Recycled Bedposts and Spindle Pumpkins

Spindles and bedposts often have wonderful shapes and intricate designs, but when they are broken, they are usually tossed because they can no longer serve their purpose. Don't toss them! Give them a new reason to be enjoyed by transforming them into a cluster of prim pumpkins for your fall decor. A quick an easy recycling project that's perfect for a teacher gift or to sell at fall craft shows.

Cut a 9, 11, and a 17 inch length from old bedposts and/or spindles. Each post or spindle will be one pumpkin.

Lightly sand the posts/spindles to rough up a smooth finish. My posts/spindles were pretty weathered and didn't require this step.

Paint each cut spindle using orange acrylic paint to transform them into pumpkins. Allow the paint to dry. Apply a second coat if desired.

Lightly sand the surface of each pumpkin to distress.

Pound the tip of an old rusty nail in the top of each pumpkin for the stems. If rusty nails are not available, drill a small hole in the tops to insert and glue a small bit of rusty wire or a small stick from your yard.

Stand all of the pumpkins and cluster them together. Connect them together using craft glue. Allow the glue to dry.

Locate the center of the shortest pumpkin and measure around the circumference of the entire pumpkin cluster. Add 1 inch to this measurement. Cut a burlap strip 2-1/2 inches wide by the circumference measurement. Fray a 1/4 inch fringe on each long edge. Wrap the strip around the pumpkin cluster, overlap the ends and attach using hot glue.

Cut a piece of baling wire 12 inches longer than the burlap length using wire cutters. Center the wire over the burlap and wrap it around the pumpkin cluster. Twist the ends together at the front to secure. Grasp one end of the wire with the tip of needle nose pliers. Wrap the end around the tip to curl. Repeat with the other end.

Hot glue a small fall silk leaf to the top of each pumpkin.

Cut a 1-3/4 inch wide by 3 inch long rectangle from an old manila folder. Diagonally trim off the corners on one short end. This is the top of the tag. Punch a hole in the center top of the tag using a paper punch. Stamp "PRIM PUMPKINS" on the tag using 1/2 inch letter stamps and brown ink. Insert crochet thread through the tag's hole and tie the ends around one pumpkin.