DIY Vintage Paper Mache Candy Buckets

By Libbie Summers
Assisted by David Dempsey

The years before I turned 8 years old (and felt to be cool I had to collect my Halloween candy loot in a pillow case), I carried a homemade candy bucket just like these. Mine was a creepy pumpkin, the color faded from bright orange to a certain shade of peach and the edges tattered.

I love the imperfection and homemade chic quality of these vintage candy buckets…makes me wish I had never switched to a pillow case. 

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Ingredients:
1 Medium Plastic Pumpkin Bucket
1 Local News Paper Cut Into 1″ x 8″ Strips
1 Large Piece of Card Stock
1 Pair Scissors
16 oz White Glue
16 oz Water
1 Roll of Painters Tape
1 Paint Brush
4-5 Acrylic Paints (based on what type of bucket design you are working on)

What to do: 

Step 01:
Cut nose, horns, and cheek bone shapes out of card stock. Use painters tape and attach to the pumpkin form. Using a pumpkin form will help determine where features go.

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Step 02:
Mix together 16oz White glue and 16oz Water.

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Step 03:
Dip a strip of newspaper into glue and water mixture. Apply one at a time over the card stock shapes and onto the remainder of the pumpkin shape. Let dry overnight, you may need to add an additional layer of newspaper when dry.

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Step 04:
When fully dry, mix together some black and white paint to make a light gray base. Paint entire form and ensure no newspaper is showing through or visible.

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Step 05:
When dry, get creative and design your own spooky or cute and fun candy buckets. Finish with fabric bow around the handle for more effect!

Libbie Summers, A Food-Inspired Life, Halloween, DiIY, How To, Candy, Candy Bucket, Crafts, Paper Mache,

2 comments

  1. Your directions seem so simple compared to other peoples’ directions. I’m gonna try this, and probably blog about it. I’ll add a link to your blog. Have a great weekend!

    Comment by Kristie on September 12, 2019 at 8:47 am

  2. It really is all in the fun painting after right! The papier mache part is super simple and I think the cruder the better for these festive Halloween Candy Buckets. Let me know how it goes!

    Comment by Libbie Summers on September 23, 2019 at 11:41 pm













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