Halloween is just around the corner.

Many kinds of Halloween goods are available at thrift shops, supermarkets, drugstores, stationery stores and department stores.

But why not make some Halloween decorations by hand?

If you like origami, we have a great idea for a jack-o'-lantern!

This project comes courtesy of ちゃみ Charmy (charmytoko), a Japanese mother of two who posts a variety of ideas for handmade toys and crafts on her Instagram account.

What you'll need

  • 7 sheets of origami paper for the pumpkin
  • 1 sheet of origami paper for the stem
  • 1 sheet of origami paper for the eyes and mouth
  • Scissors
  • Glue

After making the parts for the body and attaching them with glue as indicated in the video, inflate it through the hole at the top, stick in the stem, then cut out and glue on the parts for the eyes and mouth, and you're done!

The key to making this jack-o'-lantern is choosing the right size of the paper.

Using 15 cm (5.9") size origami paper makes it easier to inflate the body of the jack-o'-lantern nicely, while using 1/4 size (3.75 cm / 1.48") paper results in a smaller hole, making it harder to inflate.

One advantage of craft projects such as these is that you can be creative with the colors and patterns of the origami paper. Using one color of origami paper will create a unified look, but it's also fun to use various colors, such as orange, green, and purple, to create your own unique look.

Please note that these jack-o'-lanterns are not intended to be used with a light source.

This Halloween, why not make origami jack-o'-lanterns and decorate your home?


By - grape Japan editorial staff.