The next DIY project we want to share with you is a cute, fun, frugal and festive one –DIY String Pumpkin Decor. My mom and I made string decor quite a bit when I was a kid for our home. We enjoyed making our own home decor and I loved how cool these ended up being! I mean, string that stays formed is very impressionable on a kid!

As an adult, they are just as fun and messy to make! It is very simple, but there are important steps to follow to ensure success.

Here’s what you need for DIY String Pumpkin Decor:

1/4 Cup School Glue
1/8 Cup Water
3-4 Cotton Swabs
Paper Plate
Paper or Plastic Cup
2 Skeins Orange Embroidery Floss (or any thick orange string)
1 Skeins Brown Embroidery Floss (or any thick brown string)
Petroleum Jelly (I used creamy but either will work)
1 Balloon
1 Round Shape Cap (I used plastic shot glass)

Directions for DIY String Pumpkin Decor:

First blow up the balloon to the size that you want your pumpkin to be. Just keep in mind the larger it is, the more string you will need. I made mine a little larger then a softball and I used 2 skeins of string to have it turn out the way you see in the picture. After you have it to the size you want, tie it off.
Now dip a cotton swab into your jelly and coat the whole balloon. This helps to keep the glue from sticking to the balloon.
In a plastic cup, mix the glue and water together. I used about 1/4 glue to 1/8 water. It does not have to be right on, just as close as you can to that mixture. Take a cotton swab or plastic spoon and mix it well. Take the paper off of your skeins of orange string.
Now place (1) skein of string in mixture and let soak for a minute or two. Tip: I rolled the string around my hand to make sure it was not tangled before placing in mixture.

Tie one end to the top of the balloon leaving about 5-6 inch piece to hang it with.

Then start wrapping around the balloon. Make sure you go around and up and down as you want to cover all parts of the balloon. When you come to the end of the string, tie it to the next (pre-soaked) orange skein and keep wrapping. When you run out of string, tuck the end around another piece.

Now hang and let dry for 24 hours. I put a paper plate under mine as it will drip.
Using the cap or plastic shot glass, coat it in jelly just like the balloon.
Now soak the brown string just like you did the orange. Now wrap it around until it is a thickness that you like. I only used about half of my brown string for mine.
Set aside and let dry for 24 hours.
After the are both dry, you can slide the glued string off of the cap.
You can also take a pin or sharp knife and put a hole in the balloon. After all the air is out, you can clip off the piece of sting that was tied at the top and pull the balloon out the sides.

Now take the orange ball and slightly push in the top and bottom. By doing this it will keep it from rolling around and give it that pumpkin look at the top. Just be sure not to crush the whole ball.