Make a paper mache pumpkin

What you'll need

• 8 bendy straws (medium size)

• Sticky tape

• Cling film

• Newspaper

• Orange tissue paper

• PVA glue

• Water

• Scissors

What to do

1. Bend the straws into circles and squash one end so that it fits inside the other. Then tape this together so that it stays in shape.

2. Repeat the construction until you have four circles. Then slot them inside each other to make a ball shape. The extra straws can be used to create different shapes such as a stem at the top.

3. Cover the straws in cling film to make your main shape. It needs to be flat on one end so that it can stand upright.

4. Mix the pva glue, one part glue to one part water, this is your paper mache mix and will give a lovely glisten to your sculpture.

5. Cut out small squares of plain white paper. Glue the small squares to the whole of the pumpkin shape and leave to dry overnight.

6. Cut squares of orange tissue paper and glue these on top of the white paper, covering the whole pumpkin with one or two layers of orange tissue paper. Don’t forget to overlap the squares.

7. When the pumpkin is dry you can use a black pen to draw on your design and have in the window as a decoration over the autumn.

Do not use with candles