DIY No-Sew Pumpkin Backpack

I made a mini-bucket list at the beginning of the year of 12 things that I wanted to do in 2012.

Here is one of the twelve:

7. Send my sister a super fun and unique package. She is serving a mission for our church in Argentina. I miss that girl and she needs to know it! I wonder what fun things a Sister in Argentina might need. She is pretty random, so I've been wanting to send something really odd. I just haven't decided what it is yet.

My dream is to send her a chicken foot or a dehydrated lizard; something weird. She would laugh so hard; you just have to know her. I did send her a singing Justin Beiber card and I'm pretty sure I got the Sister of the Year Award for that one. That card was worth the small fortune it cost. My packages haven't been random mostly just seasonal items. but she likes that too. I sent her a Halloween package this week and I made this cute jack-o-lantern backpack to go in it. My kids have made me promise to make them one of their own too. It's the perfect things to hold Halloween treasures.

DIY No-Sew Pumpkin Backpack

What you'll need:
Pen
Orange drawstring backpack
Acrylic paint
Puff paint
Green felt
Craft or hot glue

The backpack was left over from Girl's Camp. I bought a few assorted color packs from Oriental Trading this summer and it's been fun to have the extras. They sell them year round and they are a little over $1 each.

Draw the outline of a jack-o-lantern face with the pen on the backpack. I did mine towards the bottom of the bag so that you can see the face clearly when it's cinched shut. Put a piece of paper inside the backpack so that the paint doesn't soak through to the other side. Paint the face with acrylic paint. When the paint is dry out line it with puff paint. Use the puff paint to make a twirly vine at the top. Cut a simple leaf shape from green felt and glue it near the vine at the top with glue. Once everything is dry you are ready to get your jack-o-lantern on. Literally.

Now, if you are really ambitious decorate the other side too. I did some spooky bats the same way I painted the pumpkin.

The beauty of this project is that it is light weight so mailing it is cheaper. I like that.

And here's a little tip for you!

They make candy corn taffy. It is out of control good. I really like candy corn, but I am straight-up in love with this taffy. Even Thomas, who is not a taffy or candy corn nut, was surprised at how good it is. I couldn't send her delicious ghostly cupcakes or pumpkin whoppie pies, but these will surely be loved.

Here's the bag. I snagged it at Wal-Mart (around $2).

It's made in Utah! I hope that means everyone can still get it... if not, shoot me a line and I'll hook you up (if you pay for the goods). You need this in your life. Mom, let me know if you need a bag. I'm serious people. I will mail this to you if need be.