Chomp into Halloween with a DIY Jeff O’Lantern

Halloween is all about chomping on candy, so what better Marvel mascot is there for this year’s spooky season than Jeff the Land Shark? Turn a cream-colored pumpkin into one of the most adorable characters to waddle across the pages of Marvel Comics. With an easy-to-use template, paint, and craft foam, you’ll have your very own Jeff O’ Lantern in no time at all.

What You’ll Need

• 9-inch cream craft foam pumpkin
• Printed Jeff O'Lantern template (click here)
• Scissors
• Craft knife
• Pencil
• Gray acrylic paint
• Paint brush
• Gray craft foam sheet
• Hot glue gun
• Pink craft foam sheet

Get Started!

Note: The activities in this article should only be done with adult supervision.

Step 1: Cut out the foot and fin shapes from the printed template and set aside for now.

Step 2: Cut a wide circle around Jeff’s face on the template. Use the craft knife to cut out the inside shapes (the gray areas of the template).

Step 3: Place the face template in the center of the pumpkin and trace around the shapes with a pencil.

Step 4: Carefully cut out the traced shapes with a craft knife.

Tip: If you’d like to illuminate your Jeff O’ Lantern with a battery light, cut an opening in the bottom of the pumpkin. Never use a candle or an open flame inside a foam pumpkin.

Step 5: Draw a curved line like an upside-down “U” around Jeff’s nose, continuing it down to the bottom of the pumpkin on either side.

Step 6: Paint the pumpkin with the gray acrylic paint, stopping at the line you drew. Jeff should have a white area around his nose, mouth, and belly! Let the paint dry completely.

Step 7: Next, trace the fin twice on a sheet of gray craft foam. Cut them out.

Step 8: Repeat the step above with the foot shape.

Step 9: Align and glue the top edges of the two fins together, leaving the bottom edge open.

Step 10: Cut several notches, each about an inch long, along the bottom edge of the glued fin.

Step 11: Glue the fin down around the stem at the notches, pressing them down to match the curve of the pumpkin.

Step 12: Glue Jeff’s feet on either side of the pumpkin, making sure not to cover his gills.

Step 13: Cut a large tongue shape from a sheet of pink craft foam. 

Step 14: Glue the tongue to the inside of Jeff’s mouth, and the cutest jack o’ lantern ever is complete!

For more fun comics-inspired crafts for any time of the year, pick up Marvel Crafts, also written and crafted by Kelly Knox!