Craft foam pumpkins. There are so many ways to use these Halloween and Thanksgiving craft supplies. Originally, I came upon a “How To” about making items look like Mercury Glass. I was super excited to try out this technique. Yeah…it didn’t quite turn out how I had hoped. The paint probably works best on a smooth glass surface. On the foam pumpkins it just looked like a bad spray paint job. Lame. To keep that paint job from going to waste, not to mention the cost of those foam craft pumpkins, I decided to make my flop into a something useful. I made some foam pumpkin luminaries that will be a great addition to either Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations. Perfect!
Of course you can paint any color or drill any pattern you can think of, but I wanted to keep it simple and try out different spacing with these dots so you can decide for yourself what you like best. I would LOVE to see what original designs you came up with! Once started, I already had more design ideas pop into my head that I think I would like better. Oh, well, there are always more foam pumpkins at the store that I can pick up…hopefully on sale. I love a good sale.
Here’s a crock pot dinner idea that will leave you guilt free as you create:
This is one of my regular crock pot meals, so yummy! Best Ever Beef Stew
Supply List 
- Hollow foam craft pumpkins (Michaels, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn’s, etc. Probably any craft store will carry them.)
- Spray paint, color of your choice. I went with Krylon Looking Glass spray paint for a metallic to go with any color scheme and fall holiday. A rose gold would be so pretty too.
- Measuring tape. I used my soft vinyl tape measure to make it easy to mark on a curved surface.
- Chalk
- Power drill
- Spade bits (they look like a little paddle with two sharp sides and a point on the end) I used sizes ⅜”, ½”, ¾” and 1 1/2”
- 220 grit sandpaper, or close to that
- Battery operated tea lights
- Old towel or tarp
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Instructions
Step 1:
Spray paint your foam craft pumpkin(s), if desired, in a well ventilated area. Let dry overnight.
Cost is minimal if you buy the craft pumpkins on sale. The cost really depends on the number of pumpkins and if you paint them. This project will take a few hours to 2 days (gotta let the paint dry).
Step 2:
Once dry, use the 1 1/2 inch spade bit in your power drill to drill a hole in the bottom center of the foam pumpkin. This is where your battery operated tealight will sit. NEVER use a real candle with these foam pumpkins. Seriously, don’t do it.
TIP: This is a messy process so having an old towel underneath your crafting makes for easier clean up.
Step 3:
Find the center of each vertical section of your foam pumpkin and mark it with chalk.
Step 4:
Use the ¾” spade bit to drill the largest circles first. Drill these holes before marking all of the other ones to get an idea of how far you want your remaining circles spaced and which size holes you want them to be. My smallest pumpkin has the ½” as the largest circle. It really is up to you. Personal preference…this is your project, you are the boss of it!
Step 5:
On my largest pumpkin, I spaced the circles about 1 ¾” from center to center, then when I switched to the next smaller sized spade bit (½”), I spaced them 1 ½” from center to center. I did each pumpkin slightly different spacing so you could see which style you liked best before drilling into your own precious pumpkins. Each time I measured, I marked that spot with the chalk. I did not mark all around the pumpkin in one go because the towel would rub off the chalk marks as the pumpkin rotated.
TIP: I noticed that drilling in short bursts, as opposed to continuous pressure, made for a cleaner hole. With that said, the thickness of the pumpkin wall factors in to the cleanliness of the edges. Here’s where the sandpaper is helpful.
Step 6:
After drilling all of the holes, use the 220 grit (or thereabouts) sandpaper to smooth out the rough edges as best you can. You are not sanding the exterior of the pumpkin-that would remove your paint, silly- you are smoothing the rough cut edge of the hole and interior of the pumpkin. I ripped off smaller pieces of sandpaper and rolled it so that I could reach in the smallest holes.
Step 7:
Repeat the process for each pumpkin. Once the foam pumpkin luminaries are all dusted off and particles shaken out, turn on your tealights and place them under the center of your pumpkin.
The luminaries look great during the day but add an extra touch of magic in the evening when the tea lights are on. I love that this craft works perfectly for both Halloween and all the way to Thanksgiving. It’s not always about home renovations or repairs, sometimes (especially during the holidays) we need to get a little creative with our seasonal decorating. Taking a failed attempt at the mercury glass “how to” and turning it into successful pumpkin luminary collection is a great way to make a house a home. 💙
ENJOY THIS POST? CHECK OUT SOME MORE:
Chalkboard Pumpkin Centerpieces
I love the silver color with these!
Well, thank you. I think any metallic color would go well with both Halloween and Thanksgiving. Originally, I saw some black porcelain pumpkin luminaries and was inspired to make a less expensive, kid friendly version. The porcelain luminaries were at least $50! It is a pretty simple project with so many possibilities to individualize the pattern. I’m looking forward to seeing other ideas from people.