Discover 22 creative Dollar Tree pumpkin crafts with paint, sweaters, velvet, flowers and clever faux pumpkin makeovers.
Hello Sweet Friends! Have you ever walked past one of those bright orange foam pumpkins at the dollar store and thought… I can fix you? If so, you have come to the right pumpkin patch!
This collection originally focused heavily on painted farmhouse pumpkins, but it was time to give it a serious makeover. We kept only the projects that still felt special and filled the empty spaces with fresh ideas featuring soft sweaters, beautiful velvet, colorful ribbon, pressed flowers, chinoiserie patterns, boho raffia, sparkling pearls and so much more.
You will also find faux pumpkins transformed into vases, succulent planters, candle holders, a hanging planter and even an ice bucket! Some projects are charmingly rustic, some are colorful and artistic, some feel cottage cozy and others are delightfully glamorous. There really is a little something for everyone.
Although many of these projects begin with Dollar Tree pumpkins, you can use almost any inexpensive foam or plastic pumpkin you already have. Thrift stores, craft stores and your own Fall storage bins may be hiding the perfect candidate.
So gather those faux pumpkins that can’t wait to be adopted… warm up the glue gun and let’s give them a beautiful new life!
A Few Faux Pumpkin Makeover Tips
Before we begin painting, wrapping and adding flowers to everything in sight, here are a few little tips that can make these projects easier.
- Check what your pumpkin is made from before using spray paint. Certain spray paints can damage exposed foam, so always test the paint on a hidden spot first.
- Remove the plastic stem gently and save it until you decide whether to reuse, paint or replace it. Real dried pumpkin stems, twigs, corks and wooden knobs can all create beautiful replacements.
- Insert a wooden skewer into the bottom of a foam pumpkin while painting it. This gives you a handle and allows you to place the pumpkin in a block of foam while it dries.
- Use a clothespin, silicone finger protector or craft tool when pressing fabric into hot glue. Our fingers deserve to enjoy Fall too!
- Begin with thin coats of paint. It is much easier to add another layer than to smooth out thick paint that has filled all those pretty pumpkin ridges.
- Look through your existing supplies before shopping. Sweater scraps, yarn, ribbon, leftover paint, fabric, napkins and faux flowers may be everything you need.
- Do not worry if your pumpkin is not from Dollar Tree. Nearly all of these ideas can be adapted to any inexpensive faux pumpkin.
Painted, Weathered and Beautifully Finished Pumpkins
Four Creative Ways to Transform Dollar Tree Pumpkins
Wendy gives us four completely different ways to rescue those unmistakably artificial Dollar Tree pumpkins. You can create an antiqued finish with paint and wax, cover one with concrete compound, make a wonderfully rusty pumpkin using cinnamon or add rich texture with baking soda and paint.
This is such a helpful tutorial because you can choose the finish that works with your home instead of making every pumpkin look the same. Add real dried stems, moss or a few leaves at the end and no one will ever guess where they began!
Source: WM Design House
Pumpkin Painting Ideas and Dollar Tree DIY Pumpkin Designs
These heirloom style pumpkins are proof that careful paint colors and a few thoughtful details can make inexpensive foam look surprisingly realistic. The layered painting technique adds depth while the handmade clay stems provide the perfect finishing touch.
There is even a printable guide for shaping the stems, which is especially helpful if sculpting clay feels a little intimidating. These pumpkins have that collected, slightly imperfect beauty that works wonderfully with cottage, farmhouse and traditional Fall decor.
Source: Simply Handmade Studios
Faux Painted Aged Terracotta Pumpkins DIY
Jennifer transforms ordinary faux pumpkins with warm, chalky layers that resemble beautifully aged terracotta. The finish feels earthy and softly weathered rather than freshly painted, which gives the pumpkins so much more character.
These would look gorgeous gathered in a wooden bowl, tucked among old books or mixed with dried grasses and pottery. They bring a modern organic feeling into the collection without losing that cozy Fall warmth.
Source: Jennifer Rizzo
How to Make Copper Pumpkins with Metallic Paint
Copper is one of those finishes that seems made for Fall. It has the warmth of traditional Autumn colors but adds a lovely little glow when the light hits it. I personally think of copper as the GLAM color of Fall!
Laura layers metallic paint to give craft pumpkins a rich copper appearance that feels elegant without becoming overly fancy. Place them on a mantel, mix them with blue and white pottery or tuck them into a centerpiece for an easy touch of seasonal shimmer.
Source: Garden Sanity by Pet ScribblesSweater, Velvet, Ribbon and Wonderful Texture
DIY Dollar Store Pumpkins
Kimbo shares several playful ways to transform dollar store pumpkins using fabric, chunky yarn, paint and handmade stems. The fabric wrapping techniques are especially helpful because they allow you to create soft pumpkins without needing advanced sewing skills.
You can make these colorful, neutral, cozy or completely whimsical depending upon the materials hiding in your craft room. This is one of those projects that may finally justify saving all those fabric scraps!
Source: A Girl and a Glue Gun
Dollar Store DIY Ribbon Pumpkin Craft
This cheerful little pumpkin receives its entire makeover from beautiful ribbon and a simple twig stem. The ribbon follows the pumpkin’s natural sections, creating color and pattern without requiring any painting.
Choose autumn leaves, florals, plaid, velvet or even delicate embroidered ribbon to make the project fit your own decorating style. It comes together quickly and would also make a sweet little hostess gift.
Source: The Crazy Craft Lady
How to Make Pumpkins From Sweater Sleeves
Cindy turns old sweater sleeves into plump little pumpkins filled with wonderfully cozy texture. Because the original ribbing and patterns remain visible, each pumpkin already looks finished and interesting before the embellishments are added.
This is a lovely reason to rescue a damaged thrift store sweater or reuse one that no longer fits. Group several colors and sizes together and you have an entire soft little pumpkin patch without spending very much at all.
Source: DIY Beautify
DIY Recycled Sweater Pumpkins With Wine Cork Stems
Kathy covers existing foam pumpkins with pieces of soft thrifted sweaters and finishes them with wine cork stems. Ribbon and faux foliage add another layer of texture and allow each pumpkin to have its own personality.
I especially love that this project begins with pumpkins and sweaters that might otherwise have been forgotten. Three pumpkins for less than eight dollars sounds much better than paying boutique prices… and we get to choose the colors!
Source: Petticoat Junktion
How to Make Easy Fall Sweater Pumpkins Out of Sweater Sleeves
These sweater pumpkins are soft and cozy, but their wonderfully long stems are what give them that extra touch of whimsy. Different sweater textures and gentle neutral colors make the finished grouping feel collected rather than perfectly matched.
Display them in a basket, gather them along the mantel or let one peek out from a shelf. They are the kind of handmade pumpkins you will want to bring out year after year.
Source: Tatertots and Jello
DIY Velvet Pumpkins
Velvet ribbon transforms inexpensive foam pumpkins into soft little beauties that look far more luxurious than their price tag. The blush and green colors are lovely alternatives to traditional orange while still feeling warm and seasonal.
Use rich rust, mustard, plum or deep blue velvet if you prefer a moodier Fall palette. No matter which colors you choose, these pumpkins will add softness and a touch of elegance wherever they are displayed.
Source: The Crazy Craft Lady
DIY Yarn Wrapped Pumpkins
Chunky yarn follows the ridges of a faux pumpkin and creates an irresistibly cozy texture. This is a wonderful project for leftover yarn because even a small amount can give an inexpensive pumpkin an entirely new look.
Try creamy neutrals for cottage style, muted earth tones for a natural Fall display or bright colors for something more playful. Add a real dried stem at the end and your little yarn pumpkin is ready to snuggle into a basket!
Source: Bellewood Cottage
Boho Pumpkins with Braided Raffia
Kimberly braids strands of raffia and glues them along the natural ridges of faux pumpkins. The result is full of organic texture and has that relaxed boho feeling we do not see in every Fall collection.
You can cover the entire pumpkin or add raffia only to selected sections for a lighter design. Real dried stems finish them beautifully and make the natural materials feel even more special.
Source: A Wonderful ThoughtFlowers, Patterns and a Little Sparkle
Colorful Painted Succulent Pumpkins
These pumpkins are not afraid of color! Pastel paint, playful floral patterns and faux succulent tops turn ordinary dollar store pumpkins into lively little works of art.
They would be especially pretty in a creative studio, on a cheerful Fall mantel or as part of a colorful tablescape. This project reminds us that Autumn decorating does not have to live entirely in the orange, brown and beige section of the paint aisle!
Source: Delicious and DIY
DIY Pressed Flower Pumpkin
Pressed flowers and leaves give a real or faux pumpkin a delicate botanical finish. The natural shapes and tiny details make each pumpkin completely unique, even when you use the same basic technique.
This is such a lovely way to preserve a few flowers from the garden or enjoy pressed botanicals long after Summer begins to fade. It feels romantic, handmade and beautifully suited to cottage decorating.
Source: Domestically Blissful
Beautiful Blue and White Chinoiserie Pumpkin DIY
Yvonne uses faux white pumpkins, beautiful cocktail napkins and matte Mod Podge to create these elegant blue and white treasures. Her technique keeps the principal napkin design intact instead of piecing together lots of tiny scraps, which makes the finished pumpkin look remarkably polished.
Display one in a teacup, place several in a bowl with moss or add them to a Fall tablescape. They have that timeless blue and white porcelain feeling while remaining completely approachable for an afternoon craft.
Source: StoneGable
Flower Painted Pumpkins
Leslie covers faux pumpkins with colorful hand painted flowers for a look that feels joyful, artistic and fresh. Every bloom can be loose and perfectly imperfect, so there is no need to worry about becoming a master painter before you begin.
Choose colors that coordinate with your home or let each pumpkin become its own miniature garden. These are especially lovely for anyone who wants Fall decor that still holds onto a little bit of Summer.
Source: My 100 Year Old Home
DIY Sparkling Beads and Pearls Pumpkin
This pumpkin came to the party wearing its jewelry! Pearls, beads and sparkling embellishments turn a plain pumpkin into something delightfully glamorous.
You could cover the entire surface or create a simpler design along the natural ridges. It is unexpected, feminine and a fun reminder that not every Fall craft needs to be rustic or covered in burlap.
Source: Purple Hues and MePumpkins That Become Something Entirely New
DIY Dollar Tree Pumpkin Vase
A simple Dollar Tree pumpkin becomes a cheerful vase filled with beautiful faux flowers. Paint and Mod Podge create a prettier base while the flowers provide all the color and fullness you could want.
This is a very approachable project for beginners and can be customized for any room. Try sunflowers for classic Fall, soft pink flowers for cottage style or dried grasses for a more natural arrangement.
Source: The Festive Mommy
Easy DIY Pumpkin Succulent Planter
A faux pumpkin, floral foam and artificial succulents come together to create a full little planter that can be reused every Fall. Because the succulents are faux, there is no watering, wilting or wondering whether the poor plants are receiving enough light!
Mix different colors, shapes and textures to make the arrangement feel lush. Moss around the opening provides a pretty finished edge and helps everything look naturally tucked into place.
Source: It’s Always Autumn
DIY Hanging Pumpkin Planter for Fall Decor
A faux pumpkin becomes a hanging planter filled with trailing greenery. It is an unexpected project with a fun modern boho feeling, and it takes our pumpkin collection right off the table and up into the air!
This would look wonderful hanging on a covered porch, near a sunny window or in a cozy corner that needs a little seasonal personality. Use faux plants if you want the entire arrangement to remain easy and reusable.
Source: Club Crafted
How to Make an Ice Bucket with a Faux Pumpkin
Now this is a pumpkin transformation nobody sees coming! Michele cuts a large faux pumpkin and turns it into a festive ice bucket for Autumn celebrations and gatherings.
Fill it with bottled drinks for a party, use it for chilled water at Thanksgiving or let it hold a bottle of something special for an evening with friends. It is useful, reusable and guaranteed to start a conversation.
Source: Vintage Home Designs
DIY Pumpkin Candle Holders
Artificial mini pumpkins become cozy candle holders for flameless tea lights. The little flickering lights create a beautiful Autumn glow without an open flame resting inside the foam pumpkins.
Line them along a mantel, place one at each table setting or group several on a tray with leaves and pinecones. This is a simple project, but the finished display can make an entire room feel warmer.
Source: Domestically BlissfulWhich Pumpkin Will You Pick?
The wonderful thing about faux pumpkins is that they give us permission to experiment. If the original color does not work, we can paint it. If the surface feels too plain, we can cover it with velvet, yarn, flowers, ribbon, raffia or an entire collection of pearls!
Begin with the project that makes you smile and use whatever supplies you already have… which is always nice on the budget! Colors can be changed, stems can be replaced and nearly every idea can be adjusted to suit your own decorating style.
I hope this newly refreshed collection inspires you to rescue a few inexpensive pumpkins and turn them into something beautiful. Whether you choose a cozy sweater pumpkin, an elegant chinoiserie design, a botanical beauty or a pumpkin ice bucket ready for a party… have fun making it your own!
Happy creating, Sweet Friends!
Keep the Inspiration Going
Explore More Crafts, Cozy Roundups and Creative Ideas
There is always something new to discover here at The Cottage Market! Browse easy crafts, clever DIY projects, inspiring makeovers, cozy decorating ideas, helpful tips, delicious vegetarian recipes and all of our newest weekly roundups.
Browse DIY and Craft Ideas Explore All RoundupsVisit Your Favorite Cottage Market Corners
Do Not Miss the Freebies
More Than 4,000 Free Printables Are Waiting for You!
Print a little happiness for your home! Explore free wall art, planners, recipe cards, banners, seasonal favorites, digital papers and so much more. New printables are added regularly, so there is always something lovely waiting to be discovered.
Browse All Free Printables See Today’s Free Printable
New crafts, roundups, makeovers, recipes, helpful ideas and free printables are added every week… so be sure to come back and visit again soon!
Want to stay in the know? I’d really love that!
Come say hello and follow along for more cozy inspiration, creative crafts, free printables, thrift store treasures, easy recipes and a little everyday cottage charm…
Facebook  |  Pinterest  |  Instagram
Sending you lots of love and the biggest (((HUGS)))
Leave a Reply