Pumpkin Themed DIY Decor
Updated on October 4, 2019
We’ll be the first to admit that we are completely obsessed with seasonal crafting. There’s just something about keeping up with the changes in weather and the holidays of the year in terms of the kinds of things we’re making and the kinds of decor we put out around our house that makes us feel very accomplished! Now that fall has arrived for this year, we’re finding ourselves itching to start doing some pumpkin themed decor crafts since, if you ask us, those are one of the very best parts of fall!
If you’re feeling just as eager as we are, if not more, to learn how to make a few new kinds of pumpkin themed decor, check out this list of 15 awesome ideas, designs, and tutorials that we’ve come across so far in our search for inspiration and guidance.
1. DIY pumpkin jars
We’ve done a lot of different kinds of crafting over the years and there are all different techniques and kinds that we really enjoy, but something about mason jar crafting has always made it one of our very favourite things to do! We’re sure it’ll come as no surprise, then, that we totally adored this tutorial from The 36th Avenue that teaches you how to paint and embellish jars of all different sizes to look like adorable pumpkins that are perfect for setting on your side table or mantel.
2. Pumpkin succulent harvest centrepiece
Are you actually such a big pumpkin lover because you’re a total green thumb who just really loves plants of all kinds? Well, what if we told you that you could use your pumpkins to make an even greener display than they already are by themselves? Check out how this short, sweet tutorial from Simply Happenstance outlines the process of cutting out the pumpkin’s top and turning it into a succulent centrepiece that’s perfect for fall and harvest.
3. Cute woodland animal pumpkins
If you’re going to go all out decorating a pumpkin, whether it’s real or fake, would you actually rather do something that you kids might get a kick out of and be able to join in on? In that case, we’d absolutely suggest taking a look at how Simple As That turned theirs into adorable little woodland animals! All you need is some paint, scissors, glue, paper, and felt. Their tutorial shows you how to make a raccoon, a fox, and an owl, but you can bounce off those ideas and create whatever kind of critter you please.
4. Yarn wrapped pumpkins
In your household, are you all already total yarn enthusiasts with a big stash and lots of scrap yarn at the ready at all times thanks to how often you knit and crochet? Then we have a strong feeling you’re going to get a real kick out of the way Two Shades of Pink made these extremely creative yarn wrapped tutorials! We really admire they way they outlined several different ways to cover your pumpkins with yarn using just glue, rather than just one style.
5. Dryer vent pumpkins
Just in case you’re the kind of crafter who loves making things out of unconventional materials more than anything else, here’s another pumpkin craft that’s actually an awesome opportunity to do a little bit of upcycling! We’re totally in love with the way A Diamond in The Stuff made the base of their DIY pumpkin from a piece of a dryer vent, using a cinnamon stick as the stem.
6. Mod Podge fabric pumpkins
If you’ve ever been a fan of decoupage then we have a feeling you’re going to adore this next project written in nice, clear detail by The 36th Avenue! Rather than showing you how to do it with paper as usual, however, they show you how to create a little bit of Mod Podge magic all across the surface of your pumpkin using fabric! We really like the way they created a whole set in different patterns of material.
7. Gold thumb tack pumpkins
Are you the kind of careful crafter who, on top of loving crafts that are made using unconventional materials, loves doing things that require a lot of care and patience, even if they’re things that other people might call tedious? In that case, we have a feeling you’re going to completely adore the way Royscription made these breathtaking decor pumpkins by covering them in golden thumb tacks that are actually stuck right through the surface! We love the layered effect of the finished look.
8. Recycled book pumpkins
We’re not usually ones for making things from books that are still in perfectly fine shape for reading, but every once in a while we come across a very damaged or worn book at a garage sale or set out for recycling that we just can’t let go to waste. Those are the kinds of books we upcycle into things like these adorable book page pumpkins outlined step by step on Crafting Mom!
9. Old sock pumpkins
Just in case we really caught your attention with this whole idea of upcycling a household item into a cool decorative pumpkin but you don’t have any suitable books on hand right now, here’s another idea that’s great for those people with a surplus of thick, old socks! Take a better look at this tutorial from A Well Purposed Woman to see how these little sock pumpkins made with felt leaves and stems borrowed from actual pumpkins were made.
10. DIY papier mache pumpkins
Have you always thought that the idea of putting real pumpkins out was kind of sad because, after a few weeks, they start to rot and have to be thrown away? Then perhaps you’d do better making yourself one that doesn’t change! We’re completely in love with the way Fab Art DIY made their very own papier mache pumpkins and then painted and embellished them to make them look very realistic indeed.
11. DIY gold glitter mercury glass pumpkins
Have you ever walked through a thrift store and seen those old clear glass pumpkins with the lifting top that people our grandparents’ age used to use as change pots or candy dishes in the fall? We’ve always found those charming in a kitschy sort of way but our own decor scheme is usually a little more colourful, crafty, and eye catching than plan glass. We’re sure you can imagine our excitement, then, when we came across this tutorial from Hometalk for creating a beautiful gold glittered mercury glass effect inside the very kind of pumpkin shape dish we were just talking about!
12. Plush velvet pumpkins
Have you actually been thinking about how much you liked the idea of making some kind of soft fabric pumpkins ever since you saw the sock idea but you’re just not sure you have any socks to spare right now? Then perhaps you’d get along a little better with something like these plush velvet pumpkins instead, especially if you’re a sewing enthusiast who already has a fabric stash or scrap pile you can pull from! Hip 2 Save has all the details for you.
13. Rustic pallet pumpkins
Perhaps you’ve actually been scrolling through our list wondering whether you might make some kind of pumpkin inspired decor piece that suits your rustic chic scheme a little better, but you just haven’t quite found the idea that really hits home yet? Then we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Make It, Love It used pieces of wood from an old pallet and painted them in a purposely weathered looking fashion before attaching them together and rounding off the corners just so. It’s a pumpkin piece fit for a farmhouse!
14. DIY paper pumpkins
In our house, the biggest trend in crafting recently has been paper crafts, but not just the regular cut and paste kind. We mean the folding and structuring kind that are almost real origami, but not quite since our kids are still rather young. Just in case you’ve been on the lookout for paper projects that might work like an introduction or beginner’s course to origami so your kids can learn too, here’s a cute tutorial from Lia Griffith that shows you how to make rounded paper pumpkins that sit up on their own!
15. Pretty whitewashed pumpkins
Did we almost catch your attention when we started talking about the idea of painting pumpkins because you like the concept of altering their colour a little bit but you’re just not sure that covering it entirely is quite what you’re aiming for? Maybe you’d be happier just adding a sort of down home wear to the look instead, so they’re a little less glaringly orange agains the rest of your decor scheme. In that case, we’d definitely suggest taking a look at how Tidbits white washed their pumpkins in just a few simple steps instead!
Have you made other fantastic DIY pumpkin themed crafts before that you were very happy with indeed but that you don’t see here on our list? Tell us all about what you created and how you did it or link us to photos of your finished work in the comments section!