Fall is my favorite time of year! I love to decorate with fresh pumpkins, but I live in Florida and those pretty pumpkins rot in no time, so I decided I would make some rustic pallet pumpkins.
I took apart a couple of pallets for the wood to make the pumpkins.
At the end of this post is a special Boo Bag idea!
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Supplies
- Pallet wood for lumbar
- Print out rustic pallet pumpkin patterns
- Wood glue
- Staples
- Paint
- Screws
- Sand paper
Tools
- Hammer and pry bar (for deconstructing the pallets)
- Ban saw
- Chop saw
- Staple gun
- Pencil
- Kreg Jig
- Kreg clamp
- Drill
- Paint brush
Cut boards a little longer than the pumpkin pattern.
Place enough boards together to accommodate the pattern width.
Trace the pumpkin pattern onto the backside of the boards. Note: I place the pattern along the bottom edge since it saves me from cutting it out.
Next I cut support strips from pallet scraps approx. 1″ x 1/4″ x the width of the pumpkin. Cut 3 for large pumpkins and 2 for the small and medium size.
Place the first support strip about 4 ” from the bottom and glue down. The next one glue down about 3″ up from the first strip. Note: you can use paint stir sticks for your support strips.
Once the strips are glued down staple about 9 or 12 staples for each support strip and make sure you only staple inside the pencil drawing of the pumpkin.
Starting at the bottom edge on the backside start cutting out the pumpkin following your pencil drawing.
You may have to turn it over to cut around the stem.
I used the scrap from the pumpkin to make a stand. First, I marked the length see in the photo below.
Cut the bottom of the support a five degree angle.
Using a Kreg clamp and jig drill one pocket hole on each side.
Attach the stand in center below the bottom support strip.
Sand the edges if needed.
These pumpkins turned out perfect. I like to make them with the stems facing different directions so note which way you would like the stem to face before drawing the pumpkin.
Painting Rustic Pallet Pumpkins
These rustic farmhouse pallet pumpkins don’t need to painted, but I like them painted. I have two sets of three all painted in the same colors, but I used a different painting technique to get a different look in each set. You can see my paint color choices in the photo below.
The day the kid’s go back to school after the summer break I like to put out my dry brushed painted rustic farmhouse pallet pumpkins. When they come home they are greeted by the first hint of fall.
In this set, I added some gray and white buffalo check ribbon and raffia for a rustic farmhouse vibe. I also added a buffalo check throw and one of my easy sew pumpkins in a small apple basket.
Another Idea You Might Enjoy:
Fun New Halloween Traditions
When my children were younger we put out 10 Boo bags every October 1. We pre-selected the homes were wanted to leave the treat bags and filled them with goodies. Then in the evening, we did a little ding dong ditch with the bags. We had so much fun we laughed until we cried. Since I know this could bring some joy to us and our neighbors we are making up our Boo bags again this year.
I wanted to share how you can make some too. I hope it brings you joy. My daughter, Olivia, has put together some fantastic inexpensive Boo bag ideas. She has printouts, some Halloween candy bar wrappers (the kids can color these), and much more.
While you have out your paints you could paint some pumpkins on rocks. The kids can join in on this fun project by my friend Jane over at Sustain My Craft Habit.
More fall inspiration:
Join the Teal Pumpkin Project Movement read more …
Make some easy sew pumpkins from Goodwill shirts learn more…
For even more pumpkin inspiration
Checkout these amazing 50+ Pumpkin Decorating Ideas I guarantee you will be inspired!!!
Thank you so much for stopping by I hope you found some inspiration for your fall creative adventures. I would like to invite you to join our Fall Inspiration Newsletter and get all our fun inspiration delivered to your inbox.
Happy Fall!!!
Hugs,
Kippi
Lynne
Friday 8th of July 2022
What a great project! These turned out great and you will be able to use them for many years to come!
Leanna
Tuesday 5th of July 2022
These are beyond adorable, I love the colours Kippi.
Marie
Tuesday 5th of July 2022
So cute for fall!!! I can see so many ways to use these.
Jayne via Chalking Up Success
Monday 4th of July 2022
Cool pallet pumpkin project, Kippi!
Sara
Monday 4th of July 2022
Great idea, even around here they don't tend to last too long lol.