I Made A Vintage Pumpkin Arch from Cardboard 🎃 Halloween DIY, by The Secret Craft Room on YouTube. 11 min 54 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 54 s
- Time to do it
- 3 hours plus drying time
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Fold a sheet of paper in half, draw half a pumpkin shape against the fold and cut it out. Unfold it to check the arch is symmetrical before you use it.
Lay the template on large cardboard sheets and trace around it twice. Cut both pumpkin shapes out with a craft knife, working on a cutting mat and away from your fingers.
Draw the eyes, nose and jagged mouth on the front piece. Cut them out with a craft knife so the face goes all the way through the board.
Glue the two cardboard layers together, lining up the outer edges. Press them flat and let the glue set hard before you carry on.
Spread spackle over the seams, cut edges and any dents. Let it dry fully, then sand smooth with medium and then fine sandpaper.
Coat the whole arch with primer and let it dry. Paint the pumpkin with acrylic paint in thin coats, drying between each one.
Brush a watered-down dark brown wash over the paint and wipe most of it back off. Leave it in the creases and around the face for an aged look.
Seal the painted cardboard with a coat of matte Mod Podge. Cover the front and the edges so moisture cannot warp the board.
Glue creepy cloth behind the face opening and a felt sheet over the back. Add a hanging loop or wire and hang the arch in your doorway.
Tips and common mistakes
Cut cardboard in several light passes rather than one deep cut so the edges stay clean.
Let each layer of spackle, primer and paint dry completely or the surface can crack.
Test the dark wash on a scrap of painted cardboard before you put it on the arch.
A fresh blade in the craft knife makes the face cuts easier and safer.
Questions
What kind of cardboard should I use?
Use large, thick corrugated sheets such as moving boxes. Two layers glued together give the arch enough strength to hang without bending.
How do I hang the pumpkin arch?
Glue a loop of strong twine or wire to the back, or fix small hooks into the top edge. Use a wall anchor if the arch is heavy.
Can I put the arch outside?
It is cardboard, so keep it indoors or on a covered porch. Damp air will soften the board even with a Mod Podge seal.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
