Decoupage Harry Potter Pumpkin

Crafter skill level: Beginner

Okay, so, I am going to preface this post by saying that I am not the craftiest librarian around. I’m not the most creative, nor am I the most motivated to become that way. That being said, I do like doing simple crafts that look harder than they actually are. I saw a decoupaged something or other on my favorite craft-stealing site, Pinterest, and I then thought to myself, “Meg…your library has a hideous, old, yellowed plastic pumpkin. Do this.” So I said, “Oh glorious brain, your wish is my command.” Or possibly something less dramatic, like, “Okay.”

Required supplies:

·       1 pumpkin or whatever

·       Pages torn from a book or books

·       Plain Mod Podge and (optional) glitter Mod Podge

·

The first step was to pick a book to use. Well, kids love pumpkins and Harry Potter, and the branch had a copy of The Sorcerer’s Stone (book 1 for the non-Potterheads) that had reached a stage of near decay from constant checkouts. Seriously, it had over 60 circulations and the binding was disintegrating. I had already purchased a replacement for it, so I went ahead and weeded it from the shelf. 

Look at the hideous pumpkin.

 The second step was to tear out all my favorite parts and illustrations. And when I say “my favorite parts and illustrations,” I obviously meant the children’s favorite parts, duh. You know, the best scenes, like when Harry finds out he’s a wizard in the shack on the rock in the middle of the ocean. Or when Harry goes to Diagon Alley with Hagrid for the first time and is amazed to see so much magic in one place? Or, what about when Hagrid hatches little Norbert the dragon in his hut and Malfoy spots him through the dusty window? Or when Harry gets on a broom the first time? And, finally, what about when Harry, Ron, and Hermione take on the mountain troll on Halloween? Okay, fine, I’ll stop. You get the point by now, anyway. 

The third step was to take a small sponge brush and dip it in the basic Mod Podge and then apply it strip by strip to the pumpkin until it looked how I wanted and there was no pumpkin showing through.

Not too shabby so far.

 The final step was to use the sponge brush and slather the entire pumpkin surface with a couple layers of the awesome glitter Mod Podge. Do thin layers because thick ones result in clumpy dried glue. Don’t ask how I know this. Also, mod podge that touches clothing may never come off…don’t ask how I know this one either.