Pumpkin Vase

You need: 12" diameter glass round vase or fish bowl; instant papier mache*; small piece of flexible lightweight plastic or cardboard; gesso; orange acrylic paint; antiquing medium; sponge paintbrushes; polyurethane spray.

Preparing: Wash and dry vase thoroughly. Following manufacturer's instructions, mix papier mache. Working in small sections and quickly, cover outside of vase with thin layer of papier mache. If pulp dries too quickly, spray with water from a spray bottle. Continue until vase is completely covered. While papier mache is still wet, bend flexible plastic or cardboard into a V shape and pull through papier mache vertically to make pumpkin ridges. Space vertical ridges evenly around vase. Let dry thoroughly.

Painting: Let paints dry between coats. Paint papier mache with a thick coat of gesso. Paint with two or more coats of orange paint. Paint with antiquing medium. Wipe away excess while medium in still wet allowing it to accumulate in grooves and ridges. Spray on two or more coats of polyurethane spray to seal.

*Celluclay Papier Mache: