If you’re looking for a fun and easy Halloween craft for the kids to make, try this pumpkin string art activity. It’s a great way for kids to strengthen their fine-motor skills, requires just a few basic supplies, and it’s easy to prep and clean up.
Halloween might look different this year, but we’re still getting into our Halloween crafting groove. Yesterday, I shared the milk carton haunted houses we made last week, and today, it’s this sweet little yarn wrapped pumpkin string art craft.
Last year, we did a similar cardboard string art activity when we made these some wrapped hearts for Valentine’s Day, and that craft went over so well with my hooligans and my readers that I decided to do it again for Halloween.
Now, technically, it’s not the string art you may remember from your childhood. There’s no wooden board or nails involved. It’s just cardboard and yarn, but kids can still learn how to make interesting criss-cross patterns and designs like we used to with the boards and string.
Young children may not be interested in making a specific design and may prefer to just wrap their yarn randomly around the cardboard, and that’s just fine. That exercise in itself will help to strengthen their fine-motor skills and co-ordination, and will help to prepare them for some of our more complex yarn crafts and weaving activities.
Ok, let’s get to work!
Supplies:
How-To:
Cardboard Pumpkin String Art Instructions
- Trace and Cut Out Pumpkins
First you’ll need to trace a pumpkin shape on to your piece of cardboard and cut it out. We used a pumpkin-shaped cookie cutter but if you don’t have one, you can click here to trace ours.
- Paint your Pumpkins
We used acrylic craft paint to paint our pumpkins, and gave them each two coats of paint.
- Cut Notches
With a pair of scissors, cut small, v-shaped notches all around the edge of your pumpkin.
- Wrap
Wrap your yarn from notch to notch around and around the pumpkin, experimenting with different designs and patterns.
- Tape to Secure
When you’re happy with your design, cut your yarn and tie it or tape it to the back side of the cardboard.
More Halloween Crafts:
See all of our Halloween Crafts for all ages here.
More Yarn Wrapping Activities:
Get the 3-5 Playful Preschool e-Book!
25+ Preschool activities by 25 bloggers, 10 printables, PLUS 50 links to activities not featured in the book.
Click to download your copy now!
Follow the Hooligans on Facebook!
Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.
