f-ing kidding me. I was looking for the Martha Stewart seal of approval.

In all honesty...I wouldn't do fake.

Find a local farmer with a pumpkin patch. I got a nice haul of 75 last year for $60. Cleaning was a chore, carving was a ball.