Instructions on making an open pomegranate

When I am learning something new, I always read through the instructions first and I also watch the video (if available) before I get started.

I recommend that you also read the instructions and watch the video. This will aid you in your process.

If you have any questions, please let me know. And if you use this tutorial to make a pomegranate please share your results, I would love to see them.

Step 1 - making The seed foundation

Get a picture of an open pomegranate, just as a reference.

Take the 4-inch wood cut out and cut it into 4 to 5 pieces, in varying sizes.

Cut 2 large and 3 small pieces of the wood. Make sure each piece has a rounded edge so it will fit nicely into the round paper mâché box.

Paint the top of each wood piece with red watercolor ink and allow them to dry.

Step 2 - Making the pomegranate seeds

While the wood pieces are drying, begin making the glue dots.

Using the glue gun and glue sticks, dot ½ cm to 1 cm sized glue dots on the parchment paper. You will need approximately 400 - 450 of these glue dots. (Some of the glue dots will be used alone, for layer 1.  The other glue dots will be glued together to create round pomegranate balls or “seeds.” The rounded seeds will be used in step 5.

NOTE: Remove the glue strings from the glue dots.  Also, make sure the dots you are gluing together for the seeds are as close to the same size as possible.

Step 3 - the first seed layer

To create the clustered look of a pomegranate, you will need to create multiple layers of pomegranate seeds.

For layer one, use the single glue dots (flat on the bottom). Apply clear gel tacky glue to the bottom of the dots and attach to the top of the painted wooden pieces. Cover as much of the top of the wood as you can.

Let the glue dots dry and then paint the dots with red watercolor ink and let dry.

NOTE: Glue dots can be tedious to paint, requiring several layers of paint. Another option for the pomegranate seeds is air dry clay fashioned into small balls. Watercolor ink affixes much easier to the clay than it does to the glue dots.  I have not used clay, but this is an option you can consider.

Step 4 - pomegranate vessel

Prepare the vessel. Use one half of the 4-inch round paper mâché box.

Gently outstretch baby pink crepe paper.

Gently outstretch brown crepe paper and glue on the top of the outstretched baby pink crepe paper. Allow the papers to dry, V-cut about 1/2 - 3/4 inch and spindle.

Cover the outside of the 4-inch round paper mâché box with the pink crepe paper.

Crumple foil or paper and place inside the paper mâché box. Leave about ¼ inch from the top of your vessel. Cover foil or paper with crepe paper, to smooth out the crumple.

NOTE: To preview how your pomegranate will look, take your pieces and see how they fit into the vessel. Do not glue them on yet, there are more glue dots to add. This will give you an idea of how your pieces will lay and fit inside the vessel.

Once the first layer of painted glue dots has dried you can begin to build the clustered look with additional seed layers.

Step 5 - The second and third seed layers

The number of layers to add to the pomegranate is up to you, but you should have at least 3.

For each layer you need to repeat the below process:

- glue and attach seeds to the previous level, let dry

- paint glue seeds with red watercolor ink, let dry

- paint red glue seeds with glossy accents, let dry

NOTE: As you are layering your seeds don’t place the seeds right on top of each other, stagger the seeds to create a clustered look.

Step 6 -Wrapping Pomegranate Pieces/pods

Now that your pomegranate seed pieces are painted and glossy, it’s time to wrap and glue them into your vessel.

Use thin strips of the cream crepe paper (5x1/2 inch or approx. 1 cm tall) to outline the edges of all your pomegranate pieces. Outstretch the cream strips and cut them in half, you will have 30 strips.  Apply tacky glue to the strips and wrap the paper around the edge of your seed pieces.  As you wrap pinch the paper around the glue dots.

NOTE:  First I just wrap each piece with one of the cream strips.  Then to save time I'll glue the strips in stacks of 5. In the end, you will have 5 seed pieces and each will be wrapped with 6 pieces of cream crepe.

Step 7 - adding seed pieces/pods

Add your seed pieces inside your vessel. You should play around with the placement of the seeds until you are satisfied with the look of the pomegranate. Carefully glue each seed pod into the vessel and let them dry.  Glue the larger pieces first, and then place the smaller pieces.

Now that seed pods are in, it’s time to fill in any gaps. If needed make more thin cream strips to fill in the gaps between your seed pods. Also, use the cream strips to cover the outside rim of your pomegranate to fill in any gaps between the rim of the vessel and the seed pieces.

Step 8 - Coloring the pomegranate

Using permanent red and magenta shade pan pastel, color the outside of the pomegranate.

The face of the pomegranate  can be cream, beige or even  a light pink. The color choice is yours.