What’s Halloween without pumpkins? These cuties are everywhere during this time of the year and it would be a real shame not to take advantage of the bounty. We’ve prepared for you a whole series of cool pumpkin designs, one more interesting than the other. So go get your pumpkin carving tools and let’s see what this year’s Halloween décor could look like.
Carved pumpkins
A pumpkin diorama requires quite a bit of skill and time, especially if you want to create a detailed design like the one on Apumpkinandaprincess. The supplies needed for this particular project include a large pumpkin, moss, black paint, some Halloween decorations, a 1” thick styrofoam block, a hot glue gun and some paper bats. Carve out the pumpkin or get a precut one. Paint the interior black, make a styrofoam bed, put some moss on top and start placing the decorations inside. Glue the bats to the outside of the pumpkin.
Not all pumpkin dioramas are designed to be spooky or Halloween-themed. You could have fun with something totally different like this poke ball design we found on Allfortheboys. It all starts with a carved pumpkin. It could be a real or a faux one. Paint the pumpkin to make it look like a poke ball using red, white and black paint. Then print out a Pokemon, cut it out and put it inside the pumpkin.
Faux pumpkins are easier to work with than real ones, especially if you decide to carve them. To make a chic pumpkin centerpiece like the one on Homemadebycarmona you’ll need some paint, a knife, a leaf template and a candle. Cut out the leaf template out of paper and then outline it on the pumpkin. Cut out the leaf at an outward angle. You can then paint the pumpkin and add the finishing touches.
When working with real pumpkins and not the faux kind carving can be a bit tricky so simple designs are more desirable. Instead of the usual spooky faces you could try something different this year like a constellation design. For that you need a pumpkin, a serrated knife, a drill and sharpies. You can also paint the pumpkin if you want. Cut out the top and remove the guts, then draw a moon shape onto the pumpkin and cut it out. Then you can draw the constellation and use a drill for the stars. {found on fineandfeathered}.
Combine pumpkins and paper to make a beautiful Halloween diorama that tells a story. To make that happen you’ll need a craft foam pumpkin, cardstock, black tape, black acrylic paint, a hot glue gun, a white pencil, sandpaper and a foam brush. Paint the pumpkin black and then trace a circle on it with the white pen. Cut out the circle and sand down the edges. Paint the interior black as well. Cut out some figures out of a book or print them out. Attach them to cardstock and then use them to decorate the pumpkin.{found on tinselandtrim}.
Pumpkin carving is fun and you can really use your creativity when coming up with the designs and patterns that you want to use. For instance, instead of carving out spooky faces you could opt for some geometric patterns instead. Chevron lines are an interesting option and you can find out more about it on Tatertotsandjello.
We think pumpkin dioramas are really fun, even if you don’t really like Halloween that much. You can have a lot of fun coming up with a spooky design like the one on Eatknitanddiy. If you like that one and want to recreate it, here’s what you’ll need: a large craft pumpkin, a small crow decoration, a round foam disk, a stick, blue, white and silver paint, clay, moss, toothpicks, string lights and painter’s tape.
A pumpkin diorama can also look cute, even if it’s a decoration you plan on using during Halloween. How about a woodland design like the one on Hellolidy? It’s made out of a plastic pumpkin. It was carved out with an x-acto knife and then moss, woodland creatures and candles were put inside to create the scene.
Another example of a not at all spooky Halloween pumpkin is featured on Thewonderforest. It’s a real pumpkin lantern with a lovely polka dot design. The holes were made using a drill with different bit sizes and a candle was put inside so the pumpkin can look like a starry sky at night.
There are different methods and ideas you can use when carving a pumpkin, depending on what you want to use it for. Usually the idea is to use a template to trace a shape on the pumpkin and then to carve it out. But you can also choose to carve around the design for a more interesting display. Check out Thepinningmama for a few more details on this.
Cozy pumpkins
Colored yarn can be used in a ton of interesting ways when decorating pumpkins. One of the options is described on Freutcake. All you need for this project is some pumpkins, yarn in various colors and a hot glue gun. Starting at the bottom of the pumpkin, apply some hot glue in a circle and wind some yarn around to form a base. Then start gluing vertical rows to cover the whole pumpkin in yarn. You can work in sections to make slices or you can create a more uniform look. You could also glue the yarn horizontally.
Of course, it’s not necessary to cover the entire pumpkin in yarn if you don’t want to. You could just wrap some yarn loosely around a pumpkin and that would be enough for a chic and casual décor. You’d have to use a glue gun. It’s all really simple and you can find out everything about this project on Drawntodiy.
The fabric pumpkins featured on Craftsncoffee sure look cuddly and they’re surprisingly easy to make. Here’s what you’ll need: styrofoam balls, orange fabric, burlap, glue, straight pins, a bamboo skewer, scissors and a serrated knife. No sewing is needed. Cut off the top and bottom of a foam ball (wax the knife beforehand) and then round the edges. Carve a small hole at the top. Score grooves around the pumpkin with the skewer and then with a knife. Cover each section with fabric and tuck the seems into the grooves. You can use pins if needed. At the end, make a burlap stem.
Did you know you can turn socks into cozy pumpkin decorations? It’s actually pretty simple and any socks are fine if you thick they have the right size. In addition to the socks you’ll also need some rubber bands or elastic hair ties, some twine, a glue gun, ribbon, rice and plastic balls or something similar. Turn the sock inside out and tie a band to create the bottom of the pumpkin. Cut off the excess sock. Then turn it right side out and fill it with rice. You can also put a plastic ball inside to give it a round shape. Seal the top with another hair tie. Then wrap twine to make a stem and tie ribbon around it. {found on onecreativemommy}.
In case you have some drop cloth fabric somewhere just waiting to be used for something cuddly and fun, this is the perfect time for that. You can use the fabric to make pumpkins like the ones on gardenmatter. You’ll also need batting, craft paint, thread and needle and stuffing. Cut out fabric circles and paint them using a sponge brush. Sew stitches around the edge of each circle, gather the fabric in the middle and stuff the pumpkins. Then you can add a fabric stem on each.
Check out this chic crochet pumpkin cover we found on flaxandtwine. It looks really stylish and all you need if you want to make something similar is some yarn, a hook, a craft pumpkin and a spiderweb rosette kit. You’ll find here all the details and instructions you need.
This category of cozy pumpkins includes designs that use fabric or yarn and the possibilities are more numerous than you think. For example, we found this quirky idea of using a toilet paper roll and some scrap fabric to make a pumpkin-shaped decoration. Lay the fabric on a flat surface with the pattern facing down and place the toilet paper roll in the center. Cover the roll with the fabric and tuck it in at the top. Trim the excess and then push a tree branch inside to make the stem. The idea comes from Acultivatednest.
You know those old winter hats you don’t really like but still keep around for some reason? Now you can turn them into cozy little pumpkins. A knitted toque would be perfect for something like this. You’l also need a sweater or something to fill it with, an elastic band and some yarn for the stem. Check out how it would all turn out on Sustainmycrafthabit.
The dropcloth and moss pumpkins featured on Thehambyhome can be made in any size you want. They can be tiny or they can be quite big and used as floor décor. In any case, here’s what you’ll need for them: dropcloth, a needle and thread, moss, a hot glue gun, twine and something to fill the pumpkins with. Follow the instructions for best results.
No sewing is needed for the burlap pumpkins featured on Confessionsofaplateauddict and that makes the project really simple and enjoyable. The required supplies include burlap, jute twine, stuffing, rubber bands, mod podge, aluminum foil and faux leaves. Cut a piece of burlap and make a sleeve. You can use hem tape for this part. Cut 6 pieces of twine and knot them together. Stuff the burlap sleeve and leave the twine knot out. Secure with rubber bands and then bring the twine strands up to create the sections. Tie them all in a stem.
A burlap pumpkin would look chic and a little bit rustic, just what a cozy modern home needs. So how do you decorate a pumpkin with burlap? It’s pretty easy actually if you use the method suggested on Thecountrychiccottage. Use burlap ribbon to cover each section of the pumpkin and secure it with glue. When you’re done with all the sections, wrap some twine around the stem and use it to also secure and hide the burlap gathered at the top.
Add a few cute and cozy pumpkins like these ones around your home and the ambiance will start to change and the rooms will start to look more welcoming. To learn how to make pumpkins like these ones, check out the description on Momadvice. Here’s what you need: a double pointed needle size 11 (US) and one size 6, natural fiber yarn, stuffing and a template.
The burlap pumpkins featured on Upcyclethat are really versatile and they can be used as decorations for both the indoors and outdoors. To make these you need some burlap, plastic shopping bags, jute string and scissors. It would be nice to use some coffee bags if you can find any. Stuff a plastic bag with other bags, tie it with a piece of jute and then cover it with burlap. Try to make it look like a pumpkin and to give it a more suggestive shape use jute to create grooves. Don’t forget about the stem.
Looking for a no-sew project involving Halloween pumpkins? We just found a really great one on 3peppers-recipes. To make something like this you need canvas fabric, some paint, embroidery thread, a hot glue gun, salt, flour and oil. If the list of supplies seems a little bit strange that’s because the last ingredients are used to make clay that is shaped into a stem for the pumpkin.
What could be cozier than fur? Of course, a pumpkin covered in fur would look a little bit odd and spooky but that’s actually perfect for the Halloween décor. To make this happen you’ll need some faux pumpkins, some battery-powered Christmas lights, faux fur and ribbon. Cut a hole in the bottom of each pumpkin and then make some holes on the sides for the lights. Then cut the fur into strips and glue them to the pumpkins to create sections. Use a branch as a stem and add a ribbon bow. The lights will look lovely at night. {found on brepurposed.porch}
Painted pumpkins
Painting a pumpkin is one of the easiest methods anyone can use when creating eye-catching Halloween décor. There area lot of interesting ways in which you can make a pumpkin stand out. For example, you could paint it using a very bright and vibrant color or you could use a combination of colors and crate stripes. Another idea is to use metallic paint to make pumpkins look glamorous. Check out Delineateyourdwelling for some inspiration.
It could be interesting to try an abstract design on the pumpkins using paint in contrasting colors. Let’s say you paint a pumpkin white or some other light color. Let it dry and then you can use some black paint to splatter a unique design on the pumpkin. To get this right, load a brush with diluted paint and sharply whip it downward over the pumpkin. {found on homeyohmy}.
We think metallic paint looks really cool on Halloween pumpkin decorations, adding a chic and glamorous touch to the whole concept. On Valeventgal you can see how a copper shade would look like on a pumpkin. This centerpiece is extremely easy to make and all you need is the paint, a foam pumpkin, a hot glue gun and some faux flowers. Paint the pumpkin after you cut out the stem and then glue the flowers on top.
There are lots of ways in which you can display your painted pumpkins. For instance, you can try stacking them. Two or three pumpkins can be stacked in a planter and they can be displayed on the porch or garden. They could look like the ones on theredpaintedcottage, each with a different color and design.
You have several options to choose from when painting a pumpkin. You could simply paint the entire thing for a clean and a simple look but you could also create an interesting pattern or design using stencils or different colors of paint. How about something geometric. You can find some inspiration for that on Designimprovised.
How about some paint drip pumpkins for this year’s Halloween décor? They could look a bit spooky and they’re also easy to make. The technique is simple. Take a pumpkin and start pouring paint at the top around the stem, letting it drip to the sides. You can make layers using different colors of paint. Allow it to dry and then use the pumpkins as decorations. {found on madincrafts}.
Another stylish idea is to make Pantone painted pumpkins. For that you need mini pumpkins, painter’s tape, paint, paint brushes with a straight edge, a black sharpie and some newspaper. Put a strip of tape along the center of the pumpkin, horizontally. Paint the bottom portion and let it dry. Remove the tape and then paint the rest of the pumpkin white. With a sharpie you can then white the color number on the pumpkin. {found on poshlittledesigns}.
You’ve probably seen whitewashed pumpkins or other decorations before. They have a really nice finish and they look a little bit vintage. You can make your pumpkins look like that too. If you use faux pumpkins then you could also remove the stems and replace them with driftwood for a coastal look. You’ll also need chalk paint, a rag and a brush.pour some chalk paint on a plate and add a little bit of water. Dip a corner of the rag into the mixture and wipe it onto the pumpkin. It’s all described in detail on Tidbits-cami.
An interesting idea can be to combine two different types of paint for an eye-catching effect. The inspiration came from Thecrazycraftlady. Here’s how the project goes: you need some faux pumpkins, paint brushes, primer, chalk paint and metallic paint. Prime the pumpkins and then apply chalk paint to the whole surface except for the bottom. Let it dry and then paint the bottom sections using metallic spray paint. You can also paint the stems to match the bottoms.
Painting a bunch of pumpkins is easy. Figuring out how to display them is a bit more difficult. There are several different options to choose from. If you’ve chosen to use small pumpkins then you could display them all in a bowl or basket. It would be nice to use a mixture of black and white pumpkins as shown on Allthingswithpurpose.
We think matte black paint is really appropriate for Halloween. To make things more interesting, you could paint a few pumpkins black and then use a white paint pen to write or draw something on them. The inspiration for this came from Lovelyindeed. Check it out for a more detailed description of the project.
There are also a bunch of other non-traditional ways to paint a pumpkin. So let’s have a look at some that we found on thehappytulip. We really like the studded pumpkin and the ombre one. Other ideas include polka dot patterns and geometric designs such as chevron lines.
If don’t necessarily have to use paint to give your Halloween pumpkin a cool look. You could use some colored sharpies instead. How about some metallic colors? They’d look awesome on a black pumpkin. You can create all sorts of geometric patterns and funky designs. You can find more inspiration on Twothirtyfivedesigns.
We mentioned studded pumpkins so let’s have a look at a few more options. We found some interesting ideas on Cuckoo4design. The pumpkins featured here were first painted with chalk paint and this gives them that beautiful matte look. Then they were decorated with studs of various shapes and sizes.
Painting can be messy and also a little bit time-consuming especially if you want to use several different colors and to combine them in interesting designs and patterns. But there are also simpler methods. For example, you could try simply dipping the pumpkins in paint. For a clean contrast you could first paint the entire pumpkin white and then dipping its bottom half in colored paint. {found on lizmarieblog}
If you’d like to be able to change the design on your pumpkins, then chalkboard paint would be an awesome option. Consider this: paint the whole pumpkin black and then you’ll be able to draw on it with chalk. It’s fun, versatile and creative and you can find out more about this project from the description provided on Blissbloomblog.
Another nice option is you want to use chalkboard paint is to make some word find pumpkins. Basically you paint the pumpkins black and then you put letter stickers on them with hidden words that you can outline with chalk. {found on thistlewoodfarms}.
What’s your opinion on these watercolor letter pumpkins we found on Viewalongtheway? It’s interesting that to make this design you actually need acrylic paint, not watercolor. You can use a bunch of different colors. You’ll also need angled paint brushes and primer. Spray the pumpkin with primer and then trace the letters on with a pencil. Then trace along the lines with a paintbrush and combine the colors however you want.
Paint the pumpkins in a way that matches your style and the décor in your home. If your home is minimalist and chic then you could make some colorblocked pumpkins like the ones on Thewonderforest. These look simple as well as glamorous and the project is not at all difficult. Wash the pumpkins, put some tape around to delineate the two halves and then cover the top with newspapers. Spray paint the bottom and let it dry.
Pumpkin planters and vases
When you think about it, a pumpkin would make a really nice vase or planter. It has the right shape and you can really use this idea to make some interesting centerpieces and decorations. The design featured on decoart uses a craft pumpkin. The pumpkin is painted using a metallic color and the top was carved out. A bouquet of flowers was placed inside, turning the pumpkin into a vase.
When turning a pumpkin into a vase, you can either choose to paint it, leave it the way it is or cover it with something. The idea suggested on Kraftmint is to use white leather. In addition to this, the project also requites a hot knife, a faux pumpkin, glue and fresh flowers. Slowly cut the top of the pumpkin and set it aside. Then cut out strips of soft white leather and glue them onto the pumpkin, following the curves. Then put a glass or a small vase inside the pumpkin and place the flowers in.
If you decide to use faux flowers then it should all be even easier. You can either use a fake pumpkin or a real one. Use a knife to cut out the top in order to make a hole for the flowers to fit in. Then start arranging the flowers, leaves and branches and make a centerpiece that you’re happy with. {found on creativegreenliving}.
If you decide to turn a pumpkin into a sort of vase, then try decorating it with fall leaves, branches and flowers. They can either be real or fake, depending on what you can find and whether or not you want this to be a reusable centerpiece. In any case, you’ll need a faux pumpkin, a styrofoam block, a hot glue gun and the fall stems. Cut out the top of the pumpkin and insert and foam block inside. Then push the stems in one at a time. {found on apumpkinandaprincess}.
Similarly, a pumpkin can be turned into a planter. Start by cutting off the top and then painting the pumpkin. After the paint is dry, add the soil and the plant. Small succulents would be great for the project. You can find out more about making a succulent pumpkin planter from the tutorial on Placeofmytaste.
There’s also a similar tutorial on Succulentsandsunshine. The supplies needed in that case include a craft pumpkin, a cutting tool, a drill, soil and succulents. Cut out the top of the pumpkin. Then drill some holes in the bottom for drainage. Fill the pumpkin with soil and place the succulents in, staring with the larger ones.
This is a pumpkin-shaped concrete planter, a decoration which you can reuse every year around Halloween and which is also quite easy to make. You need a plastic jack-o-lantern with a face indedted into the surface, a plastic cup and concrete mix. Pour the concrete mix into the lantern and then push the cup down. Put something heavy in it so it stays in place. Let the concrete dry and then cut out the mold. {found on homemadeginger}.
Instead of one big pumpkin vase or planter you could make several small ones which can be distributed throughout the house. Use simple plastic pumpkins and give them a chic makeover using metallic spray paint. If they have removable tops then it gets easier. After you spray paint the pumpkins, fill them with rice and put a few flower stems in. {found on uptodateinteriors}.
We’ll also show you how to make a pumpkin garland. We found this idea on Ajoyfulriot. It all starts with some mini pumpkins. Cut off their tops and clean out the insides. Then pierce two holes in each pumpkin so you can hang them, run some wire through and connect the pumpkins. Then put flowers in each one and display your garland. The pumpkins will look lovely and they’ll also smell nice (until they won’t) so keep them for a while and then throw them out. Or use faux pumpkins which are reusable.
It appears that pumpkin planters are quite popular and, at the same time, concrete projects are popular as well so here’s another example of a pumpkin-shaped concrete planter very similar to the one we’ve already showed you. You can find a description on endlesslyinspired.
Add a fun twist to a planter with chalkboard paint. You can paint the pumpkin and turn it into a planter like we already showed you and then you can have fun customizing it with chalk. Write messages or draw things Halloween or fall-related. You can find all the details you need for making chalkboard pumpkin planters on Makinghomebase.
The jack-o-planters featured on Gardentherapy actually have a spooky look but at the same time they’re cute and lovely. They’re made of real pumpkins and they’re filled with soil. They have carved out faces that let plants show through, giving the pumpkins the spooky look we mentioned.
If you want your pumpkin planter to last a while longer and to be reusable, it would better to use a plastic pumpkin-shaped bucket or something similar. You can make it look like a terra cotta pot. Find out how on
Greensboro Baths 