How To Make A Pumpkin Wreath - Part 2 - Arms, Hands, and Shoulders

Pumpkin Wreath – Part 2 – The Arms, Hands, and Shoulders

So, I decided to use the cable for the ‘skeleton’, the arms, hands, and shoulders, for this figure. It’s pliable, to begin with, and by the time all of the paper is glued to it, it will be stiffened. (If he were going to be standing, a more stable frame would probably be necessary.) In the picture below, you can already see how the arm on the left is becoming more rigid. The newspaper page I used on the arms is a little heavier than your run-of-the-mill newspaper.

I cut a cable long enough to allow for shoulders and the two arms. Although I was planning to use PVC pipe for the shoulders, I had a heavy cardboard tube from a package of aluminum foil and decided to use it. You can see the cable is crimped up on each side of the tube, which helps hold the tube in place. I also flattened the cardboard tube in the middle so the pumpkin head could sit on top of it. (That would have been a lot harder to do with a PVC pipe.)

How To Make A Pumpkin Wreath - Part 2 - Arms, Hands, and Shoulders — Creating the armature

You can see how the ends of the cable coating were sliced, splayed, and the wire ends exposed.

How To Make Arms, Hands, and Shoulders — Spread wires and plastic coating around the wrist

Then, the ends were spread around the ‘arm’ above the wrist and hand and using masking tape, secured the cable to the wrist and hands.

Planning The Layout For The Pumpkin Wreath – Part 2

My plan was to have the hands positioned like they were pulling the figure up and out of the frame on the bottom of the frame. Trying to think how I would pull myself out of a frame, I moved his right hand to the bottom and then the left hand to the top corner of the frame. Then, I saw a picture where the figure was offering one hand, beckoning you to come with him. Ohhh! That was perfect! Now, he will look like he is reaching down and offering a hand to pull you into the frame!

So, I placed the shoulders and arms into the frame. The piece fits perfectly against the sides of the inner frame walls. Using eye screws, I can secure the arms to the sides of the frame.

The pumpkin head laid on top of the flattened cardboard tube looks great. The head will be attached with a fishing line or metal wire. Two little holes drilled into the back will allow the wire to go through one and out the other and attached to eye screws in the frame. To spread out the load on the wire or line, the wire will be run through an old marker tube. Then, there will be less stress on the two points where the wire or line touches the pumpkin head.

A Sign Is Needed

The empty space below seemed to need something. I picked up the sign from the skeleton wreath and placed it there. Yes, a sign there would be perfect. Now, I need to come up with the perfect words… Any ideas?

In the meantime, the arms, hands, and shoulders will be receiving more Papier mâché and, ultimately, paper clay.

Click here to see ►Part 1 of How To Make A Pumpkin Wreath No One Will Forget.

Papier-mâché Pumpkin Wreath

How To Make A Pumpkin Wreath No One Will Forget

Photo Credit: myhumblehomeandgarden.com

Part 1