Thread: Looking for wood crates for Singing Pumpkin display

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Hello All,

This year for Halloween I have been working on a plan to have a Singing Pumpkin display. Without going into heavy details, what I would like to do is base the display around 7 pumpkins arranged in a pyramid like this (*= 1 pumpkin):

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The four bottom pumpkins will be small sized (a little larger than those battery operated Jack-O-Lanterns). The middle two will be medium or standard sized, and the top pumpkin will be one of those large floor standing ones.

My initial problem was how was I going to set up this pyramid of pumpkins, but then it dawned on me that using those old wooden crates that they hauled produce around in years ago would fit the bill nicely. I could put one medium pumpkin and two small ones in two crates and then put the crates side by side each other. The large pumpkin I could sit atop the crate, or even put it in it's own crate. Then I could finish off the display with faux pumpkin vines and other autumn foliage.

Now the question comes up as to WHERE I can get such crates. Do they still package produce in them these days? Would anyone have a tip off on which stores still use wooden crates?

Thank You,

Geo

I havent seen those crates in years, you could build them out of pallets or using hay which would be a cool effect. Some hay sellers on craigslist will even deliver it to your house.

They have small wooden crates at Michaels that mike work. They sell them and use them to store Yarn. I got one that was broken fixed it and used it as a model to make better ones. You can also try craigslist, or make your own.

Originally Posted by bl00d

Some hay sellers on craigslist will even deliver it to your house.

That DOES sound like a good idea to create a 'bed' around the pumpkins as well as place around the ground.

Originally Posted by Haunt@HeritageHill

They have small wooden crates at Michaels that mike work. They sell them and use them to store Yarn. I got one that was broken fixed it and used it as a model to make better ones. You can also try craigslist, or make your own.

Michaels' has those too?? Looks like they have everything, huh? I do have a Michael's near me and that is the good news, but the bad news is that they can be expensive at times. I will check them out though because I do want to buy some of that faux fall folliage garland that they sell to spruce the display up even more.

The last thing I need to work out is some kind of overhead 'cover'. While I do want protection from rain, I more want to use it to sheild the daylight to an extent where the sunlight doesn't 'wash out' the flashing light display. I tried to look around for those screened 'lawn tents', but since we are now entering the fall season and that is normally a spring/summer item, most stores have put them away or simply do not have them in stock. I need something that will be fast to set up because I only intend to run the display for Halloween only.

Thanx all for the info!

Geo

Update:

Hello All,

I took a trip out to Michael's earlier this week and it looks like they have the store fully stocked with Halloween supplies (finally). I DID see the crates that H.H.H. mentioned above and at first I was hesitant to buy them since they were $9.99 each. Naturally I was HOPING for 3 or 4 freebee produce crates, BUT the crates were nicely made and I did pick up two of them. Michael's also had 40% off on their fall foliage garland and flower bouquets. I picked up a few strands of garland that I could weave around the pumpkins.

Now here is the kicker...Michael's also carries HAY! Yup! They have hay! The problem is that they have a tiny bale which they sell for $6.99 (9.99) regular price. The bale can fit in the small crates I bought. I did look up (tonight) what was on Craigslist, and most of the local hay sellers offer a whole 50lb bale for that same price.

Now I have a question: How long does hay keep? I am assuming that it does go bad and start making a stink, correct?

I also noticed that they had those carvable pumpkins and they had pumpkins carved out with large number "1", "2", "3", etc to mark each point of sale lane. I was amazed at how bright the pumpkins were. Upon closer examination I see that they cut the tops off the pumpkins too (to prevent heat build up) as there was a fairly large bulb in there.

I went through my pumpkins and I ran into a fairly significant problem. The pumpkins I bought at Target were dark inside, painted black and orange, whereas the two pumpkins I bought at Lowes (a bit more expensive), were white. Upon comparison, the light output is definitely noticable with the white interior Lowes pumpkins completely blowing away the ones I bought at Target.

Needless to say, I am now faced with a decision to make:

1) Return the pumpkins and go the more expensive route and get more pumpkins at Lowes or try my hand with the white interior Michael's carvable pumpkins.
2) Paint the inside of the Target pumpkins.

I know #2 would be most cost effective, but I am worried about longevity in storage. I don't want to go through all the trouble trying to paint the interiors and then next season I get the pumpkins down from the attic and the paint is peeling off.

Going the #1 route, I could create my own Jack-O-Lantern faces. I am not much of an artist, but it doesn't seem like pumpkin carving is all that difficult.

Any advice would be appreciated. It is still September, so I am sure I can return those Target pumpkins if I have to.

Thank You,

Geo

Hay/straw keeps a very long time if you're storing it out of the weather. I have had horses, and we'd put up our hay bales in the hay loft away from moisture (but still had a huge open window to the outside) and they lasted months. Basically, they can be outside, like on a porch or someplace off the ground/grass and don't let it get wet, and it will definitely last the season. (they might last longer IF you can make sure they are completely dry, but you'd have to also store it someplace dry and stable temperature-wise - think dried flower arrangements)

Oh, and those "hay bales" at Michaels and other decor stores are actually straw.

If you don't mind the extra cost, I'd say first choice would be to return the Target ones an get the more expensive ones you like.

Oh, and check out some of the grocery stores. I picked up a wooden crate (very lightweight and held together with wire twists) used for green beans recently.

Originally Posted by Frankie's Girl

Hay/straw keeps a very long time if you're storing it out of the weather. I have had horses, and we'd put up our hay bales in the hay loft away from moisture (but still had a huge open window to the outside) and they lasted months. Basically, they can be outside, like on a porch or someplace off the ground/grass and don't let it get wet, and it will definitely last the season. (they might last longer IF you can make sure they are completely dry, but you'd have to also store it someplace dry and stable temperature-wise - think dried flower arrangements)

Oh, and those "hay bales" at Michaels and other decor stores are actually straw.

Thanx for the advice on the hay. The display is going to be outside and certainly one bale would be WAY more than enough for what I want to do. I do not think I would have the display set up for more than a few nights either. I had thought of moving the display to where I had the magic mirror last year in a totally glass framed vestibule, but then were would I put the magic mirror effect? (The magic mirror would only be for one day only...Halloween).

If you don't mind the extra cost, I'd say first choice would be to return the Target ones an get the more expensive ones you like.

Yes, I DO mind the extra cost, but at the same time, I do want something that will last a few years. I know you might be thinking, buy less of the good pumpkins, but the way I have set up the system is that it works off of multiple lighting channels with 7 singing pumpkins. Adding to this number is very easy, but cutting back is very hard to do, especially since I am nearing the end of programming my 3 songs...for 7 pumpkins.

Out of the 7 pumpkins, I have the two Lowes pumpkins. They ARE foam. However, after looking over the Target pumpkins...they are NOT foam inside, but plastic. THAT is what worries me about painting the insides. I have a funny feeling the latex paint will stretch and shrink in storage and within one or two years it will flake off of the inside.

So more then likely it does look like I will be returning those pumpkins. I would rather take the time out now to carve/buy some good ones.

I think I would like to carve out the largest pumpkin (the lead "vocal") and the two medium sized pumpkins (backing vocals) myself, so they will be unique. I could buy two more of the Lowes pumpkins for the four lower pumpkins.

Oh, and check out some of the grocery stores. I picked up a wooden crate (very lightweight and held together with wire twists) used for green beans recently.

That is what I was initially after. I was looking for some nice old wooden crates, but didn't come across them in the local supermarket dumpsters. I figured they no longer use them.

While I am happy with the look of the Micheal's crates...they just look too "new".

But all in all it does look like I would be returning those Target pumpkins. The difference in the light output between those and the Lowes foam pumpkins is like night and day (pun intended). The Lowes pumpkin is almost 3 times as bright as the Target one and both are using a 7 watt bulb (the Target pumpkins are using yellow bulbs, while the Lowes pumpkins are clear white).

Thanx,
Geo

Rustoleum makes a spray paint for plastic if you'd like to try it on one & see how it goes.

Hello All,

Just an update on my project:

Originally Posted by RCIAG

Rustoleum makes a spray paint for plastic if you'd like to try it on one & see how it goes.

Actually I didn't know that they made a plastic safe paint. I thought Rustoleum was an enamel based paint and ususally these kinds of paints 'eat' through plastic. But yeah, I know that Rustoleum is excellent for general metal and even wood painting for outdoor use. However, I have decided NOT to go the painting route.

This weekend I have noticed that Micheal's have marked down their foam carving pumpkins to around the same price as those I bought from Target. They have the small pumpkin size I really wanted too and they were marked down to $4.75. The medium sized pumpkin (about the same size as the Lowes Pumpkins I have) were marked down to $7.29. Finally the large pumpkins were $11. So the pumpkin pricing is compareable to Lowes and Target with the only other added expense being the cord with the light bulb on it.

I bought two of the small pumpkins and one large one. I only bought two small pumpkins for now because I would like to try my hand at carving those first. On the same shelf as the pumpkins (in the store) were small pumpkin carving tools...a set of 3 different mini-saws used to carve pumpkins. The carving tool kit was only $3, so I picked it up. I DID buy a heat based foam cutter / detailing tool a while back so I will carve one of the little pumpkins using the cutting tools, and one using the heat tool and see which results I like better.

Now my next question is this:

Does anyone know of a good site where I can examine some pumpkin carving art? Since I am going the carving route, I want to get some ideas for some cool Jack-O-Lantern faces.

On the programming front, I am almost done with my three songs. Next week I am going to plan out the details for the rest of the display.

Thanx,
Geo