No-Carve Spooky Pumpkin with Flying Paper Bats
A pumpkin covered in a swarm of black paper bats, wings lifted as if they are circling it, looks dramatic without a single carved line. It is spooky enough for Halloween but gentle enough for kids who dislike scary decor.
The bats are cut from black cardstock and glued to a faux pumpkin. Because nothing is carved, you can make it weeks ahead and pack it away to use again next year.
Where it fits
This pumpkin suits a mantel, an entryway table, a porch shelf or the center of a party table. A faux pumpkin works best because it holds the glue well and won’t rot under the bats. A white or pale pumpkin makes the black bats stand out most, and an orange one gives a classic look.
It is also a good choice for households with a mix of ages. The bats make it a little eerie, but there are no glowing eyes or jagged grins.
How to make it
You will need:
- 1 faux pumpkin
- Black cardstock
- Tacky glue
- A cutting machine such as a Cricut, or sharp scissors
Kids can help with placing and pressing the bats. An adult should handle the scissors or cutting machine, and small paper pieces should stay away from children under three.
- Cut the bats. Use a cutting machine with a bat design, or cut them by hand. Scissors work fine. Fold a piece of cardstock in half to cut two bats at once, then trim any little differences.
- Curl the wings. Wrap each bat around your finger so the wings lift up. This is what makes the bats look like they are flying instead of lying flat.
- Add glue. Put a small strip of tacky glue on the back of the bat, along the body. Keep the wing tips free of glue so they stay raised.
- Press in place. Hold the bat against the pumpkin for a few seconds until the glue starts to set.
- Repeat. Keep adding bats until the swarm looks full.
Let the glue dry completely before you move or display the pumpkin. Wet glue and curious fingers do not mix well.
Mistakes to avoid
- Too much glue. A small strip is enough. Extra glue seeps out at the edges and can show on the pumpkin.
- Skipping the curl. Flat bats read as stickers. Curling them gives shadows and depth.
- Even spacing. Rows of evenly spaced bats look stiff. Cluster them thickly in one area and thin them out toward the top and bottom, as a real swarm would.
- One size only. If you are cutting by hand, make a few bats larger and a few smaller. A mix looks more natural.
- Moving it too soon. Bats can slide or peel if you pick the pumpkin up before the glue is dry.
If a bat comes loose later, add a dab of tacky glue and hold it in place for a few seconds. Store the pumpkin somewhere dry and don’t stack things on it, so the wings keep their curl for next season.
