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Easy Pumpkin Candle Holders In Four Steps

Today I'm sharing step-by-step tutorials for easy pumpkin candleholders in four steps. These will add cozy vibes to your dinner table, coffee table, or fall mantel.
Prep Time5 minutes
Active Time10 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Keyword: baby pumpkins, beautiful centerpiece, black pipe cleaners, box cutter, coffee table, cozy vibes, dinner table, diy concrete pumpkins, diy mini pumpkin candle holders, diy projects, diy pumpkin candle holders, dollar store, fall mantel, fall table, flea market, fresh flowers, fun ideas, fun pumpkin project, grocery store, halloween candle holders, helpful tip;s, home decor, hot glue gun, mini pumpkins, mini taper pumpkin candle holders, natural elements, pencil line, pumpkin candle holders, pumpkin candles, real pumpkins, simple diy, simple project, small gourds, step-by-step intructions, step-by-step tutorials, taper candles, thanksgiving tabnle
Yield: 4 candle holders
Author: Cloches & Lavender
Cost: 20

Equipment

  • 1 bag faux mini pumpkins
  • 1 box cutter
  • 1 tube White paint optional
  • 1 bottle raw umber paint or dark wax optional
  • 1 Small chip brush optional
  • 1 Stencil Brush optional
  • 1 drill spade for real pumpkins optional
  • 1 pencil for a pencil line
  • 1 tealight candle to trace
  • 1 paper towel or a rag optional

Instructions

  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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.

Notes

 

Easy Pumpkin Candle Holders In Four Steps

 

 

Supplies Needed: Easy Pumpkin Candle Holders

  • 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
  • Pencil (pencil line)

 

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.
 
tea-ight-candles-traced-with-a-pencil
easy-pumpkin-candle-holders-in-four-steps-utility-knife-slicing-the-top-off-the-pumpkin
top-cut-off

 

 

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!
 
 
pumpkins-with-tealights-added
 

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.
 
 
dry-brushing-white-craft-paint
after-wiping-the-wax-into-the-small-pumpkin
 
easy-pumpkin-candle-holders-in-four-steps-showing-the-difference-with-brown-wax-and-not-with-wax
 
showing-the-light-wax-on-one-pumpkin-and-the-other-still-plain-paint
 
 

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 it
one-pumpkin-tealight-lit-with-acorns
two-pumpkins-lit-with-dried-orange-slices-and-preserved-real-acorns
details-larger-pumpkin-lit-sitting-on-a-birch-log
 
Happy Crafting!