By Noreen Doll.
If you are lucky enough to have an orange pool noodle left over from the summer, you can make several super easy Pool Noodle Jack-O-Lanterns.
Preschoolers will have so much fun with this project, and even toddlers can scribble a face on their pool noodle pumpkin.
And little ones can decorate and re-decorate the house with their Jack-O-Lanterns, because they are totally safe and unbreakable. (Don’t let little ones play with them if they might put them in their mouth or take a bite!)
A fun idea is to make them different sizes: very tall and thin, average, or short and squat.
If you don’t want to draw faces on them, you can make their features with black felt or craft foam.
Materials.
Orange Pool Noodle
Knife
Black Sharpie
Brown Lunch Sack or Paper Bag
How to Make a Pool Noodle Jack-O-Lantern.
1. Decide how tall you want your Jack-O-Lantern.
Measure this amount from one end of the pool noodle.
Cut off the end of the pool noodle where you have marked it. A knife slides right through the noodle easily.
Be sure an adult does the cutting.
2. Draw the face on the pumpkin.
3. Color in the features with the black Sharpie.
(Don’t worry about little ones making perfect faces – the ones they draw are very endearing!)
4. Cut off the bottom of the lunch sack.
Fold it in half.
5. Twist the lunch sack until it is small enough to fit in the hole in the pumpkin.
6. Put the twisted lunch sack into the pool noodle to make the stem.
Let the kids decide where their Jack-O-Lantern should sit.
Tips.
Use green or brown construction paper to make the stem instead of a lunch bag.
Noreen Doll
Monica says
Love this idea! We bought a ton of pool noodles to make a pool noodle fort (idea from Pinterest) and half of them are orange. The fort didn’t last too long, but now I know what to use them for! Great gift idea for people with pools too!
Donna Wirthlin says
Great idea! Saw this on loulougirls.com
Jenny says
What a cute idea! I love letting kids decorate their own crafts!
Tianna says
super cute and simple idea!
Audra @ Renewed Projects says
What a cute project! And for a dollar store noodle you couldn’t get much cheaper on supplies. 🙂 Bet your kids had fun making these.
Jeanette says
What a cute idea! My Mom teaches the special needs Sunday School class at our church and the kids would love this! Pinning it!
Michelle @ Keep Calm Get Organised says
These are so super cute! I’ve pinned them for future reference. Thanks x
Erlene says
Omgee I love this idea! I wish I picked up more pool noodles from the dollar store during summer. Hope you can stop by and link this awesome craft on the Spooktacular link party.
Sarah Eliza says
Such a cute re-use! Found you via Thriving on Thursdays.
Sherry says
How fun and sooo simple. I’d love you to come over and link this post at The Fabulous Fall Party.
Come by anytime and link your Fall Themed posts. All the way till Halloween Week. And then November 1 starts Thanksgiving only until noon on Thanksgsiving Day! Then guess who is coming to town! Hope to see you for all the partying
Linda says
I love these, Noreen!!! I have some pool noodles. Hmmm… Hope you are well. Your buddy, Linda
Lou Lou Girls says
Super cute! Pinned and tweeted. Thanks for stopping by and partying with us! I hope to see you on Monday at 7 pm, so we can pin and tweet your masterpieces! Lou Lou Girls
Beverly says
What a great idea for kids and they are safe too.
Thanks for sharing at Wake Up Wednesday,
Bev
Jann Olson says
What a fun and easy project! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Kim says
What a fun use of a pool noodle.
Ali Gilbert says
Awe! My daughter will love doing this!!
Christina @There's Just One Mommy says
What a fun and simple pumpkin craft for little ones! And a great use for some of those pool noodles that have gotten a bit torn up this summer.
Stopping by from the crafty link up!
Jill says
Love this simple idea Noreen! Thanks for sharing at A Round Tuit. Hope you have a lovely week.
Karen @ Raising Little Superheroes says
What a cute and easy craft for kids to make. These would make great decorations for Halloween. Thanks for sharing at the #Made4Kids Link Party!