Make your own fall decor with this DIY Pumpkin Template: Free Printable Pumpkin Pattern. The full-size pattern is a gift from me to you because, as we all know, front porches in autumn just wouldn’t feel complete without a cute, wooden pumpkin.
I just know you’ll love this free pattern to make your own rustic wooden pumpkins. You’ll be the talk of the block with this easy to make front porch decor project.
This is a great fall DIY project if you’ve been looking for wooden pumpkin ideas or a fun project you can customized with different patterns and pumpkin designs.
Wood pumpkins are so much fun and are a great beginner woodworking pumpkin craft.
If you need some fall decor inspiration, look no further than this free Pumpkin Template and get started on your own wood pumpkin crafts! This large pumpkin decor will really make your porch shine. You can also use the template to create other festive decorations such as paper pumpkins
Want to make and sell a Pumpkin Wood Craft?
If you’re looking for wooden pumpkin crafts to sell at a Fall festival, this large pumpkin decor is a great option. I sold all 5 of these at a fall show for $45 each. I had 4 black pumpkins and 1 orange and I wish I had made more, and more in orange, because a few people said they just really like traditional orange. This is an easy project and the pumpkin is just the right size to ask a premium price for.
Template: Free Printable Pumpkin Pattern
This wood pumpkin pattern, similar to the rustic fall pumpkin and scrap wood pumpkin, resembles the DIY project pallet pumpkins you often see, but adds a unique touch with the angled pattern. The rustic look of wooden boards will mix in great with real pumpkins.
Porch Pumpkin Tools and Materials
I used furring strips in this free video tutorial, but you can also use 1×4’s, pallet boards or reclaimed wood. Furring strips are lightweight which makes it easier to create stability for such a large project.
Furring strips are also pretty cheap, so the project only costs around $20 to make.
Tools
- Jigsaw (or Bandsaw)
- Stapler
- Drill
- Orbital Sander
- Tape Measure
Materials
- 3 pieces of 1x4x8 wood
- Scrap piece of wood (to secure stem)
Supplies:
- Large pumpkin tracer pdf file
- Paint
- Exterior Wood Glue
- 1 ¼” Trim Head Screws, or regular wood screws
- Gloves
- Safety Glasses
Wood Porch Pumpkin: Template Instructions
Preparation
Cut 1x4s as follows:
- 3 @ 30” long
- 1 @ 28” long
- 2 @ 26” long
- 3 @ 24” (2 for the back)
- 1 @ 18” long
Pre-paint and sand for porch pumpkin
I pre-painted the wood with a black, latex exterior paint, so I could sand before assembling. This allows you to sand the EDGES and give it a nice, weathered look rather than just sanding the top surfaces.
You can paint it any color that you’d like, but I used black for this tutorial because I like black for Halloween. I would love to see different colors of pink or white paint too, but don’t forget about the traditional orange color.
Side note: the 2 back pieces do not need to be painted.
After you’ve painted the boards, you’re ready to sand, then assemble. Sand each board with an orbital sander focusing on the edges just as much as the surface. If you want it to look really weathered, sand the edges and the face until some wood grain shows through. You can also use sand paper and sand by hand if you don’t have an orbital.
Create a pumpkin cutout with the pumpkin template free printable cutout
Print the free printable cutout and assemble them to create your pumpkin tracer. The free pumpkin cutout will be on 9 separate sheets of paper, but you will simply lay them out, tape them together, then cut around the pumpkin to create your tracer. The pumpkin will end up being 32” tall and 24” inches for the width of the pumpkin, so you’ll have a large pumpkin!
Wood Pumpkin Assembly
Use a square tool at the edge of your table, and lay the boards face down at a 45 degree angle in this order (top to bottom):
- 2 – 26”
- 3 – 30”
- 1 – 28”
- 1- 24”
- 1 – 18”
Lay the pumpkin tracer on top of the boards making sure all boards are inside the pattern, then trace the shape of your pumpkin.
For this tutorial I used a jigsaw, but you can use a bandsaw if you prefer. If you do use a bandsaw, you need to cut each piece separately before assembling. If using a jigsaw like the tutorial, you will assemble it first.
Place the 2 back pieces about 5” in from each edge making sure to center it as much as possible. You want it to be touching each board, so that everything is somewhat stable.
Glue the 2 back pieces on with outdoor wood glue, then staple in a few spots to secure until you can screw together. Next, use 1 ¼” trim head screws to officially assemble the pumpkin. Use 1-2 screws per board. Be careful not to staple or screw near the edge of the boards, or screw into the boards past the surface, or they will come through the front of your pumpkin.
Cut around the porch pumpkin tracer
Keep the pumpkin FACE DOWN and use a jigsaw to cut your outline. (I used a 10 TPI blade). The guides of the jigsaw won’t be able to go around the back boards, so you will have to hold it up slightly to cut around those areas, or trace the pumpkin cutout on the front side as well, and cut those areas from the top.
Add a small scrap piece of wood to the back of the stem to give the top 3 boards a little extra stability. Use wood glue and screws to attach this as well.
Finishing Touches
Saw or sand off any areas that you aren’t happy with, then sand around the edges to smooth any sharp corners or tear out the saw created. Stand the rustic pallet pumpkin up to make sure it has a nice flat foundation. Hold the top of the pumpkin and if it wobbles, sand the curves on the bottom that need a flatter surface.
Clean off the saw dust, add a ribbon or bow, and you’re done! I made a bow with copper leaf accents to go nicely against the black pumpkin. I tied a loop around the bow with deco mesh, so it would easily slide over the stem. A great way to add a nice touch is wrap the pumpkin stems with fall leaf garland.
Wooden Pumpkin Variations
You can also add variations to this pumpkin like painting the entire pumpkin white or black for Halloween, or even paint each board different colors. You could also use this pattern to make a fall decor wood cutout for your outdoor wall!
Try a some of these ideas to make must-have pumpkins that will sell out every time!
- Add your last initial for a personalized touch
- Stencil your favorite quote for a unique look
- Add a Halloween or fall ribbon for an extra pop of color
- Top with your favorite Halloween figurine
- Use different colors of paints for a unique, custom look
- Sand the paint edges to create a farmhouse, rustic feel
- Add wording to the front of the pumpkin such as: happy fall, haunted house, trick or treat, etc.
- Create a wooden pumpkin tag for a rustic farmhouse vibe
There are so many possibilities and you can make your porch pumpkin one-of-a-kind! So, why not create this large pumpkin decor today and have it ready for fall? With some wood, paint, glue and a few screws, you’ll be able to make this porch pumpkin in no time.
With a few tools, supplies and some imagination, you can easily create these beautiful wood pumpkin cutouts that are perfect for porch decor! Have fun and be creative when it comes to making up your own unique designs. Happy crafting!
Conclusion
If you loved this easy DIY Pumpkin Template: Free Printable Pumpkin Pattern, then join the WCB membership for more easy woodworking projects that you can sell. Receive monthly tutorials, supply lists, support and tracers like this one plus much more in the Woodcraft Blueprints Membership.
More free tutorials you may like:
Farmer’s Market Inspired: Wood Tote Centerpiece
I hope these projects spark your creativity! Please let me know if you use this porch pumpkin template and free printable, and share your finished product on the FB page. We love seeing everyone’s halloween decorations and other project ideas.
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