Do you want to add a special touch to your home decor this fall? Creating wooden pumpkins is the perfect way to add some rustic charm and bring life into your home. Even if you don’t consider yourself very crafty, these diy wooden pumpkins are surprisingly easy to make with just a few tools!
In this blog post, we will provide detailed instructions on how to make wooden pumpkins of various sizes that will look great indoors or outdoors. Follow along as we give step-by-step directions for cutting wood, assembling the pieces together, and staining your pumpkin creations. Get ready to transform those bare walls and empty corners of your home into something magical!
Which Wood Is Better for Making Pumpkin?
When it comes to making wooden pumpkins, the type of wood you use is important. You want to look for a harder wood that can stand up to the sanding and painting you’ll do. Soft woods like pine won’t hold their shape as easily, so it’s best to go with something like oak or hard maple. Even better would be an exotic hardwood like mahogany or teak, which have beautiful graining and will add a unique touch to your pumpkin creations.
Whichever wood you choose, make sure it has been dried and treated properly before use, otherwise, it could warp after carving. It’s also important to consider how thick you need the pieces of wood – if you’re planning on doing detailed carving work, then you’ll need a thicker piece. If you’re just making a basic pumpkin shape, then thinner pieces will work just fine.
Once you have the right wood chosen and cut to size, it’s time to start sanding. Start with coarse-grit sandpaper and work your way up to finer grits until the surface is smooth. This step is important because it helps get rid of any rough edges that could snag when painting or carving later on. After the wood is sanded, use a damp cloth to wipe away any excess sawdust before continuing on with the next steps!
What Tools & Supplies You’ll Need?
In order to make wooden pumpkins, you will need the following tools and supplies:
- A jig saw or coping saw
- Wood glue
- Sandpaper
- Oak or pine boards (1/4″ thick)
- Acrylic paint in orange and green
- Fine artist’s brush
- Stencil
- Clear sealer or lacquer
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Clamps (optional)
- X-Acto knife (optional)
9 Methods How to Make Wooden Pumpkins
1. Choose the Right Wood
When it comes to making wooden pumpkins, the type of wood you use is important. You’ll want to choose a hardwood such as a maple, oak, or cherry. Softwoods like pine are not ideal as they are more likely to crack and break.
If you have access to a woodworking shop, you can purchase pre-cut pumpkin shapes made from hardwood. Though pre-cut shapes are convenient, you can also make your own pumpkins from solid wood pieces by cutting them into the desired shape. While making your own pumpkins will give you more flexibility, it can also be time-consuming.
2. Cut the Pieces to Size
Once you have your wood, you’ll need to cut it into pieces that will form the pumpkin. You’ll need four pieces for the body of the pumpkin and two for the lid. The pieces should be about 6 inches long and 4 inches wide.
You can use a hand saw, or miter saw to cut the wood. Though, if you don’t have either of these tools available, you can use a jigsaw. Once the pieces are cut to size, sand down any rough edges with sandpaper. However, if you’re using a miter saw, there won’t be any rough edges.
3. Drill Holes for the Lid
Next, you’ll need to drill two holes into one of the pieces that will form the lid. These holes will be used to attach the handle later on. Drill one hole on each side of the top piece, making sure that they are positioned symmetrically. The holes should be about an inch from the top of the lid.
Place a piece of scrap wood underneath the lid when drilling to prevent any splintering or cracking. If you want to make the lid removable, drill a larger hole at one end of the top piece and use a bolt or knob instead. However, this is optional and can be skipped if desired.
4. Assemble the Pumpkin Body
Now it’s time to start assembling the pumpkin body. To do this, take two of the pieces that will form the body and glue them together at one end. Then, take the other two pieces and glue them to the first two, making sure that all four pieces are flush at the corners.
If any of the pieces have a rounded edge, make sure to sand it down before gluing. Once all four pieces are glued together, you should have a sturdy, box-like shape. If any of the joints are loose, you can use small nails or screws to secure them in place. To finish off the body of your pumpkin, you can use a thin layer of wood glue to seal up any gaps.
5. Attach the Lid
Once the body is assembled, you can now attach the lid. To do this, simply glue the two pieces that form the lid onto the top of the pumpkin’s body. Make sure that the holes you drilled earlier are aligned with each other so that you can insert the handle later on. While the glue is drying, you can start making your handle.
Though it is not necessary, you can apply a wood stain of your choice to the body and lid for a more realistic look. To complete the pumpkin, glue the handle onto either side of the lid. Once the handle is dry, your wooden pumpkin is complete. You can now proudly display it in your own home or give it as a gift to someone special.
6. Carve out a Face
No pumpkin is complete without a face! To carve out a face, simply use a small knife or carving tool to etch out a design into one side of the pumpkin lid. It doesn’t need to be perfect—a few uneven edges can give it a unique and rustic charm.
Then, use the knife to hollow out a hole in the lid for the stem to fit through. While the lid is off, you can also carve out the eyes and nose if you desire. Finally, slide the lid back onto the pumpkin and secure it with nails or staples. And you’re done! Your wooden pumpkin is ready for display.
7. Paint or Stain Your Pumpkin
Now it’s time to give your pumpkin some color! You can either paint it or stain it using a wood finish of your choice. If you want to paint your pumpkin, we recommend using acrylic paints as they will adhere well to wood and won’t chip or fade over time.
For staining, you can use any wood finish of your choice to give the pumpkin a natural look. Once finished with the paint or stain, seal the pumpkin with a clear finish to protect it from the elements. However, if you want to take it a step further, consider adding some decorative details like a stem or leaf to make your pumpkin stand out. So get creative and have fun with it!
8. Add a Handle
Remember those holes you drilled earlier? Now it’s time to put them to use! Simply insert a dowel or other small piece of wood into each hole and glue it in place. This will serve as your pumpkin’s handle. Try to make sure they are even on each side.
Too much of an angle will make it harder to hang or carry. Additionally, if you want the handle to be more secure, you can use a screw or nail in each hole. To make sure your handle won’t come off easily, apply a generous amount of wood glue to the dowel before inserting it in the holes.
9. Display Your Pumpkin with Pride!
Your wooden pumpkin is now complete! All that’s left to do is find a spot to display it with pride! We think it would look great on a front porch or mantelpiece, or tucked away among a garden of colorful fall foliage. However you choose to show off your masterpiece, we hope you enjoy it for years to come! Additionally, if you’d like to make more wooden pumpkins for the season, follow these same steps, and soon you’ll have an entire pumpkin patch of your own! Happy crafting!
Conclusion
All in all, making wooden pumpkins is an easy, creative and enjoyable activity that can become a family tradition to be enjoyed for many more years. These pumpkins have a unique charm that comes from the combination of modern tech like laser cutting with timeless DIY techniques like hand-painting and carving.
Not to mention, the sense of pride you’ll feel when you can show off your finished creations at every Halloween party. If you’d like to join in on the fun and get crafting, take some time to read through this blog post again and follow our step-by-step instructions on how to make wooden pumpkins. You’ll soon see why it’s such a cool and rewarding project!
