Braided Pumpkin

STEP 1:

A)    Use a knife to cut the bottom off a 4" foam ball.

STEP 2:

A) Braid the raffia. Tip: Use tape to help anchor the braid as you work.

B) Use hot glue to hold the loose ends of the raffia together. Apply glue on both ends of the braid.

C) Make two or three braided strands to start.

STEP 3:

A) Trim the end of a braid into a point. Note: Cut through the area with the glue to help keep the ends secure.

B) Use a pin to anchor the pointed end of the braid to the top of the foam ball.

C) Wrap the braid around the foam ball to measure where it meets the starting point. Apply hot glue to the braid at that spot.

D) Once the glue cools, trim the braid to a point through the glued area. Pin the braid in place.`

STEP 4:

A) Cut a point through a glued area of a braid and pin it to the top of the foam ball perpendicular to the first wrapped braid.

B) Wrap the braid around the foam ball to measure where it meets the braid on the bottom. Apply hot glue to the braid at that spot.

C) Once the glue cools, trim the braid in a straight line through the glued area. Hot glue the cut braid to the first wrapped braid.

D) Repeat on the other side of the foam ball so that there are two braids crisscrossing the foam ball.
 

STEP 5:

A) Continue the process of measuring, gluing and cutting the braids to fill in the open areas on the foam ball.

B) Completely cover the foam ball with the braids.

STEP 6:

A) Hot glue a pumpkin stem to the top of the pumpkin.