10 DIY Halloween Pumpkin Crafts Ideas Anyone Can Make
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Look, I get it. You see those perfect pumpkin displays on Pinterest and think “I should do that!” Then you remember the year you tried to carve a haunted mansion into a pumpkin and ended up with what looked like a cave-in. Been there, done that, got the pumpkin guts under my fingernails to prove it.
The good news? There are tons of pumpkin crafts that don’t require a single knife or any carving skills whatsoever. And honestly, some of these are way more fun than traditional carving because you can actually let the kids join in without fearing for everyone’s fingers.
Toilet Paper Roll Stamped Pumpkins
This one’s genius because you’re literally using trash to make art.
Save your old toilet paper rolls, shape them into pumpkin-like circles, dip them in orange paint, and stamp away to create your own pumpkin patch on paper. Kids can paint stems and vines to make them look realistic.
My nephew did this last year and it kept him busy for a solid hour, which in toddler time is basically forever.
Pasta Pumpkin Craft
You can paint pasta noodles by tossing them in a ziplock bag with acrylic paint and shaking it up.
Once they dry, glue wheel pasta around a painted pumpkin face for texture. Use spiral noodles for leaves. It looks way fancier than “I glued food to paper” has any right to look.
Plus, if you mess up, just call it abstract art and move on.
Handprint Pumpkins
Trace and cut handprints from orange cardstock to form a cute pumpkin, then add green and brown details for vines and stems, googly eyes, and a smile.
This is one of those crafts that makes you weirdly emotional because you realize your kid’s hands won’t be this tiny forever. Frame it or you’ll regret it when they’re teenagers who only grunt at you.
Egg Carton Pumpkins
Turn recycled egg cartons into charming little pumpkins by painting and assembling the individual cups into unique pumpkin shapes.
It’s the perfect “we need a craft RIGHT NOW” project because you probably already have everything. The bumpy texture actually makes them look more interesting than smooth pumpkins anyway.
Gold Painted Mini Pumpkins
All you need are small real or faux pumpkins, gold paint, and a paintbrush to create chic place settings.
Line your table with newspaper first unless you enjoy explaining gold splatters to your landlord. These look expensive but cost about $3 to make. Your dinner guests will be impressed and you don’t have to tell them how easy it was.
Pumpkin Seed Mosaic
After carving your pumpkin, put the seeds in a plastic bag with acrylic paint, shake it up, and spread them on parchment paper to dry.
Then glue the painted seeds onto a paper pumpkin shape. You can also glue dyed pumpkin seeds onto a pumpkin template to create a colorful and tactile mosaic. It’s like making the pumpkin’s insides into art, which feels poetic or something.
Pumpkin Fairy House
Turn an ordinary pumpkin into a magical fairy home using natural elements like twigs, moss, and pebbles, along with craft glue, foam core, and paint.
Add miniature accessories like bird baths and pathways for extra magic. Fair warning: once you start looking at tiny fairy furniture online, you might get sucked into a very expensive rabbit hole. Ask me how I know.
Fork Print Pumpkins
Dip a fork in orange paint and make prints all around a circle traced on cardstock.
The fork tines create this cool textured look. Add paper eyes, nose, and mouth when dry. It’s messy, it’s weird, and kids absolutely love it. Put on a painting smock or just embrace the chaos.
Yarn Wrapped Pumpkins
Wrap orange yarn around a small paper plate, securing the ends to form a cute pumpkin, and add a black paper stem.
You can also wrap yarn around four fingers about 120 times, cinch it together with another piece of yarn to create a pumpkin shape, and add a pipe cleaner stem on top. It’s basically making a pom-pom but pretending it’s a pumpkin. The kids don’t need to know it’s that simple.
Pumpkin Suncatchers
Use wax paper, crayons, glue, and a hairdryer to create pumpkin suncatchers that come to life when seasonal sunlight hits them.
Hang these in your window and watch the colors glow. They’re pretty enough that you might actually want to keep them up past Halloween. Just saying.
Here’s the Thing About Pumpkin Crafts
You don’t need to be crafty to make something cool. These projects work for kids of all ages and skill levels, from 3D paper pumpkins for the artsy ones to reusable projects for kids who like to redo their work.
The best part? Most of these use stuff you already have at home. Toilet paper rolls, pasta, yarn, paint. You’re not making a special craft store trip and spending $50 on supplies you’ll use once.
And if your pumpkin craft turns out looking nothing like the photo? Congratulations, you just made folk art. Slap a “handmade” label on it and everyone will think you’re trendy.
Bottom Line
Halloween is all about getting creative and having fun, whether you follow a template or let your creativity take over. These crafts give you options for every mood: quick and easy, fancy and impressive, or straight-up messy fun.
Pick one, grab some pumpkins (real or fake), and just start. The wonky ones always end up being everyone’s favorites anyway. Trust me on this one.
