How to Make a Straw and Pompom Jack O' Lantern Puppet

Take a straw and a pompom and create some awesome Halloween decorations that could be used as table decorations or handed out to trick-and-treaters this Halloween. These Jack O' Lantern decorations could also serve as swizzle sticks for party drinks.

1. Starting at the shorter end of the straw, just above the concertina bend in the straw, cut the top into eight even lengths. Cut down into the bend but not past it.
   
   
2. Flare out the lengths you've just cut. This will make room for adding the pompom.
   
   
3. Add the pompom. 
   
   
4. Wrap the eight lengths of straw around the pompom, as evenly as possible. Tie in place with a rubber band just above the pompom's center. There will be a small bunch of straw lengths sticking straight up from the rubber band tie.
   
   
5. Make the Jack O' Lantern's face. Using black duct tape (or similar tape), cut out the facial features.
   
   
   • Here you can see two Jack O' Lantern eyes and a mouth.
     
     
6. Stick the tape pieces in place.
   
   
7. Tidy up the Jack O' Lantern's top knot. Cut off all but one of the straw lengths above the rubber band tie.
   
   
   • The remaining single length above the rubber band tie.
     
     
8. Take the length between your thumb and fingers and curl down toward the pompom. This will create the Jack O' Lantern's vine.
   
   
   • The completed vine.
     
     
9. Be creative. Make some more and add different decorative effects, such as a witch's hat or googly eyes.
   
   

• You could also add these cute decorations to goodie bags, hand them out with candies at the door and use them as prizes for Halloween games for children.
• To display, place inside a vase or similar container, on top of food such as a cake or dessert pie (simply insert into the pastry/cake), in a glass, on your front door, etc.

• Always use appropriate care with sharp tools. Younger children should be supervised when cutting items.

• Plastic straw
• Pompom (you might want to look for pumpkin/squash colors for authenticity but you're not obliged to only make orange ones!)
• Rubber band
• Black paper and glue (or sticker/duct tape)
• 

  
  Scissors