20 Easy and Fun Pumpkin Crafts for Kids
These adorable art projects are the perfect way to celebrate the fall season or Halloween.
Is there any more iconic symbol of the fall season than the pumpkin? The mighty fruit (oh yes, fun fact: a pumpkin is a fruit!) is delicious in the savory and sweet foods of the season — from easy canned pumpkin recipes to the best pumpkin pie recipe in the game. The motif also makes for beautiful decor inside and outside the home, whether clustered as a dazzling mantle scape or piled artfully upon a front porch or doorstep. And of course pumpkin carving or no-carve decorating is an absolute must in the lead-up to Halloween.
When it comes to turning the pumpkin theme into fun, clever and eye-catching crafts, get the kids in on the action! Here, we’re rounding up creative pumpkin crafts for kids from bloggers around the web. There are options for younger kids up to older (and more experienced… as well as more patient!) crafters. Think rustic seasonal decor to dress up your mantle or tabletop, pretty paper crafts, treat holders and more.
Make some of the crafts on our list entirely using affordable, ordinary objects you may already have around the house, or that you can scoop up easily and cheaply at the dollar store. So assemble those DIY supplies and get ready for some family fun, any time from Halloween to Thanksgiving.
And don't forget: Complement your crafting experience with a kid-friendly scary movie and a tray of on-theme sweet treats… and you’ve got all the makings of a perfect cozy day at home
3-D Paper Pumpkins
Kids can whip up a whole batch of these card stock pumpkins quick — make six in just 15 minutes or so. After a grownup creates the paper silhouettes (using the free template — easy peasy), kids assemble them with tape, add stems and voila.
Yarn Pumpkins
This fun craft comes together entirely with dollar store supplies. You’ll just need orange yarn, white glue, balloons and pipe cleaners. Saturate the yarn with white glue, wrapping the half-inflated balloon. The glue will harden as it dries, leaving the silhouette of the balloon after you pop it.
Painted Wood Slice Pumpkins
Wood-slice plaques from the dollar store serve as the pre-fab bases for this painted pumpkin slice project. Let kids paint their signature pumpkin designs. Adults can help hot glue the final touches on at the end.
Toilet Paper Pumpkin Decorations
What’s not to love about these pumpkin decorations? Whip them up in just two minutes flat with no sewing for instant gratification at the low, low cost of…. free. And when the season is over, disassemble everything and put it right back in its place. No fuss, no mess. (Spoiler: You wouldn’t know it, but a roll of toilet paper serves as the base.)
Pumpkin Garland
If kids can fold paper, they can make a bunch of these adorable origami pumpkins. String them to twine with tape to make a garland — or use them for any creative purpose you can dream up.
Tin Can Pumpkins
Upcycled tin cans serve as the main ingredient for this simple craft project. Spray paint them orange, and color the faces with black permanent marker. Use any sizes you have on hand to make a big pumpkin family; fill this functional project with candy, school supplies, or anything else the kids can dream up.
Glittery Mason Jar Jack-o-Lanterns
That perennial favorite project starter — the humble mason jar — gets the Halloween treatment in this project. When they’re all finished, use the glittery orange jars as treat holders; candy corns would be perfect inside.
Get the tutorial at The Best Ideas for Kids»
https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/glittery-pumpkin-mason-jars/
Pumpkin Stress Balls
All you need to crate these adorable stress balls (or cornhole bags) is some rice, orange balloons, and a marker. Simply fill the balloons with rice and draw on an adorable face.
Yarn Pumpkin Pompoms
Make an abundant bunch of these pretty pumpkin pompoms as decor for the mantel, window sill, or anywhere else around the home you want to add seasonal cheer. Choose yarn in any colors you like, for looks traditional to modern.
Get the tutorial at A Kailo Chic Life»
https://akailochiclife.com/2018/09/diy-large-pom-pom-pumpkins.html
No-Sew Sweater Pumpkins
Your family can whip up a patch of these sweet sweater pumpkins using old sweaters from the thrift store and embroidery thread. Each one takes just about 10 minutes to create, and makes for charming, upcycled home decor.
Beaded Pumpkins
Your little crafters will enjoy stringing pony beads onto twisted pipe cleaners to make this beaded pumpkin project. Bonus benefits: It keeps them busy, and helps build their fine motor skills while they’re at it. Just be sure to keep the beads away from babies (or toddlers who like to put everything in their mouths).
Hexagon Pumpkin Jack-o-Lanterns
Pre-made wooden boxes in hexagon shapes form the basis of this cute jack-o-lantern project. Paint them orange, add faces, and top with a cut section of tree branch for the stem.
Geometric Wooden Pumpkins
You’ll need a ruler, craft paint, and wooden pumpkin cutouts for this pretty, modern looking project. (You’ll also need a bit of patience to do it in steps as the paint dries.) This one doubles as a geometry lesson for older kids.
Pumpkin Paper Plate Craft
Paper plates and torn-up construction paper form the basis of this super-easy pumpkin craft, accessible (and fun) for kids as young as toddlers.
Cardboard Roll Treat Holders
Use upcycled cardboard rolls from toilet paper or paper towels to make this project. Use the tissue-covered results for cute holiday decor or as treat holders (or both!).
Wire Basket and Bundt Pan Pumpkins
Assemble a mix of thrift store bundt pans, jello molds, and wire baskets to help kids make this charming fall home decor project. Sticks from the yard serve as the stems.
Paper Mache Pumpkins
This timeless paper mache project never goes out of style and can be adapted to all seasons. To make pumpkins, simply water down some white glue and soak paper strips in it. Then use the strips to cover inflated balloons. Top with green paper leaves and pipe cleaner stems.
Positive-Negative Space Jack-o-Lanterns
This craft results in a cool graphic wallhanging, and it’s right for kids as young as kindergarteners. Use sheets of orange and black construction paper to make this project, which can also serve as lessons in symmetry as well as positive and negative space.
No-Sew Pumpkin Bracelets
Velcro ties make one-size-fits-all wrist straps for these easy, no-sew bracelets. Older kids can embroider on the jack-o-lantern eyes and mouths; younger ones can draw them on using black marker.
Burlap Pumpkins
Cut circles of burlap, stuff with newsprint or other scraps, and cinch with rough twine stitching. These are easy to make in bulk, and cluster around the home for rustic fall decor.
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY, and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
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