I was in the middle of planning Katie's Disney Princess Party, when I got the idea to make a Cinderella Carriage out of a foam pumpkin.
After searching the internet and finding nothing except how to carve a real pumpkin into a carriage, I decided to just let my creative juices flow. So, if you are reading this blog post because you to want to make a carriage out of a pumpkin and landed here, I hope this helps.
Step #1 - Purchase foam pumpkins.
Notice I used the plural. Never just get one. The unthinkable will happen and you will have to go back to the store. I have learned this the hard way.
I purchased this pumpkin and one just like it at The Dollar Tree for you guessed it just $1.00.
Step #2 - Get some paint.
I chose gold, white, silver and Ice Crystal White. I also bought a silver paint pen.
First, I painted 2 coats of white letting each coat dry before applying the second. Next, the Ice Crystal White was painted on over the white. Painting two coats of this color gave the pumpkin a nice glittery white finish. Finally, I put several coats of gold on the stem.
What do you think? Is it beginning to look like a royal pumpkin fit for a princess?
Step #3 - While you are getting paint, purchase some wooden wheels and a dowel.
Knowing which wheels I was going to purchase, I opened the pack in the store to make sure the dowel would fit in the hole on the wheel. I am thankful that I did this because the first dowel I picked up would not go in the hole.
Have you ever been in the middle of a project and realized you bought the wrong size, color, or object and had to go back to the store? Whew, I am glad I am not the only one!
Step #4 - Paint the wheels and dowel.
As you can see, the wheels are silver with a gold center.
Step #5 - Cut the dowel and paint it.
To get the measurement correct, I put one wheel on the end of the dowel and held up the other wheel where I thought it should go. Basically, I guessed. Worse case senerio, I would have to cut a little bit more off the dowel.
My husband cut the dowel with his jigsaw. Painting the dowel gold was the easy part.
Step #6 - Draw on the door and windows.
Again, I looked on the internet for carriage door and window designs. The hard part was how to draw the design on the pumpkin exactly where it needed to go.
After thinking and thinking, I decided to draw it on paper and cut it out. I pinned it on the pumpkin with a straight pin to make sure my placement was correct. Then, I removed the door, traced the back of the design in pencil, and repined it on the front.
After tracing over the top of the design and removing the paper, the pencil mark transfer to the pumpkin. SCORE!! I was in business. After doing the same thing with the windows, I got out my paint pen.
I am not really pleased with my drawing, but hey it is just for a birthday party. It does not have to be perfect. I am not the Fairy God Mother.
Step #7- Trace over the design with a paint pen.
I decided to trace the outside with the silver paint pen and fill in with gold. I also added a gold crown to the front of the door. Make sure the first color of paint is dry before you paint the second color.
Step #7 - Assemble the wheels on the dowel.
While the pumpkin was drying, I assembled the wheels on the dowels. My dowels fit into the holes on the wheels securely without glue.
Step #8 - Glue the pumpkin onto the wheels.
This proved to be the hardest part. If you find an easy way to get the pumpkin on the wheels without the wheels rolling or the pumpkin falling, please leave it in the comments below.
It took Sierra to hold the wheels while I placed the pumpkin on top of the dowel. Using white school glue, to glue the pumpkin to the dowel, was our first option .
However, this didn't work the best. It was late the night before the party and I was just about to give up when my husband said that he had some adhesive spray.
Sierra sat a book in front of the wheels on each side to prevent the wheel from rolling. Then, she sprayed the dowel and pumpkin. This did turn the pumpkin a white color but on the white pumpkin it was not that noticeable.
I didn't even paint over it until after the party. No one noticed.
Step #9 - Place Fairy God Mother in front of the carriage.
I found this printable while searching for Disney Princess Party Décor. After cutting it out, I had difficultly putting her together. Sierra's boyfriend, Isaac, came to my rescue. He assembled Fairy God Mother in less than 15 minutes.
Thanks Isaac and Sierra for all your help.
Right before midnight, (Really!), Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!
Cinderella's Carriage
This made a cute decoration sitting beside the cake. If you decide to make this project, I would love to see your results and hear your comments. One final step-
Have Fun It's A Party!
If you want to see more decorations and ideas for a Disney Princess Party check back in a few days and the details on the party along including food will be up on the blog.
Supply List
1- foam pumpkin
Paint - the colors needed for pumpkin, stem, wheels, and dowel.
A paint pen
Paint brush
Wood Glue or Spray Adhesive
A design for door and windows
Pencil
Straight Pin
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