These paper pumpkins are a clever way to decorate your home for fall and they’re a great craft to do with the kids as well!
If you’ve seen those cute mason jar lid pumpkins floating around over the last few years, these paper pumpkins are kind of a take on that idea. I’ve always thought those lid pumpkins were really fun, but I use my mason jars so extra lids are hard to come by around here. 🙂 I came up with this idea to use paper instead of the jar lids and honestly, I think I think these even better! You can make these pumpkins in all kinds of fun patterns and colors and they come together relatively quickly and easily. They make a great craft to do with the kids on a fall afternoon as well!
How to Make Paper Pumpkins
Start out with some scrapbooking paper. It might be tempting to use the fancy double-sided paper, but I tested it out and the double-sided just doesn’t have quite enough strength for this unfortunately. So, using the single-sided paper, glue two pieces of paper together, with the pretty sides facing out, before continuing on to the next step. Use something like a glue stick so you’re not adding a lot of extra bumpiness to the paper.
Next, cut your paper into strips about 1/2″ wide. If you have a paper cutter available, that will make it really quick and easy to get straight cuts. If not, scissors will be fine, of course! 🙂
When you have all of your strips of paper, start turning each strip into a little loop. Glue each loop to hold it together. I used hot glue so it would dry quickly, but a glue stick will work as well if you’re making these with kids.
Assembling the Paper Pumpkins
When you’ve got all of your loops made, it’s time to turn them into a pumpkin! Start with a group of three little twigs and glue them together. You’ll definitely need the hot glue for this part.
Next, glue a paper ring to either side of your stem.
Glue 2-3 additional paper rings on to each of the side-rings, fanning them out from the first one as you add them.
Add one more ring right in the middle of your two “fans” to bring them together and to complete this one side of the pumpkin.
Repeat the fanning sequence on the other side and you’re done!
To finish off your pumpkin, you can add a couple of paper leaves and maybe something else for those little curly bits that sometimes grow on the stems/vines of the pumpkins. I just used some pieces of unraveled rope, but I’ve also seen little pieces of wire twisted into curls used on DIY pumpkins. So that would look great as well.
I’d love to see if you try making these pumpkins yourself or with your kids this fall! Tag me on Instagram @Creeklinehouse when you share the photos of your completed masterpieces! 🙂
MORE IDEAS LIKE THIS
- DIY Classic Wheat Sheaf
- DIY Cotton Stems
- How to Dry Corn From the Garden for Fall Decor
- How to Dry Hydrangeas Perfectly Every Time
- The Creek Line House Fall Projects Archives
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Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.