This article briefly summerizes use of pumpkin to prepare great craft
We are now entering into my favorite time of the year!

I can feel just a slight change in temperature and some leaves are turning to orange and yellow. Everyone seems to have a "brisker" step. Love it!

I was at the feed store the other day to pick up some cat food and the owners were setting up their autumn display. They had stacked hay bales and were using them to display pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. They also have actual corn stalks from Indiana (corn included). I had forgotten just how tall those stalks could get!

Anyway, they had opened some of the husks and inside were the most beautiful corn that was so rich in deep yellow color, it looked artificial. Well, you know me, I became instantly inspired.

I'm thinking how a centerpiece, featuring a pumpkin, would look really festive and bring the autumn season indoors. This centerpiece can have three variations depending on what you'd like.

We can: 1) decorate the face of the pumpkin then embellish the surrounding area with miniature pumpkins, gourds, multi-colored squash, corn with husks (both Indian and regular corn if available), 2) carve the pumpkin face in lieu of painting one on, hollow out the insides and place a votive candle inside for illumination. Surround the pumpkin with the same items as #1 but be extremely careful that none of the dry items, like the husks, comes into contact with the candle flame. 3) hollow out the pumpkin, paint a pumpkin face then sit a container inside the pumpkin that you have arranged with a mixture of fall flowers and potpourri.

As you can see, this craft project requires very little in regard to supplies.

Items needed will depend on your choice of centerpiece: pumpkin (medium size), craft paint for face, carving utensil (adults only), miniature gourds, squash, Indian corn, regular corn, husks, straw, acorns, pine cones, pine needles and fall leaves (if available) otherwise, check with your local craft store. You can also use silk fall leaves in lieu of the real thing. Additional items, dried or silk fall flowers or mixture of both, container, foam base, autumn scented potpourri, scented candle, colored moss). Snippet: Keep your cornhusks. They can be used to make a cornhusk wreath base.

Project 1: Great Pumpkin face. This is the easiest one of all and would be great for the kids. First, decide what type of "face" you want your pumpkin to have. I would suggest outlining it first, then paint. If you plan on putting the pumpkin on your dining table, place the pumpkin in some sort of flat container. Something like a cookie sheet so the moisture of the pumpkin does not seep through especially if you have a wooden table. Place a layer of straw and/or a mixture of straw and pine needles on the container, center your painted pumpkin and then surround with the miniature corn, gourds and squash. Fill in with husks, add some acorns and fall leaves. Sprinkle the autumn scented potpourri throughout. With this project, as with the others, you can embellish with any other type of fall ornament or

Project 2: Great Pumpkin face (carved). This one requires the traditional "carving of the face". I'm not very good at this, so I hope there are experts out there who can share some advice! As with the first project, decide the type of face you want. Find a picture or draw one so you have a guide to follow. Of course, all the insides need to come out too. I know there are recipes for pumpkins but you'll need to visit our Food & Drink Community for a variety of ideas. . Once you have the pumpkin carved, insides are out, and it's dry, place your scented candle inside the pumpkin. You might want to place a small, flat container inside or use a piece of tin foil as a base. Sit the candle on the base. Make sure the wick of the candle does not protrude over the top of the pumpkin. You want to keep the flame inside. As with any craft project where fire or heat is concerned, please take all precautions necessary to keep children and pets away from the source and safe. Follow the same steps as #1 regarding the placing of the pumpkin on a cookie sheet and placing embellishments around the pumpkin. Caution: Be sure none of the dry items come into contact with the flame. When you're ready, light the candle and illuminate your creative artwork!

Project #3: Great Pumpkin face (with flowers). This is a combination of #1 and #3 except instead of a candle; you'll use a container (be sure to check the diameter of the hole vs. the diameter of the container). You want the container to be short enough so that some of the flowers and leaves can drape down the sides of the pumpkin. Place a piece of craft foam in the container and then create your arrangement using your favorite fall flowers. These can be a mixture of dried and silk flowers and silk leaves. Once you have your flowers arranged, place the container inside the pumpkin. Do any touch up or fill in at this point. Shippet: You can add the potpourri to the container also. After placing the foam, sprinkle some of the potpourri, add flowers and top off with colored moss. Sprinkle more potpourri over the moss. Voila! You've now brought the autumn season inside your house.

Hope these ideas have inspired you to go out and find that special pumpkin! Till next time, Happy Autumn Crafting!! Visit http://venturemall.tripod.com/winbidbuy/id2.html for arts and craft supplies and articles.

About the Author

Ajay Patole is a qualified management professional working as sales manager and runs a site 'Venturemall',a cool hangout to play money games,buy and sell in auctions,date and photochat.It is available at URL http://venturemall.tripod.com and newsletter to rediscover true colors of life at http://www.topica.com/lists/venturemall.Also he runs a community 'Venturecon', for entrepreneurs which is available at URL http://groups.msn.com/venturecon.