Easy Pumpkin Candle Holders In Four Steps

Are you looking for a simple DIY project to elevate a fall table or Thanksgiving table to add cozy vibes for the season? Look no further! I enjoy adding natural elements to our home, especially for fall. Nature offers many gifts during this time of year for DIY projects and home decor. Today I’m sharing step-by-step tutorials for easy pumpkin candle holders in four steps. These will add cozy vibes to your dinner table, coffee table, or fall mantel.

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Helpful Tips: Easy Pumpkin Candle Holders In Four Steps!

Whether you choose real pumpkins, small gourds, or baby pumpkins from the grocery store, the Dollar Store, thrift store, or flea market these step-by-step tutorials will guide you through fun ideas to create pumpkin candleholders.  These make a beautiful centerpiece for a holiday table or a relaxing evening with friends. The best part? These can be custom-designed to hold taper candles or tea light candles. If this is your first time making homemade candle holders no worries I will be sharing helpful tips to make and fun ideas to add them to your home.

Is it Safe to Put a Real Candle in a Pumpkin?

It’s safest to use a glow stick, fairy lights, or battery-operated candles in a real pumpkin.

Best Candle Real Pumpkins

When using pumpkins as candle holders, it’s essential to prioritize safety to prevent any potential fire hazards. Here are some types of candles that are safe to use with pumpkins:

1. Real Pumpkins: Battery-operated taper candles, tea lights, and votives are the safest options for real mini pumpkins. Battery-operated LED candles mimic the flickering glow of real candles without the risk of fire or melting the top of the pumpkin.
2. Tea lights: If you prefer real candles for DIY pumpkin candle holders, opt for tea lights or votive candles. These are smaller in size and enclosed in metal or plastic containers, reducing the risk of direct contact with the pumpkin’s interior.  
3. LED fairy lights: Tiny LED fairy lights or string lights can be safely placed inside a pumpkin to create a magical effect without any flame.

Other DIY Projects Pumpkin Candles

• Halloween Candle Holders: Make Halloween candle holders from empty coffee cans. Add a jack o lantern face with black paint or a black Sharpie. Incorporate black pipe cleaners for spider legs. This is a simple project for the kids! Here are fun ideas for Halloween candle holers there are  26 of them including one with wine glasses! 
• Spider Pumpkin Candle Holders: Julee Ireland shares a simple DIY and little alteration made to mini pumpkins or baby pumpkins from the Dollar Store to make a fun pumpkin project for Halloween. Paint mini pumpkins with orange or black paint. Use a box cutter to make an opening for the base of the candle. Add black battery-operated taper candles or tea light candles. Using a hot glue gun, add a little bit of hot glue, and attach black pipe cleaners for the spider’s legs. Make these DIY mini pumpkin candle holders for a Halloween party to add to console tables. 

More DIY Ideas

• Pumpkin Vase: A large pumpkin or medium pumpkin will work best for this simple project. Make faux DIY mini pumpkin candle holders using a spade drill bit and box cutter for the base of the candle. Make a pencil line around an empty coffee can or mason jar on the top. Carefully cut the top of the pumpkin with a box cutter. Add the coffee can or mason jar to the center of the pumpkin with water and fresh flowers or a small mum from the grocery store. Place this on a dinner table, coffee table, or dining room table for the rest of the fall season. Add battery-operated taper candles for soft light and coziness.
• DIY Concrete Pumpkins: I found these beautiful DIY concrete pumpkins from Lily Ardor. These are beautiful with the moss on them for a touch of nature. Wait, until you see what she used to make these! These are great!

When Using Real Candles, It’s Crucial To Take Precautions:

• Always supervise the candles: Never leave lit candles unattended, especially inside a pumpkin.
• Use stable surfaces: Ensure the pumpkin is placed on flat surfaces to prevent tipping.
• Keep away from flammable materials: Avoid placing the pumpkin near flammable objects, such as curtains or other decorations.
• Use a candle holder: Consider using a candle holder or votive cup inside the pumpkin to keep the flame contained.
• Avoid windy areas: If using a real candle outdoors, place the pumpkin in a sheltered area to protect the flames from wind gusts.
• Extinguish properly: When you’re finished using the candles, make sure to extinguish them properly. For real candles, use a candle snuffer or carefully blow them out.

By following these safety guidelines and choosing appropriate candles, you can enjoy the warm glow and cozy ambiance of pumpkin candle holders without compromising safety. Remember, battery-operated LED candles and flameless options are the safest choices for worry-free autumn home decor.

Natural Elements for Cozy Vibes

Natural elements for home decor or fall table to add cozy vibes:

• Pine cones – Here
• Nuts
• Acorns
• Apples – Here
• Bittersweet
• Baskets
• Birch Logs – Here
• Bittersweet
• White baby pumpkins 
• Orange baby pumpkins
• Pheasant feathers
• Corn husks
• Indian corn (Flint corn)
• Small gourds
• Fall foliage
• Fresh flowers

Incorporate these natural elements with your pumpkin candles and beautiful fall decorations on a fall dining room table, coffee table, or Thanksgiving table.

Buying Pumpkins for DIY Pumpkin Candle Holders Four Steps

Where to purchase pumpkins for easy pumpkin candle holders

• Grocery store
• Dollar Store
• Craft stores
• Dollar Tree
• Thrift store or flea market

Supplies Needed: Easy Pumpkin Candle Holders in Four Steps

• Pencil (pencil line)
• Small pumpkins (fake or real) – grocery store, Dollar Store, thrift store or flea market
• White craft paint (optional)
• Light brown wax or raw umber craft paint (optional makes these candle holders look  like the real thing)
• Small chip brush (optional – makes pumpkin candleholders look like the real thing)
• Small stencil brush
• Paper towel or rag
• Box cutter (be extremely careful)
• Tea light candles or flameless battery-operated taper candles
• Hot glue gun (optional)
• Spade drill bit

DIY Mini Pumpkin Candle Holders

Step 1: Remove the Stem

These pumpkin candles are a simple project with little alteration. This takes a little bit of time and next to no money!

Cover your work surface with craft paper or newspaper for easy cleanup.

Gently pull or twist off the stem from the mini pumpkins. 

If using real pumpkins, carefully cut off the base of the stem. Remember to save the stems for future fall home decor DIY ideas.

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Step 2: Create a Base for the Candle

Place a tea light candle on top of the pumpkin and trace around it to make a pencil line. Carefully use a box cutter to cut a hole along the traced line on the top of the pumpkin. 

For real pumpkins, carefully cut around the base of the stem and remove the top. Scoop out the pumpkin seeds, and consider saving them for roasting, they make a delicious and healthy snack!

Step 3 (Optional): Add Realistic Texture With Paint

To achieve the look of a real pumpkin, dry brush the pumpkins with white craft paint. Dip the tip of a small chip brush in the paint and wipe off the excess on a paper towel. Lightly dry brush the paint on the pumpkins and let them dry for about 10 minutes. If this is your first time using a dry brush painting technique, no worries, I share detailed step-by-step instructions for a basket and a planter.

For more natural texture, use a small stencil brush to add light brown wax or raw umber craft paint to the creases to create shadows. Blend the paint with a (barely) damp paper towel and wax to create shadows to resemble the real thing.

Step 4: Assemble The DIY Pumpkin Candle Holders

Once the paint is dry, add a tealight to the base of the candle holder.  

Pro Tip: For a tall candle, use melted wax or hot glue on the base of the tall candle to secure its DIY mini pumpkin taper candle holders. Be sure to position the candle so it stands straight on top of the pumpkin.

Display Ideas Pumpkin Candle Holder

• Use mini pumpkins or small gourds, to make variations for this simple DIY project. 
• These mini pumpkin taper candle holders will make a beautiful centerpiece on a dinner table or Thanksgiving table. 
• Incorporate this fun pumpkin project on a fall mantel with natural elements like pinecones, acorns, nuts, corn husks, or fresh flowers for a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
• These DIY pumpkin candle holders are perfect for your fall table and fall gatherings.  Add these to fall decorations for the rest of the fall season. 

Grab your hot glue gun, small gourds, or pumpkins, and get ready to make easy pumpkin candle holders in four steps today to create a beautiful centerpiece for a coffee table, and fall mantel home decor! These pumpkin candles are perfect with natural fall decorations to create the perfect fall table. Incorporate a little bit of nature using pine cones, corn husks, bittersweet, nuts, acorns, apples, and birch logs for a festive Thanksgiving table. I hope this inspires you to make this simple project for your home to add cozy vibes by following my step-by-step instructions.  Share your simple DIY projects with us @clochesandlavender or email me a picture so we can see your pumpkin candleholders! Happy Crafting!

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