How to make a jack-o-lantern with paper pulp...

I use battery operated candles inside of these jack-o-lanterns when displaying them inside
 of our large dollhouse.

       To make the old-fashioned paper mache pulp jack-o-lanterns you will need: scrap cardboard, newspaper or newsprint, masking tape, paper mache pulp, acrylic paints, Mod Podge and battery operated votive sized lights.

Step-by-Step Instructions: 

1. Crush the shapes and sizes of the jack-o-lanterns you desire. 
2. Use nominal masking tape to hold everything in place because this will be pulled out of the outside 'skin' once the container has hardened with drying.
3. Cut a flat bottom for the smiling pumpkin from scrap cardboard and tape it firmly in place.
4. Mix the paper mache pulp with water and add a Tablespoon of white school glue to the mixture to give it more strength. 
5. Using a permanent ink marker, draw the shapes and of facial features directly on top of the last layer of newsprint. Give your animated pumpkin eyes a nose and big grin. 
6. Also draw an opening on the top of the shape so that you can add a battery operated candle once the jack-o-lantern is finished.
7. Now shape this pulp over the newsprint forms to make toothless ghoulish expressions! Be careful to avoid the inner spaces of the eyes, nose, mouth and opening at the top.
8. Shape also the ridges on the pumpkins as well. Let dry.
9. Once the pulp has hardened and this could take several days, gently pull out the newsprint. 
10. Paint the interior black.
11. Paint the exterior several dry brush layers of yellow, orange and red.
12. Mod Podge all of the surfaces.

Left, crush the shapes and sizes of the jack-o-lanterns you desire. Use nominal masking tape to
hold everything in place. Center, cut a flat bottom for the smiling pumpkin from scrap cardboard.
Right, the pulp has been mixed with water and shaped over the newsprint forms to make toothless
ghoulish expressions!

Once these jack-o-lanterns have dried, gently pull the newsprint out of their insides and paint.

• Read about the pumpkin children!
• See how to make easier jack-o-lanterns without all the fuss here
• Photos of how we decorated our dollhouse family room several years ago.