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Finished DIY concrete pumpkins sitting next to their plastic shells on the grass.
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Concrete Pumpkin DIY for Fall!

Making a Concrete Pumpkin DIY for Fall is a SOLIDLY fun project! Older kids will love helping. It's a concrete Halloween jack o lantern too!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Craft, Decorative Craft, Halloween Craft
Cuisine: Craft
Keyword: cement pumpkin, cement pumpkin craft, cement pumpkin diy, concrete halloween pumpkins, concrete jack o lantern, concrete pumpkin, concrete pumpkin diy, concrete pumpkin mold, concrete pumpkins diy, diy cement pumpkin, diy concrete pumpkins
Servings: 1 Concrete pumpkin
Author: Shelly
Cost: $10

Equipment

  • A bucket or plastic tub for mixing the concrete
  • A garden trowel or small garden shovel for mixing and scooping
  • Utility Knife
  • Heavy-duty scissors, optional
  • Work gloves
  • Safety glasses

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Gather and set out your supplies before you begin. I recommend working outside or in a well-ventilated area and putting down plastic sheeting or cardboard to protect your work surface.
  • Pour about one-third of the bag of concrete mix into your mixing tub or bucket.
    Slowly add water, a small amount at a time, mixing as you go. You want the concrete to be a thick mixture, not runny.
    A thicker mixture will make this cement pumpkin easier to work with and will help keep the pumpkin from taking a longer time to harden.
    Safety note: Wear gloves and safety glasses when working with concrete mix and follow the safety directions on the package. (Sorry, we were not a good example of this in the video!)
  • Remove the handle from the trick-or-treat bucket using heavy-duty scissors.
    Use your garden trowel to scoop the concrete into the jack-o'-lantern trick-or-treat bucket. Fill the trick or treat bucket all the way to the top.
    Every so often, gently tap the sides of the bucket or lightly bounce the bucket against your work surface to help the concrete settle into the pumpkin shape and release some air bubbles.
    If you don't have quite enough concrete to fill the bucket, mix a little more.
  • Place the item you have chosen for the stem into the top of the wet concrete.
    The stem will want to sink down into the wet concrete, so this is where the two little sticks or boards come in handy. Place them across the top of the bucket so they can hold the stem at the height you want while the concrete hardens.
  • Set the pumpkin somewhere safe where it won't be bumped or disturbed.
    Allow it to harden for at least 48 hours before attempting to remove the plastic mold. Cooler or damp conditions may require additional time.
    Clean your bucket or tub and tools.
  • This is the step where an adult should take over.
    Use a utility knife to carefully cut slits down the sides of the plastic jack-o'-lantern bucket. I found that it works best to cut down one of the natural grooves or dips in the side of the pumpkin.
    Start with a small slit and continue making small cuts in the same groove. Don't try to force the knife through the plastic with one large cut.
    You can also start the cut at the top edge of the bucket and use heavy-duty scissors to help with that first section.
    I found that about four cuts around the pumpkin were enough to allow the plastic pieces to be pulled away. Do more if needed.
    Always cut away from yourself and keep your other hand out of the path of the knife. If you're crafting with children, I recommend that an adult do this entire step.
  • Once you have made enough cuts, gently pull the sections of plastic down and away from the hardened concrete.
  • Once the plastic mold has been removed, allow your pumpkin to sit for several more days so the concrete can continue to cure and harden. The exact curing time will depend on the concrete mix you used, so check the directions on the bag.

Video

Notes

There are helpful tips, variations, FAQ and the link to a full length video on the post found at: https://welcometonanas.com/concrete-pumpkin-diy/
 
There is a two day wait time in this craft for the concrete to harden.