No-Sew Candy Bowl

Most sewers know that the Halloween season is the busiest time for fabric and craft stores. Everyone is looking for costumes, and “Hey! Why not sew one? For some sewers this is the ONLY time they get the sewing machine out of the closet and try to remember how to turn it on.  And there are the non-sewers who think, “How hard can it be? I’ll just make my own costume!” I’m not complaining about or judging these once-a-year sewers. More power to them. In fact, I find it fascinating that so many people are in the fabric stores in October. I only wish that there were more seasons that made people want to sew.

Having said that, this blog post features a No-Sew Halloween project that is NOT a costume. It is something I have wanted to make for a long time. Even though I’m not sewing, I am using fabric scraps, which is always a good thing. Plus, it is going to be useful, if only for one day of the year. This fabric bowl is fun to make – a perfect Halloween project!

Supplies

• For the outside of the bowl: Assorted fabric scraps (any size) of Halloween colors and prints
• For the inside of the bowl: One piece of fabric large enough to cover the entire surface
• A plastic or glass bowl to use as a mold
• Press ‘N Seal Cling Film
• Mod Podge
• Paintbrush

Protecting the Bowl

Cover your workspace with a towel to keep the Mod Podge off the surface. Turn the bowl upside down and cover it with the Press ‘N Seal. I used 2 pieces to make sure I covered the entire bowl. I first tried clear plastic wrap but the bowl I used was plastic and the film would not adhere to it. So, I tried Press “N Seal and it was perfect! After covering the bowl with the Press “N Seal, paint it with Mod Podge using a paintbrush. It looks messy but don’t worry – it will all work out.

The Inner Fabric

Place the fabric for the inside of the bowl wrong side up over the bowl, pressing it onto the bowl. Make sure the pretty side of the fabric is facing down so it shows as the inner part of the bowl when the bowl is finished. Brush more Mod Podge over the inner fabric. You will have a few pleats and puckers as you add the Mod Podge but just ignore them. Again, it will look fine in the end.

Fabric Scraps

Take pieces of your fabric scraps and cover the bowl, with the pretty side showing. Trim and overlap the fabrics, painting the pieces with Mod Podge as you place them. Once the entire bowl is covered with fabric scraps, brush another layer of Mod Podge over the entire bowl.

Finishing the Bowl

Let the bowl dry. The drying time varies from bowl to bowl, depending on the size of the bowl, how many layers of fabric, as well as the amount of Mod Podge used. I let mine dry overnight. When it is dry, carefully remove the fabric from the bowl. The easiest way is to release the Press “N Seal at the bottom of the upside down bowl. Once that is loose, the fabric bowl can be easily lifted off the real bowl. The fabric will be stiff and somewhat hard so it will hold the shape of the bowl. Trim the upper edge of the bowl as desired. I didn’t worry about the upper edge of the bowl being even because I think an uneven edge gives a lot of “Halloween character” to the appearance of the bowl.

Ready for Candy

Once the bowl is finished, fill it full of wrapped candy and you are ready for Trick-or Treaters!

Want to Watch?

I also filmed a video when I made this project. Click here to watch the process. While you are there, please subscribe to my channel if you haven’t already. I have a variety of videos on sewing techniques, specialty presser feet, mixed media projects, art techniques, just for you. Enjoy!