Home » Crafty » Burlap & Book Page Pumpkins with #myfavoritebloggers

Burlap & Book Page Pumpkins with #myfavoritebloggers

We’re still rocking the 90-degree-weather down here in Orlando…but that’s not going to stop me from celebrating the oncoming fall!  And I’m celebrating the best way I know how: with a crafty home decor project.  Check out my Burlap & Book Page Pumpkins!

Burlap & Book Page Pumpkins - - super cute and easy fall decor!

Now, I’m not flying solo today with my pumpkin creation.  Ohhhhh no.  I’ve actually teamed up with a group of near-and-dear bloggy buddies who all have a pumpkin project to share!  Wanna meet these lovely ladies?  Okay, here’s the whole crew of #myfavoritebloggers:

My Favorite Bloggers - Monthly Themed Post!

(L-R starting at the top) Kirsten from One Tough Mother, Adrianne from Happy Hour Projects, Marilyn from 4 You With Love, Sky from Capital B, Tara from Suburble, Bethany from Pitter and Glink, Melanie from It Happens in a Blink, Lauren from The Thinking Closet, Kara from Petals and Picots, Carlee from Ladybird Ln, ChiWei from 1 Dog Woof, Kadie from 7 Alive, Amy from One Artsy Mama, Sarah from Repeat Crafter Me and Nancy from Small Things with Love.

Don’t their smiles just make you wanna smile?  Same here!  {Oh, and I promise I wasn’t responsible for creating this collage and putting myself in the middle.  #holyegobatman  It’s all Nancy’s fault!  Ha ha.}

Well, we are making this collaboration a monthly event, and this month’s theme was PUMPKINS.  Now, at first, I thought, “How much variety can you get with pumpkin projects, really?”  Well, these gals squashed my theory in no time flat.  You’ll find that no two projects are even close to being the same.

Here, let me show you what I mean:

15 Creative Pumpkin Projects...crafts, recipes, and more!

Now, that’s quite a collection, is it not?  I’m eager to hop around and soak up all these posts and pin the projects myself!  You’ll find all the links at the bottom of this post, so you can hop along with me.

But first, I have a tutorial on Burlap & Book Page Pumpkins to share!  Let’s get to it.

Burlap & Book Page Pumpkins: Easy Fall Decor

This is a great stash-buster project because rather than going out and buying a fake pumpkin from my local craft store to decorate, I used materials I had on hand to create my own.  D.I.Y. for the win!

Tutorial:

Step 1.  Cut out a circle of burlap.  Remember the swag I brought home from Haven Blog Conference?

Haven SWAG!

Well, in that mix was some burlap from Online Fabric Store.  (How did they know I’m obsessed with the stuff?)  So, I grabbed my beloved burlap, a pizza pan, and disappearing ink pen, and set to work cutting out a circle of burlap.

Cut Burlap

Keep in mind that your pumpkin will end up about half the size of the circle you draw.  The pizza pan ended up created my medium-sized pumpkin.

Step 2.  Thread some twine around the circumference of your circle.  (Did I just use “circumference” correctly?  It has been a long time since high school math.)

Thread Twine around the Circumference

Step 3.  Stuff your pumpkin!  Now, first, you’ll want to tug both ends of your twine, so you start to cinch up your burlap to create a pumpkin shape…

Cinched Pumpkin

…then, you can use crumpled up newsprint or tissue paper to stuff your pumpkin.

Stuff Pumpkin with scrap newsprint or tissue paper.

When it’s stuffed to the gills, you can cinch the pumpkin nearly shut.  But don’t tie it just yet!

Step 4.  Create your stem.  I created a slight cone shape with a piece of scrap paper and taped it together temporarily.

Create Stem

Then, I hot glued some twine around its exterior.  You can leave part of the bottom unfinished because that will be tucked inside the pumpkin.

Hot glue twine around your paper "stem."

Once you’ve nestled your twine stem into your pumpkin, then you can tightly cinch the burlap around the stem, tie a knot, and tuck the edges of the burlap and excess twine inside the pumpkin.  I don’t have a picture of this part, but nearly none of the stuffing should be visible…but if some is, never fear.  You’ll take care of it in the next step.

Step 5.  Create your leaves.  For the leaves, I decided to use the same damaged dictionary from my Book Page Banner and cut out the page with the word “harvest” (because, well, why not?!) using an x-acto knife.

Cutting a book page out of a damaged dictionary.
Flashback photo!

Then, I used my Elmer’s Spray Adhesive (affiliate link) to adhere the thin dictionary page to a piece of sturdy white cardstock.

Spray adhesive used to adhere book page to cardstock.

I spent way too long researching the shape of pumpkin leaves.  (Apparently, pumpkin leaves can take on various forms.)  Once I settled on one, I sketched out a few sets to match my trio of pumpkin sizes, and then cut them out.  Please ignore my tiniest set of leaves, which look like deformed starfish.

Cut Pumpkin Leaves

After cutting them out, I hot glued them close to the stem, covering up any sections where stuffing might be visible.

Step 6.  Twirl your tendrils!  This was my favorite part.  I used the same method my Mom and I used on my DIY Wedding Invitation Ornament project and tightly twirled a thin strip of dictionary paper (without cardstock) around a pencil.  I did this twice for each and made 6 total tendrils for my 3 pumpkins.  I applied them to my pumpkins with hot glue, as well.

Twirling pumpkin tendrils

And with that step, my burlap and book page pumpkins were complete!

Easy to make burlap and book page pumpkin. D.I.Y. Fall Decor!

Easy fall decor: make your own burlap and book page pumpkins.  Tutorial by thinkingcloset.com

Styling is not my strong suit, but I did my best to create a little fall vignette on our newly refinished buffet.  I used one of our mason jar lanterns and a free printable by Nest of Posies in a a frame that I switch out with each new holiday or season.  (At least, I try.  I won’t tell you that the printable in this frame prior to my autumn one said, “Happy Spring.”  Ahem.)

What do you think?

Burlap & Book Page Pumpkins - - super cute and easy fall decor!

Fall Vignette: Burlap & Book Page Pumpkins!

Thank goodness for air conditioning, which along with my new pumpkin decor, makes me forget, for a spell, that it’s a sauna outside.

Ignorance is bliss.

Still Hungry for Pumpkin Projects?

Good!  So am I.  Join me in visiting #myfavoritebloggers to see what they came up with for this month’s pumpkin theme.  It’ll be grand!

One Dog Woof: Mason Jar Pumpkin One Tough Mother: Pennant Banner Happy Hour Projects: Pumpkin Martini Creative Capital B: Pom Pom Pumpkins
Suburble:Pumpkin-Pie-Ice-Cream Pitter and Glink: Pumpkin Art It Happens in a Blink: Chevron Pumpkin The Thinking Closet: burlap_bookpage_pumpkin
Petals to Picots: Felted Pumpkin Ladybird Lane: Pumpkin Bread Seven Alive: Pumpkin Pie Smores One Artsy Mama: Pumpkin Pot
Do Small Things With Love: Mason Jar Pumpkin Lanterns 4 You with Love: Pumpkin Mousse Repeat Crafter Me: Yarn Pumpkins

{I like to party here.}

signature

| | |

136 Comments

    1. And I wish for snow! (Must be that whole grass-is-greener thing.) So glad you enjoyed this post and the monthly themed group! I took October off, but was back in action this November with our theme of Gifts for $20 or Less, so stay tuned!

    1. Thanks, Mackenzie! And I’m glad it looked easy because they really were! Thanks so much for featuring them at your linky party this week; such a treat!

  1. Love this project! Easy, and I don’t have to spend any money! Our local organic coffee roaster has burlap bags for free in the shop…I grab them sometimes for many ideas I have for them…and now have more to do with them! Perfect for Fall.

    1. I wish we had a local organic coffee roaster with free burlap bags! I’d visit them on a regular basis for two of my favorite things: burlap and yummy hot drinks. 🙂

      Let me know if you tackle the pumpkin project with your burlap bags. I’d love to see how they turn out, Sarah!

  2. These are so precious! Love them! I’m also in love with that chalkboard-esque print you’ve got them paired with – where did you find/how did you make that??

    1. You’re welcome, Chelsea! Also, I love the play on words in your blog title! #Englishmajorforlife

  3. These burlap pumpkins are wonderful, Lauren! I can even see making great big ones for a porch or clustered in all different sizes nestled in a fire place.

    That quote about Autumn is just lovely!

    What a wonderful idea to collaborate with other bloggers around a theme.
    I was excited something close to our pumpkin cookies…but no pumpkin soup?
    Next time! 🙂

    1. Ooo yes! I could see some big burlap and book page pumpkins fitting in nicely on the 319 porch or atop the brick by the fire-place (beside the wooden clogs).

      And yes, it was really fun to see the creative ideas that each blogger had with this pumpkin theme! No two were alike! (Sigh…no pumpkin soup! I might have to share that blogland sometime soon…with your permission, of course. It almost feels like a secret family recipe!)

    1. Thanks, Angela! And when I saw your name, I perked up because I used to teach with an Angela Esposito…and she shared your likeness, too! So happy to “meet” you.

    1. Thanks so much, Eva! It was definitely a rare light-bulb moment when I thought of it…and I’m glad it turned out the way it did! (Not all of my ideas do, lol.)

    1. Ahhh! You’re Ruth of Living Well Spending Less! I bought your eBook the other day when you had the huge sale on Amazon and am already nearly half-way through it, soaking up every word. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us! Also, it’s a great education for me because one of my dreams for 2014 is to write an eBook, so as I read, I’m constantly stepping back to evaluate it all, thinking, “I need to do that when I write an eBook,” or “This worked well because x, y, and z.” Anyway, all that rambling just to say THANK YOU.

      And thanks for the personal invite to your linky party! I’ll be sure to stop by. Cheers! -Lauren

    1. Thanks so much for including me in your Weekend Link Round-Up! So honored! And if you give it a try, let me know. I’d love to see how yours turns out, Nancy!

    1. Glad you share my affinity for all things burlap! And I’m honored for the feature, Sumo. Thanks, girlfriend!

    1. Ha ha. I chuckled to read your blog title! Love it, Brenae. Also, I’m glad to know you might have found some inspiration in this project…I think that extra burlap is just crying out to be transformed into some cutie pumpkins, whad’ya think?

      Okay, and seriously, if you tackle it, will you send me a pic? One of my favorite things is showing off my readers, and once a season I do a Reader Showcase. I would love to include you in my next one!

      Happy weekend to you, too.

    1. Thanks for hip-hopping my way! It makes me glad to know you share my love of burlap and book pages…they’re such complimentary mediums in my mind! Have a fantastic weekend.

    1. Kathy, thanks for the pin and for your sweet comment! I’m so glad you’ve embraced my lil pumpkins with open arms!

    1. Aw, Natalia. Thanks, girl! And they were one of my easier projects, I must say! Glad it came across that way, too. (Sometimes I worry if I overcomplicate things with my detailed instructions. Brevity is not my strong suit. Lol.) Have a great weekend!

    1. Aw, thanks, Patricia! Thanks for stopping by to check out my projects and leave some comment love. I appreciate it!

    1. You are too kind, my friend! If ever I need a pick-me-up, I can just run a search in my comments for “Abby @ Just a Girl and Her Blog,” read through the lot of them, and then, surely, I can conquer the world after being bolstered by your affirming words. What a gal!

    1. Aw, thanks, Megan! Love what you did with your Dollar Tree Pumpkins. Thumbtacks totally transformed them from ho-hum to va-va-voom!

    1. Aw, thanks for the feedback, Abby! I’m rather partial to those curly tendrils, too! Have a great rest of your week.

    1. Hi Kim! Thanks for your enthusiastic comment! Glad to know I’m not the only one who is burlap-obsessed this fall. 😉 (It’s the best, isn’t it? Burlap everywhere, I say!)

  4. These are adorable! I actually some something similar today but without the book pages. They really add something to the pumpkins. I may just go back and add some to mine! 🙂

    I found you over at the Dream to Reality link party. I hope you’ll stop over and see what we’ve been up to at 2IY sometime soon.
    Melissa

    1. I’m sure your burlap pumpkins look fabulous, Melissa, book page embellishments or not! 😉 And I’m so glad you found me at the Dream to Reality link party. I’m just getting back into the swing of linking up after about a month off. Would love to visit you over at 2IY!

  5. This is a super cute project I loooooooove it! I can think of many other ways to apply those ideas =D. probably very soon =P. Thanks so much for sharing this with me at Bewitch Me & Titi! Hope to have you back with more amazing shares! Hope you are having a marvellous week!!!

    XOXO
    Cami @ TitiCrafty.com

    1. So happy to be back! I took a bit of a hiatus from the linky party thang, but I missed it so…especially the Bewitch Me & Titi party, so I’m back to play! Thanks for popping over to say hi and check out my creation, Camila. #sweetesthostessever

  6. Wow these are adorable! I’m actually so impressed. I think they are the first burlap pumpkins I really would like to make!! 😉
    Thanks for the tutorial. Great job!

    1. Thank you, Ellya! I’m delighted with how they turned out considering I’ve never tried crafting my own pumpkins before. Thank goodness this was a comedy and not a tragedy!

  7. These are so cute, great use of your stash! I now need to scroll back up and look through all those other awesome pumpkin crafts.
    Thanks for sharing.

    1. Why thank you, Sarah! And I hope you find a mountain more of inspiration looking through the other pumpkin creations. In fact, I KNOW you will!

    1. Why thank you, Kayla! Yes, I’m sort of a detail-oriented person when it comes to crafts…which can be a strength, and it can also be what makes me pull all-nighters when I’m too old to be pulling all-nighters. 😉

    1. You’re ever so welcome, Denise! Let me know if you decide to tackle it…because that will totally make my day / week / month!

  8. So, I can’t remember if I commented on these. I know I shared them on FB and pinned, but I wanted to tell you just how cute they are! I LOVE those little leaves! Adorable and genius!

    1. You’ve shown this post so much love, it’s not even funny. Thank you, girlfriend! It’s not everyday you get complimented for being both adorable and genius at the same time! #honored

    1. Thank you, Antoinette! I was so touched to receive the nomination! I adore Katherine from Pillows a-la-mode, and thought the whole idea of her giveaway was brilliant! And so selfless. Happy autumn to you, too!

    1. You already know what I think of your burlap pumpkin (that it’s AWESOME!). I love how different people can come up with such unique and creative methods for creating pumpkins out of the same material. That’s the power of the human brain for ya!

    1. Knowing I may have just inspired you, Allison, makes my day! You know you’re a rockstar in my eyes. 😉

  9. These are awesome! I’ve been making tons of pumpkins, but it’s always fun to see how someone else does it! I love the tendrils!
    BTW, we just moved to TN from SW FL 9 months ago….I am still waiting for fall to arrive here, it’s been way too hot!!!

    1. The tendrils were the most fun part, by far! It was all I could do to stop after 6! Ha ha. And welcome to the tropics otherwise known as Florida! I’m sure you’re getting even higher highs than we are in Orlando…but I promise, if you can stick it out a few more months, you’ll be living life outside again while everyone up north is stuck inside. It does payoff eventually!

  10. Hello, I recently discovered your blog earlier this week when I was searching the web trying to find out about linky thingies – my search took me to your blogging tips which I found really useful, though scary that you wrote those when you were only 2 months into blogging! I’m only a bit more than that now but feel I’m nowhere near where you’d got to on your journey! It got me writing a ‘to do’ post on my blog in fact – and I added a link to your tips, hope that’s OK. Anyway, I was looking for the linky thing to start an Autumn collection, and as part of that I’ve just finished a pumpkin myself – http://wonkypatchwork.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/autumn-part-2-wonky-pumpkin.html
    I love your pumpkin and am now on the look out for some burlap to make one to add to my display. If you feel like adding your pumpkin to me linky collection that would be wonderful – I know several friends who would love it too! Thanks very much and glad I’ve found your blog now.

    1. Everyone’s journey is different, Sally, so please don’t compare my 2 months to your 2 months! Everyone’s will be different! And thanks for linking to my tips on your blog – – that’s more than okay; I’m honored! And I can’t wait to check out your pumpkin project. Thanks for the link and for the kind comment. So glad you’re in blogland, Sally!

  11. Oooh, I love the look of the burlap with the book pages. I haven’t done any book page projects yet – still feels sacrilegious for some reason, but these are awfully cute! Well done, my friend!

    1. I know, ChiWei…that’s why I refuse to cut apart books unless they are damaged. This one was an old musty dictionary from a thrift store that had a broken binding and water stains; otherwise, the book-lover in me just couldn’t stand the idea of taking an x-acto knife to its pages! #bookloverforlife

    1. Thanks, Katie! I’ve been a kick lately with both burlap and book pages; pretty soon, our whole house will be decorated in it! (I’m sure Mark will LOVE that.) 😉

    1. Thanks, Carlee! Yes, Nest of Posies does beautiful printables. It was hard to choose just one! Thanks for stopping by to check it out.

  12. There looks like there are a lot of great pumpkin ideas in the blog hop. Just in time for fall!

    I love how your burlap pumpkins look! I have some burlap left over from carpet binding…I’ll have to give it a try.:)

    C

    1. We hoped the timing would be right! (It seems like blogland and Pinterest are always a month or more ahead of actual holidays and seasons; I remember being flabbergasted at all the Halloween-related projects that were cropping up in August. Pretty soon, we’ll start seeing stuff for Christmas! Mark my words….)

      And I take it that you did your own carpet binding?! That’s so cool! Especially that you used burlap. Do you have a post on it? I’m behind on my Siestas & Sewing reading; gotta get caught up on all of your sew-tastic happenings!

      1. Here’s the link: http://siestasandsewing.blogspot.com/2012/06/diy-carpet-binding.html

        It turned out pretty well. I’m ready for “real” area rugs, preferably something with a design on it to help hide all the inevitable stains from the kids and hubby. But John likes what we have and is in no hurry to replace the rugs!;)

        If you do get a chance to catch up on S&S reading, don’t feel like you have to comment on every post. It takes up precious time and I know you have a lot happening over here! I’ve been a bad blog buddy since school started (well, actually since sports conditioning started back in August). I read through everything in my blog reader but probably only comment every third or fourth post. I can’t spend all day on the computer…too much needs to be done!

        Have a great weekend, Lauren!

        1. Thanks for the link to your DIY carpet binding tutorial…just checked it out, and I LOVE how it turned out! So professional. And it’s true, commenting is time consuming, but it is something I’m trying to get back into a routine with. I miss engaging with my bloggy buddies that way! But know that I don’t feel pressured by you at all…and I hope you know the same is true of me. If there’s radio silence for a while, I always know we can pick right back up where we left off!

          Happy autumn, Cindy and co.!

    1. Of course! Thanks for offering it up for us as a free download in the first place; I heart anything chalkboard and the quote plus the fonts you chose make it exquisite! Happy weekend to you, too!

  13. Love these! I have been gathering info from blog land as how to make velvet pumpkins. I do not have old pumpkin stems and these made from paper will work perfectly! Thanks!

    1. I’m so glad my stem method will work for your velvet pumpkins! Oooo…the thought of velvet pumpkins is just divine! I’m sure they are going to be knock-out decor items. Would love to see a pic once your project is complete!

    1. I first bought it when I was making a wedding scrapbook for my friends, and it was KEY for applying some of the intricately cut embellishments onto my pages…seriously, it would have been a mess otherwise. I have purchased a few other spray adhesives before, but none of them compare to Elmer’s brand. I’m not a rep for the company or anything – – just a genuine fan! If you try it out, let me know what you think, k? K!

  14. They look great and the paper leaves really add some pizzazz!
    I too am going to look at the others now, starting with what looks like a knitted pumkin.

    1. I do love me some pizzazz. Thanks for the compliment, Sharon! (And the reminder to use the word “pizzazz” in an upcoming post!)

      And that yarn-covered pumpkin is so cute…I love that it gives the illusion of being knitted, but it’s an optical illusion! Brilliant.

    1. Why thank you, Krista! And thanks for the boost to my styling ego. That’s definitely an area in which I want to grow. Thanks for the pin-love, as well!

    1. Aw, thanks, Hani! I’m trying for more quick-n-easy craft projects these days…because it turns out, I’m a slowpoke! 😉

    1. Aw, thanks, Glenna! Glad you approve! It came together nicely…which isn’t always the case when I dream up creations in my head. Ha ha.

    1. Thanks, Alex! Working on another fall decor project as we speak! #justcantgetenough Have a blast at Blog Podium! Can’t wait to hear all about it, my friend.

    1. Well, aren’t you a dear?! Thanks, Bethany. And it’s no surprise to me that you’re a fan of the literary element of this project. (You’ll be glad to know that I used a damaged book for this project; it pains me too much to think about tearing apart a perfectly good book just for the sake of a craft!)

    1. Thanks, Marilyn! I’m a fan of mixing up textures, too…but never quite put words on it. Thanks for helping me identify that! Had a blast with this themed post. You ladies are such a creative bunch!

  15. Yeah for pumpkins! Super, super cute tutorial. My new favorite pumpkin thing is… (drum roll please) Pumpkin spiced chai! it is like two of the best things into one mega best thing! My favorite coffee place makes the BEST ones ever!

    1. Stop the presses. What?! There’s such a thing as pumpkin spiced chai?! How did I not know this?! It sounds heavenly, and I just might need to get in the car right now and road trip to your favorite coffee place just to try some (and to see you, too!).

    1. You’re welcome, Nicole! Hope you had fun exploring the pumpkin creations. Just completed the rounds myself, and I’m feeling the pumpkin inspiration to a mega-degree!

    1. Thanks so much, Kirsten! For some reason, burlap and book page go together like Lucy and Ethel in my mind. They’re so different, but somehow, it just works!

  16. oh those are cute and creative- i am in love with burlap right now and the book pages for leaves and I love how we are getting away from pumpkins being just orange (nothing in my home matches orange) very festive!!

    1. Ha ha. Nothing in my home matches orange, either, Kelly! Maybe that’s why I was rebellious and tackled some pumpkin decor using non-orange materials. 😉 Glad you enjoyed them, my friend!

    1. Yayzers! If you do give it a go, even in a slightly different form, you know you gots to send me pics so I can feature you in my next Reader Showcase, Tara!

      (And yes, I just wrote “you gots” on purpose…in case there was any question.) 😉 #englishmajorrebel

    1. Thanks, Amy! I didn’t have any orange fabric on hand, and I was determined not to go out and make any more craft supply purchases on this one. My stash is already overflowing! 😉 #imsureyouunderstand #craftbloggerproblems

  17. I simply LOVE these. I’m having a fall wedding, with lots of burlap. These would be SUCH a cute decor item, and then work perfectly in my home for Fall! Thanks for sharing!

    1. A fall wedding?! Lots of burlap?! It sounds amazing, Kayla! And yes, anything you can use as wedding decor and then double as home decor is a win. That’s why I’m kicking myself still for selling most of my mason jar centerpieces. You’ll have to let me know if and when you share pics from your wedding, k? Eek! I’m so excited for you.

  18. This is a really neat project! I’m thinking craft paper would probably work as well, if you used a thick one and sewed it very carefully – you could probably even shape it a little better.
    Also, when you showed the rolled up paper for the stem, I thought you were going to push a few of those from the top to make those typical ridges down the side! If that makes sense.
    Either way, they’re really cute, and I give you a virtual pat on the back for a vignette well-styled! 😉
    xx Johanna
    Dear Life, We Need To Talk

    1. I like where you’re going with this…. I have yet to attempt sewing paper, but it’s on my ever-growing-crafty-bucket list. I just feel like such a beginner sewist, still, I fear it might end in a craft fail. (Though a good story, no doubt.)

      And I think I know what you are describing with the using the rolled up paper to make the ridges down the sides; what a creative brain you have! I think we need to see Burlap and Book Page Pumpkins 2.0…Johanna style! 😉

      I appreciate the back pat, too. I’m a bit insecure about my styling skills, so it means a lot! Ha ha.

Your comments make my day!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *