35 DIY Halloween Pumpkins to Craft This Fall

Halloween decorating has officially entered its extra-credit era. Sure, you
could grab a basic jack-o’-lantern from the grocery store and call it a
night. Or you could turn your porch, mantel, and dining table into a full-on
pumpkin gallery with DIY Halloween pumpkins that show off your personality,
your creativity, and maybe your caffeine intake.

The best part? You don’t need fancy tools or advanced carving skills.
Modern pumpkin crafts lean heavily on no-carve ideas, painted pumpkins, and
reusable faux gourdsperfect if you’re decorating with kids, live in a warm
climate, or just don’t feel like scooping pumpkin guts out at 11 p.m.

Below you’ll find 35 DIY Halloween pumpkin ideassome spooky, some chic,
some wonderfully sillyto craft this fall. Mix a few of them together for a
layered look that works from early fall through Halloween and into
Thanksgiving.

Before You Start: Basic Pumpkin Crafting Tips

• Real vs. faux: Real pumpkins give you that classic fall
  vibe and can go on the compost pile later. Faux pumpkins (foam, paper
  maché, or wood) are ideal for long-lasting decor and intricate paint jobs.
• Prep the surface: Wipe pumpkins clean and dry. For
  painting, a coat of primer or matte white paint helps colors pop.
• Think no-carve first: Paint, glue, vinyl, fabric, and
  string lights create high-impact looks with zero knives involved.
• Seal your artwork: Use a clear sealer on real pumpkins
  you’ve painted or decoupaged to help them last longer outdoors.

35 DIY Halloween Pumpkins to Craft This Fall

1. Classic Painted Jack-o’-Lantern Faces

Start simple with painted jack-o’-lantern faces. Use matte black acrylic
paint to draw triangles, jagged smiles, or surprised expressions on orange
or white pumpkins. It’s faster than carving and just as bold from the curb.

2. Chalk-Paint “Heirloom” Pumpkins

Love those muted farmhouse-style pumpkins in dusty blues and sage greens?
Recreate the look with chalk paint on faux pumpkins. Blend a few shades
together while the paint is still wet, then lightly dry-brush ridges to
mimic natural texture.

3. No-Carve Vinyl Lettering Pumpkins

Use removable vinyl letters (or a cutting machine if you have one) to spell
out phrases like “trick or treat,” “boo,” or your family name. Stick the
letters onto painted or natural pumpkins for crisp, graphic decor that
looks store-bought but takes minutes.

4. Crepe-Paper Wrapped Pumpkins

Wrap foam or plastic pumpkins in strips of crepe paper in marbled or
ombré shades. Overlap the strips so the crepe’s texture mimics pumpkin
ribs. Add a paper-covered stem and you’ll have lightweight pumpkins that
can sit on a tray or mantel all season long.

5. Tissue-Paper “Stained Glass” Mini Pumpkins

For a kid-friendly project, brush glue over mini pumpkins and layer torn
tissue-paper squares in fall colors. Seal with another coat of glue. When
they dry, the overlapping tissue gives a soft stained-glass effectespecially
cute with battery-operated tea lights nearby.

6. Pressed-Flower Pumpkins

Pressed flowers or dried leaves + white pumpkins = instant cottagecore.
Apply a thin coat of decoupage glue, gently press the flora onto the
pumpkin, then seal. These look stunning as a centerpiece or on a console
table paired with brass candleholders.

7. Pastel Unicorn or Fairy Pumpkins

Inspired by pastel, floral pumpkin trends, paint pumpkins in soft pink,
lavender, and sky-blue. Glue on silk flowers, felt ears, and a twisted paper
“horn” for unicorns, or add delicate wings cut from glitter paper for fairy
pumpkins. This is a playful, not-so-spooky option for younger kids.

8. White Pumpkin Floral Bouquet Centerpiece

Hollow out a white pumpkin and place a plastic container or floral foam
inside. Arrange fresh or faux blooms in autumn hues. The result is an
elegant pumpkin vase that works for Halloween parties, Friendsgiving, or
Sunday dinner.

9. Slinky Pumpkin Sculpture

Spray-paint a plastic spring toy orange, then bend it into a pumpkin shape
and secure the ends together. Hot-glue a wood slice and a short stick on
top for the stem. It’s modern, whimsical, and surprisingly chic on a
bookshelf or desk.

10. Book-Page Paper Pumpkins

Recycle old books by turning their pages into a pumpkin. Cut several
identical pumpkin-shaped pieces, glue them together along the spine, and
fan them out into a 3D form. Lightly tint the edges with orange paint and
add a twig stem.

11. Paper-Strip Table Pumpkins

Cut strips of cardstock, punch a hole in each end, then stack and secure
them with brads. Fan the strips into a sphere to create a pumpkin shape and
top with a paper curl for the stem. These make adorable place cards when
you add name tags.

12. Pinwheel Wall Pumpkins

Make large paper rosettes from patterned scrapbook paper and glue on
simple green leaves and brown stems. Hang a cluster on the wall behind your
buffet table or over the sofa for a flat, renter-friendly pumpkin display.

13. Chalkboard Word-Search Pumpkins

Paint pumpkins with black chalkboard paint and use white paint pens to draw
a word-search grid. Hide spooky words like “witch,” “ghost,” and “candy”
inside. Let guests or kids circle words during your Halloween party.

14. Mercury Glass Glam Pumpkins

Transform cheap glass or plastic pumpkins with a faux mercury-glass
finish. Spray the inside or outside with mirrored spray paint, mist with
water, and blot to create that mottled antique look. Pair them with
candelabras for a moody mantel.

15. State-Pride Silhouette Pumpkins

Paint your pumpkin a solid color, then add a silhouette of your home state
using a stencil. Mark your hometown with a tiny heart or star. It’s a fun
twist for military families, college students, or anyone feeling extra
nostalgic in fall.

16. Galaxy Glitter Pumpkins

Paint pumpkins in deep navy and black, then sponge on purples, blues, and
a little white. Flick on white paint for stars and finish with a fine layer
of glitter. They look like tiny galaxiesperfect for anyone whose Halloween
aesthetic leans “witchy astronomer.”

17. Fabric-Decoupage Pumpkins

Use Mod Podge or fabric glue to cover pumpkins in fabric scraps: plaid for
rustic vibes, floral for cottagecore, or bold prints for maximalists.
Wrinkle the fabric slightly to follow the pumpkin’s ridges for a tailored,
upholstered look.

18. Pumpkin String-Art Plaques

On a wooden board, hammer small nails in the outline of a pumpkin. Wind
orange, green, or black string between the nails until the pumpkin shape
fills in. Display the board on your porch or hang it by the door as a
low-maintenance pumpkin “wreath.”

19. Wood-Slice Porch Pumpkins

Stack circular wood slices in a pumpkin silhouette and secure them together
on a backing board. Stain or paint them and add a wooden stem on top. These
sturdy pumpkins can live on your porch from September through Thanksgiving.

20. Sweater-Sleeve Cozy Pumpkins

Repurpose an old cable-knit sweater by slipping the sleeve over a foam ball
or balled-up fabric, gathering the ends, and tying them off. Add a stick
stem and twine bow. The knit texture instantly makes your fall decor feel
extra cozy.

21. Yarn-Wrapped Cozy Pumpkins

Wrap chunky yarn tightly around small foam pumpkins, gluing occasionally as
you go. Choose neutral yarn for a minimalist look or bright orange for
classic Halloween style. They’re lightweight, unbreakable, and cat-friendly.

22. Button-Studded Polka-Dot Pumpkins

Paint pumpkins a solid color and glue on buttons in contrasting hues to
create polka dots, constellations, or random sprinkle patterns. It’s a great
way to use that mason jar of mystery buttons you inherited from Grandma.

23. Glow-in-the-Dark Constellation Pumpkins

Use glow-in-the-dark paint or stickers to create constellations on a dark
pumpkin. Connect the dots with thin lines of metallic paint. When the
lights go off on Halloween night, your pumpkin display will quietly light
up the porch.

24. Emoji-Face Pumpkins

Paint pumpkins bright yellow and add emoji expressions with paint or vinyl
shapesheart eyes, laughing tears, or the classic “scream” face. These are
hilarious lined up on stairs or grouped by the front door.

25. Mummy-Wrapped Gauze Pumpkins

Wrap pumpkins in strips of gauze or cheesecloth, overlapping them randomly
to mimic mummy bandages. Glue on large googly eyes or paint them on for a
goofy, not-too-scary face. Kids love naming each mummy.

26. Spiderweb Yarn Pumpkins

Stretch white yarn or thin string across a black or dark orange pumpkin in
a web pattern, anchoring it with small dabs of glue. Add a plastic spider
or two climbing across. It’s a simple project that reads instantly
Halloween.

27. Candy Corn Color-Block Pumpkins

Tape off sections of your pumpkin and paint white at the top, orange in the
middle, and yellow at the base. You’ll get a candy corn-inspired pumpkin
that’s cute, colorful, and just ironic enough for adults to enjoy.

28. Ombre Painted Pumpkin Stack

Stack three pumpkins of descending size, securing them with wooden skewers
or dowels. Paint them in an ombre gradientfrom dark at the bottom to light
at the top. Use all oranges, or fade from black to gray to white for a
modern, monochrome look.

29. Pumpkin Topiary in a Planter

Fill a sturdy planter with sand or gravel and “plant” a dowel down the
center. Stack hollow foam pumpkins through the dowel, then add moss or faux
leaves at the base. Wrap the whole topiary in mini lights for a
show-stopping front-door accent.

30. Succulent-Topped Pumpkins

Instead of carving, glue a ring of moss around the stem area, then tuck in
faux succulents or small real ones in soil-filled pods. These pumpkin
planters look fresh and modern on coffee tables and kitchen islands.

31. Sequin-Studded Pumpkins

Cover pumpkins with sequins or glitter for full glam. You can create a
gradient effect, stripe patterns, or random sparkle. Use sequin pins or
strong craft glue, and maybe a drop cloththis is the craft equivalent of
fairy dust.

32. Kids’ Handprint or Footprint Pumpkins

Paint little hands or feet with washable paint and stamp them onto a
pumpkin. Add details once dry: turn white handprints into ghosts or orange
ones into tiny pumpkins. Date them on the back so you can see how much
those little monsters grow each year.

33. Minimalist Line-Art Pumpkins

Paint pumpkins a solid neutral color, then use a fine-tip paint pen to draw
simple line art: ghosts, cats, moons, or abstract faces. The look is clean,
graphic, and very “I casually decorate like a designer.”

34. Party-Message Pumpkins

Hosting a pumpkin painting party or neighborhood gathering? Paint a few
large pumpkins with chalkboard paint and write welcome messages, drink
menus, or party hashtags with chalk markers. Erase and update them through
the season.

35. Reusable Faux Pumpkins with Saved Stems

If you buy faux pumpkins, add real dried stems on top for a realistic
finish. Save stems from real pumpkins each year, let them dry, then glue
them onto painted foam pumpkins. It’s an easy upgrade that makes budget
decor look custom.

Real-Life Pumpkin Crafting Experiences & Tips

After you’ve scrolled through 35 ideas, you might be thinking, “Okay, but
what actually happens when real humans with real schedules attempt this?”
Here’s what tends to work best in real life, based on many slightly chaotic
October evenings.

First, pick a theme for your pumpkin night. It doesn’t have to be strict,
but having a loose directionlike “no-carve only,” “pastel and pretty,” or
“everything must glow”keeps you from buying half the craft aisle. A theme
also makes it easier to mix finished pumpkins together without the display
looking like a craft store exploded on your porch.

Second, overestimate the number of pumpkins you’ll need. Somehow there’s
always one more idea to try, one friend who didn’t RSVP, or one kid who
decides they absolutely must paint three emojis plus a mummy. Mini pumpkins
and faux pumpkins are great backups; they’re inexpensive and can be painted
quickly when inspiration strikes.

Third, set up a “messy zone” and a “detail zone.” The messy zone gets the
spray paint, glitter, and big base coats. The detail zone gets fine brushes,
paint pens, and adhesives. Keeping those areas separate means your carefully
drawn line-art cat is less likely to be showered in rogue glitter from the
next table over.

Don’t underestimate the power of sample boards. Before letting kids loose
on pumpkins, have a scrap of cardboard where they can test colors, practice
drawing faces, or play with paint pens. It saves a lot of “Oops, I didn’t
mean to do that” tears and gives everyone a sense of what the supplies can
do.

If you’re hosting a pumpkin painting party, keep food simple and
finger-friendly: popcorn, pretzels, candy, sliced apples, and maybe a big
pot of chili or soup. Drinks with lids are your best friend around wet
paint and delicate projects. A playlist that leans half spooky, half cozy
(think vintage Halloween songs plus mellow fall indie tunes) keeps the
mood fun without turning your dining room into a haunted nightclub.

One of the sweetest parts of DIY pumpkins is how they become little memory
capsules. The mummy pumpkin with crooked eyes might not win a design award,
but you’ll remember the year your kid invented “Sir Wraps-a-Lot.” The
floral pumpkin you made for a fall dinner party might show up in photos for
years, quietly anchoring the table in the background. These projects are as
much about the stories you create while crafting as they are about the
finished decor.

Finally, give yourself permission to keep things low-pressure. Your pumpkins
don’t have to look like professional magazine shots to be worth displaying.
In fact, lining up a mix of “nailed it” and “well, we tried” pumpkins on
the porch is part of the charm. As long as they make you smile when you
come home on a crisp October evening, they’re doing their job.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a minimalist decorator with a single line-art pumpkin on the
mantel or an all-out Halloween enthusiast building a full pumpkin village
on the porch, DIY Halloween pumpkins are one of the easiest ways to customize
your fall decor. Choose a few ideas that fit your style, invite some friends
or family over, and turn an ordinary October night into a cozy, creative
tradition. After all, pumpkins don’t last foreverbut the memories (and the
photos) absolutely do.