Fall Craft Project: DIY Wooden Pumpkin

Are you looking for a fun and inexpensive DIY idea? You can make this fall DIY wooden pumpkin with just a few scrap pieces of wood that may be lying around, and a broken tree branch. Step-by-step instructions below.

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Let’s just get one thing out in the open. I’m not much of a DIYer. I have created a faux mantel, with the huge help of my husband, and we did make our kitchen pan rack. But I am a beginner. I’ve always been more of a “painting furniture” kind of gal.

So when my friend Jodi, at Lyndale Drive, asked me to join her and some other friends for a DIY hop on Instagram, I thought it would be a fun experience, and a chance to step out of my comfort zone.

So here we are…my DIY project is this cute little fall wooden pumpkin. The materials I used were literally lying around our workshop.

What You Need for this DIY Project

Materials

8 pieces of 1″ x 2″ wood, preferably different shades
2 strips of 1-1/2″ x 3/4″ wood
1 piece of 2″ x 4″ that is 6″ long
Wood glue
Nails
Sandpaper – 80 grit
Tree branch from the yard
A 2″ wood screw

Tools

Chop Saw
Jigsaw
Hacksaw or Wire Cutters
Table Saw
Nail Gun
Hammer
Sander
Drill

Steps to Making a DIY Wooden Pumpkin

Step 1

Gather old 1″ x 2″ scraps of wood. I used wood that was stained from dirt and water in the garden. Lay down the wood strips for the approximate size of your pumpkin.

Support Boards

cutting wood for fall DIY wooden pumpkin

Step 2

For support boards, cut two 1-1/2″ x 3/4″ strips of wood to just past the width of the pumpkin.

Step 3

Glue the support boards to the back of the wood pumpkin strips.

Step 4

Using a nail gun, nail the support boards to the pumpkin strips to keep the boards in place while the glue dries.

support board attached to fall DIY wooden pumpkin

The Shape of the Pumpkin

Step 5

Draw the shape of your pumpkin on the front side of the strips.

cutting the wood to make fall DIY wooden pumpkin

Step 6

Using a hand-held jigsaw, cut out the pumpkin pattern you traced.

Step 7

You can either leave the sides rough and rustic, or sand the edges lightly to remove any burrs.

The Pumpkin Stand

Step 8

Make a stand by cutting the end of a 2″ x 4″ board at a 45 degree angle, approximately 1-3/4″ from the end.

applying wood glue to fall DIY wooden pumpkin

Step 9

Apply wood glue to the stand and attach to the back of the pumpkin.

Step 10

Using a nail gun, nail the stand to the pumpkin in order to hold it until the glue is dry.

The Pumpkin Stem

Step 11

Find a tree branch from your yard to use as a stem for the top of the pumpkin. Cut to any size you choose.

Step 12

Drill a 1/8″ hole into the center of the stem.

Step 13

Insert a wood screw into the stem without cracking it.

Step 14

Cut off the head of the screw with either a hack saw or wire cutters.

drilling hole to add a stem to the fall DIY wooden pumpkin

Step 16

Drill a hole into the top of the pumpkin at the angle you want the stem to sit.

As you can see, I picked the one piece of wood that already had a hole on the top, and strategically placed it in the worst place possible on the pumpkin. That’s why my stem is a little off centered. Please don’t judge!

Step 16

Put a little wood glue on the screw going into the pumpkin and insert into the drilled hole.

I had so much fun making this fall DIY wooden pumpkin. You can make one too for very little cost. And once you make your own wooden pumpkin, make sure you read my blog post on fall vignettes to find some great ways to display your new pumpkin with your other fall decor.

Fall Craft Project: DIY Wooden Pumpkin