Home made "Halloween" pumpkin hidey house!

So, I was at JoAnn Fabric's the other day for their fleece sale (Got a whole bunch of fun stuff for the boys new cage liners!) and while I was there, I saw a few paper mache pumpkins, all marked down to half off! There was a tall, thin one, a medium sized, regular shaped one, and a short, fat one. I grabbed the medium sized one, and knew I had to make it into a house for my boys! I paid 5 bucks for it (It was 10) and set to work.

This is what the pumpkin looked like at first


And here's Ozzy with it for size reference


So first, I drew on a door


Then cut it out with a serrated knife (The easiest way by far to cut through it)


Then, I used non toxic hot glue to add some texture to the stem (Not pictured, sorry! Just heat up your glue gun, and drizzle it on the stem, to give it grooves and make it less flat) I also used hot glue around the door, to make it less rough, and more finished looking.

Then, I painted it! I used non-toxic, child safe acrylic craft paint. I painted the whole pumpkin in an orange base coat, and the stem I based out in green. Then I waited for it to dry, and did a wash of a darker green on the stem, and a darker brown over the pumpkin, especially in the grooves.





And here's Ozzy, showing it off in the cage!

Hahahaha oh wow! That's so creative. Looks great! I love the paint effect, great job.

Thank you! I'm super proud of how it turned out, I may have to stock up on some more, so that when this one gets shredded, I can make another until they come into season again, haha

That is so creative and looks so good. The finished photo is now the cover photo for the RatShack Facebook page.

Admin said:

That is so creative and looks so good. The finished photo is now the cover photo for the RatShack Facebook page.

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Oh wow, awesome! Thank you!

Here's Danzig and Gillan cuddling in it this morning I'm glad it's a hit!

Your famous now!!! That's awesome and the paint is totally safe?! I'm sure it is if your using it...

dspch911 said:

Your famous now!!! That's awesome and the paint is totally safe?! I'm sure it is if your using it...

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Yep, the paint is 100% safe. I found out that it was from a mouse forum, where people make mousey hides out of popsicle sticks, then paint them with the same paint. Have been for years with no issues at all.

That is great! You are so talented, lucky rats!

Very nice job! Now go buy 100 more and get painting. LOL

Joanne said:

Very nice job! Now go buy 100 more and get painting. LOL

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Right? Haha! I'm waiting to stock up when the price drops a little bit more, and I can get them even cheaper. I plan on making one to send to my college room mate. She has ratties too, and sadly lost a pair of brothers within a day of each other recently, so I'm shipping out a care package for her and her other ratties to lift their spirits.

jorats said:

That is great! You are so talented, lucky rats!

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Thank you! My friends and family are always dumbfounded at the stuff I craft for my babies, haha! My step-dad has told me since I was a kid, that when he passes he wants to come back as a rat and end up at my house.