This rustic, wooden pumpkin is an easy woodworking project that you can easily make and sell this fall. These rustic pumpkins are so popular for porch decor, Thanksgiving decorations, and fall festivals.
You can use various types of wood like pine, fir, spruce, or cedar to create your wooden pumpkin. With just a few supplies and the right techniques, you can make these beautiful wooden pumpkins in no time! Not only are they visually attractive but they also provide a unique conversation piece for any home.
Why We Love These Wooden Pumpkin Crafts
This fall pumpkin project is a favorite of ours to make each year. The supplies are cheap and it’s beginner friendly. Once you assemble it, there are numerous ways to decorate it. You can stain, paint it, or leave it natural so customers can decorate it however they would like to.
The 2-dimensional structure gives it a unique touch and allows it to stand freely which is especially nice when sitting it on a porch or steps!
Tools needed are: a miter saw, a jigsaw, and a drill. You can use scrap wood for this project if you have 2×6’s which is what I used in the tutorial. If you use new lumber, 2×6’s are about $6 right now, and you will have a good amount left over, so you’ll only be using about $4-5 worth for this project.
Wooden Pumpkin Tools & Materials
- Miter Saw, or circular saw
- Jigsaw
- Drill
- Orbital Sander
- 2×6 board (actual dimensions are 1.5″ thick, 5.5 inches wide)
- safety glasses
- Gloves (optional)
Wood Pumpkin Building Instructions
Preparation
Cut 3 pieces of your 2×6 as follows:
- 2 – 18” pieces
- 1 – 21” piece
- you also want two 3” pieces for spacers
Place two 18” pieces down first with the 3” spacers in between, then lay the 21” piece on top in the center. This gives you an idea of the structure for your fall rustic pumpkin. This pattern allows it to stand on its own once finished.
Bottom Pieces
Measure both pieces from the bottom edge up 2 ¾” and over 3”. Use a paint can or similar, round object to connect those measurements, and create a circular line.
Measure both pieces from the top edge down 3” and over 3”. Notice the small difference in measurement because you want to take a little more off the top corner.
Use a large paint can to trace for a nice, rounded corner.
Middle Piece
From the bottom end of middle board, measure 18” up and draw a line all the way across. You will not cut on this line. It just creates a guide for the base of your stem.
Measure 1 ¾” in from both sides to create a base for the stem. Hand draw a stem or trace a small paint can to create curves for the stem. Then draw a line to connect them. Also, hand draw some small curved lines from the base of the stem to the edges of the board.
Middle Piece bottom
From each side measure over 2 ¾” to find the center of the board. Hand draw some small outer curve marks from that middle measurement to resemble the bottom of a pumpkin shape.
Pumpkin Cutout
Use a jigsaw with a 10 teeth per inch blade. I use a Milwaukee cordless jigsaw which is definitely an investment, but worth it.
If you don’t like to get splinters, this is where you put on your gloves!
Cut just to the outside of your line, so you don’t lose your line and you can see the shape that you are cutting. Rather than going in at an angle with your blade, try to start along the edge and cut at a slight angle into the wood.
Hang the part of the board you are cutting over the edge, being careful not to cut into your workspace/table! (it happens, lol!) Hold the other end down on the table firmly. Be safe and use your discretion when making cuts. Remember: as your blade moves your hand should be moving away also.
Make relief cuts for your stem. Start on one side making a relief cut from the edge to the base of the stem, then cut out the curve. Repeat on the other side cutting the top of the stem before you cut the second curve.
Watch my fb live here and see exactly how I cut mine!
Assembly
Flip the pumpkin over to assemble from the back. Make sure all the pieces stay where they are supposed to. The flat edges should be evenly lined up at the bottom of the pumpkin, so it will stand straight.
Utilize the edge of your table again to keep the bottom very straight. Use small blocks for support under the outer edges. Ensure the middle piece is centered by measuring how much each side hangs over.
Use 2” trim head screws to attach the back boards to the front. There’s no need to drill holes first with these screws. Make sure you will screw into the middle piece by not coming in at an angle. Start with a screw in the middle of each 18” piece. You can use clamps to hold them in place if needed. Place 2 more screws at the top and bottom of each side.
Sand and Decorate Your Rustic Fall Pumpkin
Use an orbital sander with 120 grit sandpaper to sand all surface areas and edges really well. Don’t forget to sand off the pencil marks.
Now, it’s time for paint or stain!
I always leave this part open to creativity because there are so many options. You can stain the pumpkin first, then give it a distressed look by dry brushing some paint over it. You can use any color combination you like over stained or natural wood.
Suggested paint technique:
For a rustic, shabby chic look I suggest a dry brush technique.
Acrylic paint dry brushed on natural wood
Start by dry brushing a base coat of white acrylic craft paint. Then, layer on a heavy-ish coat of blue and light coat of orange for the look above. For this project I tried blue and ‘pumpkin orange’ chalk paint by Waverly that I got from Walmart.
Latex paint on stained wood
The dry brush over stained wood is still a popular finish as well, so I used my favorite, Minwax “honey” on another wood pumpkin. Then, I used white latex paint for the white layer.
You can seal these if you want, especially if they are going outside. Either way, you never really want to have them in the rain.
Finishing touches on your rustic pumpkin
Add raffia and/or ribbon to your wood pumpkin. I tied several pieces of raffia around the stem and cut the long, uneven pieces to finish!
Wooden Pumpkin Crafts
When it comes to Thanksgiving and Halloween, there’s nothing more iconic than a wooden pumpkin. From rustic decor to cute crafts, there’s something incredibly special about creating something unique with your own hands.
Whether you’re making a large wood pumpkin for your home or just looking for fun fall craft ideas, wooden pumpkins are the perfect way to capture the spirit of autumn and celebrate the season.
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Kimberly Lawson says
I would love to do more projects with wood and learn how to use carpentry tools.