Creepy Pumpkin Scarecrow

We have definitely moved out of the "cute" Halloween decorations and over to the "Super Creepy Spooky" decor this year. While looking for decorations to make, we ran across a version of the "Pumpkin King" by the great Tim Burton and decided that we just had to have one of our own.

It was very easy to make. The body is just tree limbs that we cut and screwed/wired together in a basic t shape. Then we wired the frame onto a metal stake that we had already pounded into the ground. The fabric is a set of sheers that we picked up for $2 at our local thrift shop.  They are just draped over the frame and then raggedy strips were cut out of the front.

We found a great tutorial by Kloey on Halloween Forum for the head 

- My Creepy Pumpkin Tutorial by Kloey.

Before you start following the tutorial, you will need to carve your pumpkin. We also wanted a light inside of it and used one of the pumpkin lights that you can buy at most discount stores. I think ours came from Walgreens.  Mr. Crafty came up with the idea of putting it in a baggy to protect it from the elements - that's why we keep him around - 'cause he comes up with great ideas like this!

The light is a push light - meaning you push down on the top dome to activate it, so we needed to be able to take it out to turn it on. Here's what we did - 

So far it has worked really well and is pretty easy to pull out the light to turn it off and on.  I did spray paint the back of the bag black so that it would blend in better once the head was done

The only thing that we did differently from Kloey's tutorial is that once the cotton balls were  adhered with Mod Podge, I just spray painted it black instead of putting another coat of Mod Podge on it.  After the black paint dried I painted the orange on with a brush and used a coppery brown to highlight the creases.  Then I spray painted the whole head with acrylic sealer.

It looks really creepy at night with the orange lights on the bush behind it shining through the cloth and the light in the pumpkin.

Sorry for the poor quality of this photo - took it in the dark with my Iphone - but you can tell what I mean about it looking creepy. Plus you can see the ribs that we put on the frame too.  The chain and the cemetery sign came from the dollar store and add the perfect finishing touch!

It looks creepy at night and in the daytime too!

He's right by the front door to greet all our Halloween party guests and Trick-or-Treaters. I think he will be just scary enough for the little ones and grown ups alike.

We hope to be posting pictures of the Halloween party on Sunday along with this year's photo booth frame, so stop back by and check it out.

Happy Haunting!