Fighter Pilot Scarecrow
October 21, 2011
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“That’s right, ma’am. I am a fighter pilot. Call sign, Scarecrow.”I think making this pilot scarecrow is actually easier than a regular scarecrow because you don’t have to try to attach the body to the legs. I made mine sitting to simplify the process even more. Just get something to stack for the torso. I use wood blocks that we had, but even a 5 gallon bucket would work. Then add a cross-piece for the shoulders and to rest the head on, like a 2 x 4. Start stuffing the suit with straw. Or use newspaper for the main stuffing and add a little straw (found in small amounts at craft stores) in the openings to give the authentic look. The stuffing is the part the kids can really help with. My 4-year-old did most of it. My 20 month old mostly pulled the straw back out. Oh well, they both had fun!
For the helmet, I found a gray-green pumpkin. It was pretty difficult to find one large enough (but not so big it looked like something from Spaceballs.) and round enough to fit over another small pumpkin. Keep searching, it is out there! Also – these pumpkins are great for cooking. Keep all the flesh for later use. And there is a ton of flesh!!
I actually used a crow-bar to get the lid off this pumpkin. Start carving out the inside and scrape what you can with an ice cream scoop to make enough room for the orange pumpkin. Then cut the face out to create the helmet. Add your regular pumpkin – stem as the nose – and draw or paint on the face. If you are really ambitious, you can carve the orange pumpkin face. Cut the bottom of the orange one and lift the whole thing to light (like you would a giant hurricane). Either way, the “neck” of the pumpkin needs to be leveled so it will rest atop the scarecrow. Real aviator glasses would be cute, too. And don’t forget the patches!!!
