Spider Pumpkin - Jack O' Lantern

Over the years, I saw some really cool 'Ibles showing how to make "Pumpkin Spiders".
I've always wanted to create my own version of the Spider Pumpkin Jack O'Lantern for Halloween! :)

So here's how to make a Spider Jack O'Lantern that casts a shadow of a spiderweb on the walls.

My project was inspired by these 'Ibles :

https://www.instructables.com/Pumpkin-Spider/

https://www.instructables.com/Spider-Pumpkins-Arac...

https://www.instructables.com/Pumpkin-Spider-1/

https://www.instructables.com/Lawn-Spider/

https://www.instructables.com/Animated-Pumpkin-Wit...

First, let's pick the perfect pumpkins !

Spider bodies have two main segments : the abdomen and the cephalothorax. In order to have some creepy spiderly proportions, you will need to find a large round pumpkin for the abdomen and a small flat one for the cephalothorax.

In order to make this spooky arthropod, I used this reference for the spider anatomy :

http://svt.ac-dijon.fr/schemassvt/spip.php?article...

Supplies:
-Paper clay

-Orange and black polymer clay

-Hot glue gun & hot glue

-Masking tape

-Aluminium foil

-Scissors

-Serrated knife

-Toothpicks & sculpting tools

-Paintbrushes

-Black, Orange, Brown and White acrylic paint

-Gesso (primer)

-Wallpaper paste

-White glue

-Black and brown eyeshadow

-Newspaper

-Parchment paper

-Clear nail polish

-Small candles

-Cheap synthetic hair

For this step, you will need aluminium foil and masking tape.

Make the legs and pedipalps by crushing and rolling aluminium foil.

Use masking tape to connect all the legs.

Next, sligthly bend the legs and segments. (Spider legs have seven segments).

First, wrap all the spider legs and pedipalps with masking tape.

Next, cut small strips of newspaper for the paper-mache.

Use wallpaper paste to glue the newspaper to the spider legs.

Let the paper mache dry for at least 12 hours.

You will only need one layer of paper-mache for this project ! :)

Use a paintbrush to apply Gesso on the spider legs. This will prepare the surface for the acrylic paint !

Let the Gesso dry for about two hours.

Use air dry clay to sculpt the trochanta and coxa of the spider abdomen.

Start by makin a tiny log of air dry clay. Flatten it and wrap it around the base of the legs. Then, use a thin paint brush and a drop of water to blend the seams.

You could also sculpt the tiny claws at the tip of the spider legs with air dry clay.

For this step you will need black polymer clay, nail polish, parchment paper and hot glue.

Take a small chunk of polymer clay and roll 8 tiny balls of clay.

Place the eyes on parchment paper and bake the clay in a kitchen oven.

Follow manufacturer's instructions on the package => for Fimo polymer clay : 230°F (110°C) for 20 minutes. Remove the polymer clay from the oven and let it cool down a bit.

Use hot glue to glue the eyes to the pumpkin.

You can apply clear nail polish on the polymer clay in order to get this shiny effect on the eyes.

Use a long serrated knife to cut a hole at the bottom of the large pumpkin. (The hole should be large enough for your hand to fit in).

Use a large spoon to remove the guts and pumpkin seeds. Scrape the inside and clean out the pumpkin.

For this step you will need orange, white, black and brown acrylic paint.

Start by painting the base of the spider body with bright orange acrylic paint.

Next, paint the legs in a light orange color and apply brown paint on each segments of the pumpkin legs.

Paint the claws at the tip of the legs with black acrylic paint.

Apply black paint on each joints of the legs and voilà~

Cut about an inch of synthetic hair.

Use white glue to make the hair stick to the spider's legs.

Glue some synthetic hairs on the pedipalps.

Connect the pedipalps to the spider's body with a hot glue gun.

Enjoy the spookiness of these hairy spider legs !

Measure the diametre of the pumpkin's hole.

Next, print out a picture of a retro spiderweb that's just the right size.

Use orange polymer clay to sculpt a simple spiderweb. Start by making long thin snakes of clay and assemble them as shown in the pictures.

Adjust the spiderweb to the size of the hole. Use a sharp knife to trim off excess clay.

Let's sculpt the chelicerae ! (Chelicerae are a pair of appendages close to the spider's mouth.)

Take two small chunks of orange polymer clay and shape them into tear-drop shapes.

Slightly flatten them and sculpt the spider's fangs.

Apply black eyeshadow (or pastel powder) on the fangs.

Use brown eyeshadow to make tiny dots on the chelicerae in order to match the pumpkin's skin.

Once you're done sculpting the spiderweb and chelicerae, place the clay on parchment paper and bake in a kitchen oven.
Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for the temperature and baking time.

For Fimo polymer clay : 230°F (110°C) for 30 minutes. Remove the clay from the oven and let cool before the next step.

Next, glue the chelicerae to the pumpkin spider's face.

(I used some hot glue for this step).

Apply a tiny bit of clear nail polish on the spider's fangs.

Set a candle inside the Jack-O-Lantern and light it. Place the polymer clay spiderweb on the back of the pumpkin.

The candle will cast a large spiderweb projection on the wall !

Have fun with this creepy Pumpkin Spider !

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. :)