How to Make an Easy DIY Wooden Pumpkin for Fall

Are you looking for a fun and inexpensive DIY idea? You can make this easy DIY wooden pumpkin for fall using just a few scrap pieces of wood, and a broken tree branch. Step-by-step instructions are below.

I have a confession to make.

I’m not much of a DIYer.

I have great ideas of what I want to make. And I’m a GREAT delegator. But I’m more of a “paint the furniture” kind of gal.

So I was very excited when I found a project I could make that was EASY AND budget-friendly.

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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

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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.

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.

Step 5

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

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.

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.

Step 9

Apply wood glue to the stand and attach it 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.

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.

Step 15

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.

Thank you in advance for not judging me.

Step 16

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

I had so much fun making this DIY wooden pumpkin for fall.

It took just a few hours to make and at very little cost. Make sure to read my blog post about fall vignettes to find some great ways to display your new pumpkin with your other fall decor.

Until next time,

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