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Media Platforms Design Team

Turn three gourds on their side to make this spider. Button eyes and branch legs complete the creepy crawly creature.

Materials

• 3 pumpkins, in graduated sizes
• Screwdriver or butter knife (optional)
• Six 6" bamboo skewers
• Scissors
• 2 small plastic or Styrofoam plates
• 2 buttons
• Straight pins
• Rubber gloves and newspaper (optional)
• 8 slightly curved branches
• Black spray paint (optional)

Directions

1. Align pumpkins on the ground from smallest to largest, with stems facing same direction (in this case, left) and
flattest sides down.

2. Snap the stems off the two largest pumpkins, wedging a screwdriver or butter knife between the stem base and the top of the pumpkin for leverage, if necessary.

3. Poke three skewers halfway into the stem side of the largest pumpkin, spacing them evenly apart. Poke other end of skewers into base of medium pumpkin, pushing it toward larger pumpkin until the skewers hold them flush. Using remaining three skewers, repeat with medium pumpkin and smallest pumpkin.

4. Cut circles out of plates for eyes; arrange buttons on top for pupils. Pin eyes through buttonholes onto smallest pumpkin, above the stem.

5. If desired, wearing gloves and working on a newspaper-covered surface in a well-ventilated area, spray branches black, twirling them to cover all sides. Let dry.

6. Using screwdriver or knife to start the holes, if necessary, poke four branches into each side of middle pumpkin, evenly spaced, curves facing downward.

Craft and Prop Styling: Matthew Gleason