Five Minute Pumpkin

I’ve seen so many wonderful pumpkin make-overs this season. Many of them, I look at and think, “Oh, how cute!  I could follow those instructions.” Others I look at and think, “Wow, that’s awesome, but way above my crafting level!”  This ribbon overlay is one of those that anyone with a pair of scissors and some thumb tacks can do. I did one a few weeks ago, but this one turned out so much cuter.

Gloria purchased some lovely plaid ribbon in fall colors that goes great with her decor. I was over at her place one evening and she showed me her pumpkin and the ribbon and asked me to do something with it similar to how I made the quick and easy pumpkin with ribbon for my mantel. After finding some brass thumb tacks, I was all set.

Materials Needed~

Pumpkin
Ribbon
Thumbtacks
Staples and Stapler

This is truly a five minute craft! Searching for her thumbtacks might have added a few extra minutes! 

I used the same easy method I used for my pumpkin except I did a fancier bow for hers than I did on mine. 

Cut two strips of ribbon each long enough to wrap from the bottom around the sides of the pumpkin and up to the stem. Fold the ends under and secure with a brass thumbtack.

To make the bow for this one,  I cut one piece of ribbon 20″ and  another16″ long. For the tail, I cut a piece that was 30″ in length.  I cut a fourth piece 4″ long. 

I folded the longest piece to meet in the center and stapled it together and repeated for the 16″ piece. 

I located the center point of the 30″ piece and did an accordion fold to the middle of the piece then stapled it together.

I folded the 4″ piece in half length wise from each side to the middle and stapled it together so that it was narrow enough. 

I placed the smaller loop on top of the larger one and placed the tail piece below the loops, then wrapped the 4″ piece over all of the other pieces. I stapled the excess of the 4″ piece in the back and trimmed it down a bit.

I’ve got step by step instructions with pictures on how to make a similar bow on my Bows are Easy post. 

I placed the bow at the base of the pumpkin stem. This one is not attached to the pumpkin, but it sits nicely on top. A dot of hot glue would hold it in place. 

I have to say, the combination of the plaid ribbon and doing a better bow with loops really makes a difference. I’m liking this one so much more than the one I made for my own mantel.  It looks great along with a couple of smaller pumpkins and her owl candle holder sitting on the pony wall.