DIY Network

Harvest Party: Lentil Banded Pumpkins and Candles Add a festive fall touch to your Thanksgiving decorations with these easy to make lentil banded pumpkins and candles. From "Weekend Entertaining" episode WKE-306

In this segment craft pumpkins and candles are decorated with bands of lentils, white beans and split peas.

Hourly Breakdown

Total Prep Time -- 8 hours

Lentil Banded Pumpkins and Candles -- 2 hours

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Decorate some pumpkins with lentils to create a fabulous table for your food buffet.

Materials --

Assortment of mini, small and medium pumpkins (orange and white)
Assortment of pillar candles (green, white, rust and yellow)
Peel 'N Stick Adhesive Sheets
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
Split peas
Lentils
Beans
Pie plates
Assortment of 3 sizes of craft pumpkins

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Lentil Banded Pumpkins and Candles

Note from Jeanne: Craft pumpkins are made from a material that you can carve and keep forever -- plus, they are not messy!

1. Pour lentils to almost fill pie plates, one color lentil per plate.

   Note: Dried lentils come in a variety of colors and sizes.

2. Cut strips of adhesive to form the band, from 1" to 3" wide, depending on the size of the pumpkins (it needs to be 1/3 of the height of the pumpkin). Remove one side of paper from the adhesive and wrap around the middle of the pumpkin. Remove the remaining paper backing (figure A). Add additional strips of adhesive until there is a continuous band around the middle of the pumpkin.

   Note: Double-sided adhesive sheets can be found at your local craft store.

   Tip from Jeanne: If you want a ghost look to your pumpkin, just paint the pumpkin with a flat white paint.

3. Roll the exposed adhesive in the lentils (figure B), pressing the lentils into the adhesive to affix. Use fingers to place additional lentils in areas where they do not completely cover the adhesive.

4. Press all lentils gently to make sure they are really stuck on (figure C).

5. Repeat for remaining pumpkins.

6. Cut strips of adhesive that equal the height of each candle, minus two inches. Wrap the adhesive around the candles in the same manner as the pumpkins, leaving one inch of candle color exposed at the top and bottom.

7. Roll the exposed adhesive in the lentils to cover.

8. Pour additional lentils on the table to create your own unique pattern. Place pumpkins and candles on the bed of lentils. Raise some pumpkins and some candles by placing on wooden candleholders (figure D).

   Expert Tip: If you are going to choose a theme, remember what you are trying to say in the overall theme, and pick a color that is probably predominant with that theme.

   Note from Jeanne: The great thing about this table display is that it is made with nonperishable items -- the pumpkins are foam material and the dried beans will keep for a long time. To store them, wrap them in wax paper to keep everything in tact from falling off. Keep them in a cool dry place and you can use them next year.

RESOURCES :

Create for Less
Website: www.createforless.com

Fabric.com
Website: www.fabric.com

All Occasions Party Rentals
Website: www.alloccasionspartyrentals.com

Earth Fare
Website: www.earthfare.com

Zwilling Cutlery
J.A. Henckels, Inc.
Website: www.jahenckels.com

GUESTS :

Harry Schwartz
Culinary Expert
PO Box 1320
Yarmouth, ME 04096
Phone: 207-846-8881
E-mail: chefharry@chefharry.com
Website: www.chefharry.com

Debbie Lee
Culinary Expert
President
Paragon Events and Catering
1620 Broadway #H
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone: 310-453-8023
E-mail: debbielee@paragoncatering.com

Wade Wesson
Event Planning Expert
Dazian, LLC
124 Enterprise Ave., S.
Secaucus, NJ 07094
Phone: 877-232-9426
E-mail: E-mail: info@dazian.com
Website: www.dazian.com

Marta Monahan
Etiquette Expert
Vittorio Media, Inc.
11601 Wilshire Blvd., 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 818-907-5488
E-mail: marta@martamonahan.com
Website: www.martamonahan.com