{Easy and Inexpensive} Pleated Paper Pumpkins

We are really busy here at the Plate Addicts…getting ready for some important company…you! :-) Yes…it’s almost time for the All Things Home Fall Tour so we have a lot to do!  Today I have been working on a fun and inexpensive little project that I want to share with you...and this one is so easy that the kiddos could even help you!

I was mulling over some new ideas for the tour of homes when our beautiful and brilliant CEO Miss Ozzie had a suggestion…why not revisit some previous projects and give them a fall twist? Genius!

Immediately, my shabby Christmas centerpiece came to mind! If you would like to have a peek at it plus get the tutorial for the paper trees, click here. I love the galvanized container…a gift from my sweet friend Pat…and decided it would be perfect to fill with a little fall goodness!

But instead of Christmas trees, I will add pleated paper pumpkins! (Try saying that three times really fast!) Here’s all that you will need to make them:

• Assorted sheets of scrapbooking paper
• Raffia
• Sticks (from the yard!)…straight and small enough in diameter to fit through the hole
• Pumpkin and leaf pattern (found below)
• Scissors
• Hole puncher

Print the graphic above to use as a template for cutting out your pumpkins and leaves. I used scrapbooking paper from Archiver's because it seems to be heavier than most…plus I like the patterns! And…it has two sides so it’s OK if the back shows a little. Also, you can get two different pumpkins from one sheet. (They aren’t paying me to say that, either.) Then simply trace around the patterns on the back of the paper so the pencil marks won’t show and cut them out.


 
And here’s what you will do:

1. Measure your pumpkin cut-out and draw five evenly-spaced lines on the back side. My pumpkin was 6 inches long, so I drew 5 lines…one every inch. Bear down relatively hard since you are also scoring it for easier folding.
2. Fold the pumpkin, beginning by folding the top section to the back.
3. Then just alternate directions of the fold…as you would to make an accordion pleat.
4. Gather up the folds and punch a hole through all layers with the top edge of the pumpkin facing down.
5. Here’s how the pumpkin will look once the holes have been punched.
6. Thread a stick through all of the holes, starting at the bottom. You may have to use a knife to trim any little rough spots from the stick. Leave a portion of it protruding from the top. This is the stem.
7. Punch a hole in the leaf, thread a piece of raffia through it, then tie a knot.
8. Tie the leaf to the top of the stick and taa daa! You have a pumpkin on a stick!

Then simply add a collection of pleated paper pumpkins to your fall décor to create a little pumpkin patch! I love it…and they were so easy and inexpensive! I used three different sheets of paper for a total cost of only $3.00 since I already had everything else on hand. The hardest part was finding three sticks the right size from my kindling pile! lol

And here they are in my little pumpkin patch centerpiece! Don’t they add the perfect fall touch? It will be the first thing you will see when you enter my home! You are coming by, aren’t you? I’m planning on it!



Please mark your calendars for the virtual fall tour of my home on Wednesday, September 25th! Also…be sure to head over here to get all the details about the dates and the fabulously talented bloggers who will be joining me for the All Things Home Fall Tour! See you then!

 Remember to pin it! 

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed having a little peek at my pleated pumpkins! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party , Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday , Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday , The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday , Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday , A Stroll thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday , My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures, The Everyday Home for Home{work} Wednesday , Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays , The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays , No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays , Stone Gable for Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits on Thursdays , My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday , French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday , Common Ground for Be Inspired on Fridays , The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday , Craftberry Bush for the Inspiration Gallery on Friday , Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special, Tatertots and Jello for the Link Party Palooza, Fox Hollow Cottage for Primp Your Pumpkin, The Lettered Cottage for the Fall Craft Ideas Party, Sand and Sisel for the Autumn Abounds Linky Party
See you next time! À la prochaine!

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