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Design Pumpkins Using Metal Cookie Cutters

cookie_cutter_pumpkinsYou can use metal cookie cutters to add a new spin on an old tradition when it comes to “carving” pumpkins! To create this unique look is pretty simple, you will need to find pumpkins of unusual mix and match colors which should be available at any of your local nurseries or pumpkin farms. You may also want to buy a few extra pumpkins that you will just use for extra shapes of a certain color.
Before you begin using the metal cookie cutters, carefully cut a circle around the pumpkin stem, lift off the lid and remove the seeds from the lid and inside the pumpkin. Now it’s time for the fun part, using the metal cookie cutters! Take the metal cookie cutter of your choice and press the metal cookie cutter into the pumpkin. You can use a small piece of plywood to provide even pressure on the metal cookie cutter and press the cookie cutter straight through the inside of the pumpkin if it is thin. If this doesn’t work because your pumpkin is a bit thicker you can try using a rubber mallet, tap the metal cookie cutter firmly until at least half of the cookie cutter has pierced the pumpkin. You can then remove the metal cookie cutter with a pair of long nose pliers. Once the metal cookie cutter has been removed, you can then take a small serrated knife and follow the pattern made from the cookie cutter to cut out the shape. With one hand inside the pumpkin, push out cookie cutter shape from the pumpkin. Repeat this process with the your pumpkins of different colors. Finally, you can take the different color shapes made from the cookie cutter and place them in a different color pumpkin. cookie_cutter_pumpkins3cookie_cutter_pumpkins2

Photo credits: Better Homes and Gardens

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How to Make Frightening Furry Styrofoam Ball Spiders

furry_spidersFrighten your guests with these creepy crawly furry styrofoam ball spiders scattered on tabletops and amongst other Halloween decorations! These furry styrofoam ball spiders are easy to make with just a few simple craft materials.

Materials Needed to Make Two Styrofoam Ball Spiders:
2 – 1-1/2″ Styrofoam Balls
2 – 3″ Styrofoam Balls
8 – Black Pipe Cleaners
1 – Black Feather Boa
4 – Round Pearl Head Corsage Pins
2 – Toothpicks
General Use Scissors
Hot Melt Glue Gun
Glue Sticks
Black Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint
Hobby Knife
Paintbrush and Accessories
Serrated Knife

Instructions:
1. First, take your serrated knife and cut the 1-1/2″ styrofoam balls in half. Set the flat edge of the styrofoam ball on a flat surface. Take your hobby knife and begin to cut out a curved section, so that the styrofoam ball head fits nicely with the round curve of the 3″ styrofoam ball body.
2. Take your toothpicks and insert them halfway into each styrofoam ball head. Make sure that is it centered into the styrofoam ball head. Push the remaining toothpick into the styrofoam body, aligning the flat edges. Add glue to secure the heads to the bodies and let dry.
3. Take your paint brush and paint your styrofoam ball spiders with the Black Apple Barrel acrylic paint and then let dry.
4. With your general use scissors, cut the black pipe cleaners in half. Stick each pipe cleaner into the styrofoam body, add a little glue to each section. After the glue has dried, bend the pipe cleaners to create knees and feet for the spiders.
5. Cut the black feather boa into two 9″ sections for each spider. Spiral one 9″ section of the black feather boa on the backside of the styrofoam ball spider and glue on. Do the same for the belly of the styrofoam spider. You now have two hairy creepy crawly styrofoam ball spiders ready for any Halloween setting!

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