Easy Fabric-Wrapped Pumpkins

 Happy Harvest!

Harvest is starting here in our neck of the woods.  For us in this county that means apples, grapes and vegetables.  I love this time of year and it's always fun to decorate for fall with its bright, warm colors.  One of my favorite decorations is pumpkins.

This year, I'm making fabric covered pumpkins decorated with Gwen Studios ribbon.  These were such fun to make, and they are so easy, that I made a bunch!

I started out making large ones (4-6") and made three in different fabrics.

Then, I found the cutest tin pickup truck perfect for fall decorating, so I had to make pumpkins to fit it.

Here's how I made them:

You'll need:  foam balls, fabric, hot glue or thick tacky glue, grosgrain ribbon, pieces of sticks, ball-head pins, sequin pins (optional), scissors

1.  Flatten the foam ball on opposite sides.

2.  On one side, scoop out a cone-shaped piece with a kitchen knife.  This will be the top.

3.  Place the ball bottom down in the center of a circle of fabric (wrong side up). Your circle needs to be big enough to wrap the sides to the center.  (The diameter of your fabric circle is the circumference of your ball.)

4. Bring one side of the fabric to the center of the ball.  Then, pick up the edge close to the center and overlap in a pleat.

 

Use a pin to hold the fabric in place.  Trim away the center fabric if you have too much.  Lift up the fabric and add glue to the center hole.  Press in and around the hole using the end of a paint brush or other implement.

5.  Make a ribbon leaf using grosgrain ribbon like I did or another type of ribbon you like.  Cut a length of ribbon (3-4") and cross the ends.  Stitch or glue to hold.  

Glue the cut end of the ribbon leaf into the center pressing it into the hole.  Glue a short stick in for a stem.

Here are the larger pumpkins before I added the leaves. After doing it this way, I decided that it's easier to glue the leaves on first, but it works either way.

Here are the finished pumpkins.  Add one, two or three leaves in the color you like.

For the smaller pumpkins, I used sequin pins to hold the fabric and pushed them into the center to hold.  Then, I glued in the leaf and stem.

For the grosgrain ribbon, I used Gwen Studios ribbon available at Walmart and Michaels. I am a Design Team member for Gwen Studios and receive ribbon samples with which to design.  

Happy Harvest!

Need more ideas?  Check out these fall decorating ideas:

Terry Ricioli Designs: Shirt Sleeve Pumpkins

Terry Ricioli Designs: Faux Tin Pumpkins

Terry Ricioli Designs: Happy Fall!

Terry Ricioli Designs: Etched Mini Pumpkins

For more fall ideas search pumpkins or scarecrows on the Search feature on my blog.

Back to School with Gwen Studios

 Hi Everyone!

It's Back to School time!  I can never get used to an August start for school, but I know many of you are already back.

There are so many ways to use ribbon for Back to School.  You could make a bookmark, a tassel for your backpack, a new ribbon for your hair or decorate a pencil holder.  That's just a few ideas.  With Gwen Studios ribbons, you'll be able to find colors of every hue!

I decided to show some school spirit and make a decorative ribbon medallion.  It can be used to decorate a bulletin board or hang on your backpack.  Put a pin back on it and wear it or attach a ribbon and wear it around your neck.  Attach a magnet and it will go on your refrigerator to highlight schoolwork or photos.

First, paint a circle.  I chose a wooden one, but you could use cardboard or heavy cardstock and cut your own by hand or with a die cutter or punch. This one is a bit over 3" in diameter.

Next, cut lengths of two different colors of ribbon. I used 4" lengths of a blue satin and a yellow grosgrain.  Lay them together, fold them and staple the ends.  You could also use double-sided tape. For my medallion, I cut 12 of each.  It will depend on the size of the circle and the width of ribbon you use.  

 

Starting at the compass points, glue the ribbon petals on the back of the disc.  I used hot glue.

Cut two more lengths of ribbon to hang below the circle and glue to the back.  Color a letter with pen or paint and stick to the center of the circle. Cover the back with felt and adhere a pin, loop or magnet.

 Here's a quick tip.  If you fold the ribbon in half and cut the end at a diagonal, you get even points!

 Make it your own:  add another row of ribbons, add more hanging ribbons, write a message in the center instead of a letter or......

You can now find Gwen Studios at Walmart and Michaels!  As a member of the design team for Gwen Studios, I receive samples of ribbon to create these designs.  Check out the Gwen Studios blog for more ideas with ribbon and trims.

Stop by the Designer Crafts Connection blog for more great ribbon ideas!