Summary: Create Halloween decorations using discarded diabetes supplies and crafting items.
Last year we were inspired to create tree ornaments using used insulin pump pods. (Read Holiday Decorating With Medical Waste for images and a tutorial.)
I had a sudden flash of inspiration looking at a stash of used supplies: Why not create some Halloween decorations?
A quick trip to the craft store and I had everything we needed. Following the same general steps as we did with our tree ornaments, I had a prototype in no time.
The result? Spooky sPODers and PUMP-kins.
Supplies
- Used pods
- Acrylic paint (black for spiders, orange for pumpkins)
- Small foam paint brushes
- Adhesive-backed felt
- Thin ribbon (black for spiders, green for pumpkins), optional
- Googly eyes
- Sharpie or paint marker
- Pompoms (black for spiders), optional
Directions
- Prep the pods by removing the adhesive pad, snipping cannula, and wiping with alcohol if the surface is not clean (we use baby oil during removal and it makes them slick).
- Trace the pods onto adhesive-backed felt and cut out. (Save for step 8.)
- Apply two coats of acrylic paint using the foam brushes, letting them dry between coats.
- Cut equal lengths of ribbon if you want your decorations to have hangers.
- Loop the ribbon and attach it to the back of the pod, securing it with a piece of tape.
- For the spiders, attach lengths of pipe cleaners using tape.
- For the pumpkins, attach a small piece of green pipe cleaner at the top for the stem using tape.
- Remove backing and place felt on the back of the pod covering the ribbon loop and legs.
- For the spiders, glue eyes near the top of the pod where the window is. Optionally, glue a large black pompom for the spider’s body.
- For the pumpkins, use a Sharpie to draw the facial features and vertical lines if desired.
If you included the ribbon hanger on the decorations, you can hang them on windows using small suction cups or create a Halloween tree using a small Christmas tree.
Diabetes companies should hire me as Director of Crafting Creativity!
Read more “Having Fun With Diabetes” posts.
(Originally posted 10/10. Updated 10/21.)
