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DIY Dollar Tree Fabric Pumpkins

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DIY Dollar Tree Pumpkins

(Approximate cost per pumpkin project $1.85)

For the yellow pumpkin (gives a quilted look)

1. Cut strips of fabric that measure from top of pumpkin to bottom. Strips measure approximately 2 inches wide and 8 inches long.

2. Gently twist the stem off pumpkin. It will come out with a small wooden stake. Just pull it out or break it off.

3. Using matte Mod Podge and a foam brush, apply Mod Podge to the back of a fabric strip. Secure the strip to the pumpkin by placing it on top of the pumpkin and wrapping it around to the the bottom.

4. Continue wrapping strips of fabric, one at a time, around the pumpkin, making sure to overlap each strip on the one before it.

5. Once it is covered, secure the bottom and top of pumpkin with extra Mod Podge. If any fabric is sticking out on the sides, secure with Mod Podge until you get the look you are trying to achieve.

6. Next, add lace. I cut strips of Dollar Tree lace and only used Mod Podge to secure it to the top and bottom of the pumpkin.

7. Using hot glue and twine, wrap the stem with twine and attach it to the top of pumpkin with hot glue. Make sure to periodically add glue as you wrap the twine around stem. Finish it off by adding a bow with some hot glue.

For the red check or green pumpkin: (gives a tufted look)

1. Cut a 20×20 fabric square.

2. Place pumpkin in middle and gather fabric up all around it to top of pumpkin.

3. Use a zip tie (you could use floral wire) to hold fabric on top. Don’t secure zip tie too tight so that you can manipulate the fabric and get the look you want by pulling/loosening fabric.

4. Tighten the zip tie (it will look like you have a fluffy fabric stem) and start trimming extra fabric to the length you want the stem to be.

3. Then using hot glue, attach the jute/rope and start wrapping it around the “fabric stem” until it is at the height you want. Secure the jute/rope with hot glue each time you wrap it around.

4. Add a bow to the green one and some leaves and berries to the red* pumpkin.

*The red one has fall colored rope that I just wrapped around over and over to make the segments. Do not cut it into individual steps like the lace on the yellow one.

BIO: Courtney Gunn

I am a stay at home mom who loves all things crafting, DIY, bargain shopping, planning, baking, and organizing. Creating fun projects on the cheap, is some of my favorite type of projects to complete!

Social Media
Instagram: @txcourtneygunn
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6et-bhsylsmmSKWEdqscSQ
Blog: https://www.livinginorganizedchaosblog.com 

Have you read?

DIY Giant Eyeball Lanterns – Creepy Halloween Decoration

When it comes to Halloween, bigger is always better—and these giant eyeball lanterns prove it! With nothing more than plain white paper lanterns, a little paint, and some imagination, you can create huge, spooky eyes that look like they’ve popped right out of a monster movie.

They’re perfect for hanging from ceilings, displaying on porches, or grouping together in a corner for an eerie effect. Best of all, paper lanterns are super inexpensive (you can grab them on eBay, Amazon, or even your local dollar store), which makes this a great budget-friendly craft for big impact Halloween décor.

Supplies You’ll Need

  • Large round white paper lanterns (various sizes look best) 
  • Acrylic paints or craft paints in black, brown, green, red, orange, or blue (for irises) 
  • Wide paintbrush for background color 
  • Small paintbrush for details 
  • Black construction paper or cardstock (optional for spiky “lashes” or accents) 
  • Hot glue gun or strong craft glue 
  • String or fishing line (if you want to hang them) 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Lanterns

  1. Assemble your white paper lanterns according to the package directions. 
  2. Make sure they’re fully open and the wire insert is in place so the surface is taut for painting. 

Step 2: Paint the Iris

  1. Using a wide brush, paint a large circle in the center of the lantern to create the iris. 
  2. Choose spooky colors—green, red, orange, or blue work wonderfully. 
  3. Don’t worry about making it perfectly smooth; streaks and uneven textures add to the eerie, organic look. 

Step 3: Add the Pupil

  1. Once the iris paint is dry, use black paint to fill in the pupil at the very center. 
  2. Make it large enough to stand out against the iris. 

Step 4: Detail the Eye

  • Use a smaller brush to add darker or lighter streaks in the iris for a more realistic effect. 
  • You can even add thin vein lines in red around the iris to give it that bloodshot look. 

Step 5: Optional Spiky Lashes

  1. Cut long triangles from black construction paper or cardstock. 
  2. Glue them around one side of the lantern so they stick out like sharp monster eyelashes. 
  3. This makes the eyeballs look even more monstrous and stylized. 

Step 6: Display Your Giant Eyeballs

  • Hanging: Use string or fishing line to suspend them from ceilings, trees, or porch rafters so they look like floating eyeballs. 
  • Stacked: Place them in corners, along stairs, or even grouped on your lawn for a spooky display. 
  • Tabletop: Use them as oversized Halloween party props. 

Tips & Variations

  • Glowing Eyes: Insert battery-powered LED lights into the lanterns so they glow from the inside. 
  • Rainbow Eyes: Mix up the colors and make a whole rainbow of creepy eyes. 
  • Monster Cluster: Group multiple eyeballs together in different sizes for a scarier effect. 

This DIY Giant Eyeball Lantern craft is quick, cheap, and gives you maximum Halloween spook factor with minimal effort. Whether you make one or a whole creepy collection, your haunted house setup will definitely be eye-catching!