Foam Pumpkin House

1. I created the base with two pieces of XPS foam. You could use the same or Foamcore. Cut into any shape you like making using the dimensions mentioned in the materials for approx. sizes. Glue the two bases together leaving room at the front to add steps and other various items.
2. On the top base carve some stones into it using a pencil
3. Paint the base black then dry-brush with a medium grey and then a light grey. Lightly brush the top in random areas with a light cream.
4. Use two pieces of small round dowels to push into the bottom of the pumpkin. Leave 1/4″ of the dowels sticking out. Glue the dowels in place then push the remaining section of the dowels into the base and glue at the same time. Let dry.
5. You have various options for finishing the base. As you can see above, I’ve covered the entire base – leaving some stones showing – with DAS Air Dry Clay. Other ideas would be to use the foil, tape, and paper towel method you probably have seen me use before, or you could use landscaping materials to cover the base. I will finish more of the base near the end of the build.

1. Cut four pieces of the foam core to create the steps, less if you are using a different base material. My steps measure: 3″ in length. You will have to figure out the width of your steps based on your base materials.
2. Glue the steps as seen at left then glue to the base right up against the base of the pumpkin.
3. Cover the steps with grit paste and let the paste dry completely.
4. Once dry paint and distress the steps as seen at left.

**Image above shows alternate roof ideas.

**This is my final door frame and roof.

1. Once you build the house/door part, glue it to the front center of the pumpkin.
2. Start by gluing the three chipboard house pieces on top of each other – refer to the cutting key – parts 1. 2. 3. Glue bottom to top in that order.
3. Glue chipboard parts 4, 5, 6, together then glue the set to the bottom half of the house part from step 2.
4. Glue the cardstock pieces House A & B on the top and bottom section of the house.
5. Glue chipboard Door 1 & 2 together then glue at the bottom, center of the house part.
6. Glue cardstock Door A to the chipboard door part you just made.
7. Glue chipboard Door 3 & 4 together then glue the cardstock Door 5 on top. NOTE: for the moon cut-out, you can use a yellow or orange cardstock piece from the “windows key” or just paint the chipboard piece yellow or orange before adding the top cardstock Door 5 piece.
8. Glue the finished door in place by pushing it into the opening. Push it all the way to the back. If you have not done so by now, you might want to paint the door/house section before gluing to the pumpkin.

1. Build the crate with the little tabs. Glue this part to the bottom of the crate without tabs then glue all sides to both together.
2. Built the shed walls gluing the tab to the inside of the opposite side.
3. Glue shed boards in place to walls.
4. Glue shed to the chipboard shed base.
5. Glut shed door and roof in place.
6. Paint and/or distress each.

1. I’ve listed the pumpkins and the lights in the materials list above with links.
2. I drilled a hole in the bottom center of each pumpkin deep enough that the top part of the light fit inside. Drill slowly and keep the bit as straight as possible. Keep testing the fit of the light as you drill.
3. Glue the light into the hole with clear drying glue or hot glue.
4. Run the wires through the coffee stir stick.
5. Poke a hole in the base, all the way through the bottom with a wood skewer, Run the wires through the hole.
6. Use hot glue to attach the stir stick into the hole in the base, holding till dry.
7. Later you will need to find a place to hide the 9V battery and cut a trench in the bottom of the base to hide the wires.
8. Below you can see how I’ve wired up the lights (minus the shrink tube).

1. Put the red wires from the pumpkin and from the battery switch together and twist the ends tightly.
2. Put the black wires from the pumpkin and from the battery switch together and twist the ends tightly.
3. Attach the 9V battery and use the switch button to turn the lights on and off.

Shingles were created by using one of the leaves in the SVG files. Choose one and size accordingly. My photo shows a different leaf which was sized as follows:

• XSmall (for shingles) – .56x.69

Distress the shingles once they are dry.

At this time you might want to finish the base with paint and landscaping. I’m using a combination of both. I have several posts on my blog and there are tons of videos on YouTube for landscaping techniques so I’m not going over that here. I would suggest that you look on my blog as well as videos for model train crafters.

I first painted the entire base with black paint then dry-brushed with: brown, medium grey, and light grey. Two different types of landscape materials were used for the ground. Cardstock leaves were painted, inked, and glued into place. I also dry-brushed the lamp posts.

NOTE: The skeleton lady is clip art from Artfully Musing.