It is Day 11 of Paper Calliope’s 13 Days of October and today’s post offers a little treat for the center of your table. Remember the rosette party decorations we made way back in Day Two? Well, to make this pumpkin centerpiece, you are going to follow most of the same directions.
Tutorial-How to make a pumpkin centerpiece
To make the pumpkin you are going to make eight rosettes.
This tutorial makes a pumpkin that is six inches at its widest point. You can proportionally adjust the width of each rosette strip you cut, to change the size of your pumpkin.
Important
You will repeat this Steps 1 and 2 using enough bags of alternating colors or patterns to make eight rosettes. You need to cut two same size strips of the same style bag for each rosette, because each rosette requires a strip of paper that is about 1.5 the length of the opened Middy Bitty Bag. Make sure you plan carefully so that patterns lie in the same direction and to maximize the number of strips you can get per bag.
Step 1
Cut off two edges of a Whisker Graphics Middy Bitty Bag so that one fold remains and the bag opens into one sheet of paper. Trim off any serrated edges of bag.
Step 2-Make four long strips of orange in widths of 3″, 2.5″ and 2″
One 3″ strip–Cut two 3″ wide strips. You need to cut two strips from the same style bag for each rosette because each rosette requires a strip of paper that is about 1.5 the length of the opened Middy Bitty Bag. Make sure you plan carefully so that patterns lie in the same direction and to maximize the number of strips you can get per bag. Cut one of the strips in half and set one half aside. Adhere the other half to the long 3″ pieces together to make one long strip.
Two 2.5 inch strips–Make three 2.5″ wide strips of the same patterned Middy Bag paper. Cut one of those strips vertically in half. Adhere each of the shorter strips to each of the longer strips so that you create two longer 2.5″ wide strips of this paper.
One 2″ strip–Trim the half you set aside down to two inches wide. Then cut a 2″ wide strips of the same patterned Middy Bag paper. Adhere the shorter strip to each of the longer strip so that you create one longer 2″ wide strip of this paper.
Step 3-Make four long strips of black in widths of 2.75″ and 2.25″
Two 2.75″ strips–Make three 2.5″ wide strips from a black (or purple) patterned Middy Bitty Bag paper. Cut one of those strips vertically in half. Adhere each of the shorter strips to each of the longer strips so that you create two longer 2.75″ wide strips of this paper.
Two 2.25 inch strips–Repeat this process making three 2.25″ wide strips of the same patterned Middy Bag paper. Cut one of those strips vertically in half. Adhere each of the shorter strips to each of the longer strips so that you create two longer 2.25″ wide strips of this paper.
Step 4
Now score all the strips vertically in 1/2″ increments. I have a couple different scoring tools, but I found that the Martha Stewart Scoring Board was the easiest to use for this project.
Step 5
Fanfold the paper along the score marks.
Step 6
Join the two ends of a strip together so that it forms an accordion-style circle. Repeat for each strip of paper.
Step 7
Assembling the rosettes–Hold the accordion strip up so that it stands on one edge. Using both hands, gently flatten the upper edge of the circle down towards the center. While holding the rosette in place, place hot glue in the center of the circles and hold until it dries. repeat for each strip you have.
Step 8
Cut a circle approximately two to three inches in diameter from a sturdy orange or black cardstock. Lay it flat on the table.
Step 9
Set aside the smallest (4″) orange rosette. Take one of the next smallest (4.5″) black rosettes and hot glue the center of it to the center of your cardstock circle.
Step 10
Take one of the next smallest (5″) orange rosettes and center it carefully over the 4.5″ black rosette and hot glue in place. Repeat with one of the next in size (5.5″) black rosettes.
Step 11
Center the largest (6″) orange rosette over the stack and hot glue in place. Your stack should now be nicely cascading outward with the smallest on the bottom and the largest on top.
Step 12
Center the remaining next largest (5.5″) black rosette over the stack and hot glue in place. Repeat with the next sized (5″) orange rosette, then repeat with the smaller (4.5″) black rosette. Finally, center the smallest (4″) orange rosette on top of the pile and hot glue in place. You should now have a nicely shaped orb sitting in front of you.
Step 13
Cut a random leaves pattern from a green striped Middy Bitty bag and hot glue on top of the pumpkin.
Step 14
Twist the remainder of the green stripe bag into a stem shape and hot glue in place over the leaves.
Stuff I used
- Whisker Graphics Bitty Bags
- Solid color cardstock
- Adhesive
- Hot glue gun
- Martha Stewart Scoring Board
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