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Home ยป Decorating for the Seasons

DIY Pumpkin Candles

October 11, 2023 by mollieinmontana Leave a Comment

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Don't you just love this time of year? Pumpkin spice everything, pulling out all the cozy clothes, and...candles! So, as the leaves turn to shades of gold and orange and a crisp breeze fills the air, it's the perfect time to find new pumpkin decorating ideas to elevate your autumn decor game! In this post, and step-by-step video, I'll guide you through the super satisfying craft of creating what is my absolute favorite fall decor...your very own DIY mini pumpkin candles!

Pumpkin candles on a fall tablescape.

There are a million different pumpkin decorating ideas out there, but this pumpkin craft is like the grown up version of carving jack-o-lanterns. So whether you're an experienced crafter or a novice looking for a fun and rewarding project, these charming additions to your fall decor are sure to light up your home with a touch of seasonal magic!

What you will Need

  • Tiny Pumpkins~ There are a million different types-Jack-Be-Little, Sweetie Pie, Munchkin, etc.. To narrow it down, look for the tiny ones that are no more than a few inches tall. I love to choose different colors and types. Sometimes I will even throw in a couple of gourds, as I did here. The bottom line is just choose the ones that you like best!
    • Also! Just a point to ponder.... This is a super simple and CHEAP little craft. If you are going to get the drill out, you might want to consider making quite a few of these little pumpkin candles! You will find tons of ways to sprinkle them into your fall decor, and they make lovely little fall gifts. Think hostess gifts, teacher gifts, or just bringing someone you love a little fall cheer!
  • Drill with 1.5 inch Spade (paddle) Drill Bit or Forstner Bit like this one. A drill is one of those things that you should just have. It will allow you to do so many different things such as easy DIY projects and simple fixes around the house. They are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. That being said... you can also use a pumpkin carving knife if you don't have a drill. It will just take a little bit longer and a little more effort, but no biggie!
  • Tealight Candles~ These are nice because they burn for about 4-6 hours and then they burn out. Plus, they are self contained so they are easy to swap out. I think the real deal candles are the prettiest, but there are battery operated varieties that are nice as well. Check out these ones on Amazon. Some of them are hard to tell from a distance that they are not real candles!
  • Pliers- You may need these to grab ahold of and pop off any stubborn stems. I find that I can pop off about half of them by hand. For the others, it is nice to have a set of handy dandy pliers.
  • Work Gloves~ Optional but nice, and definitely just good to have in general.
A wooden table with little pumpkins and gourds, a tealight candle a drill and a pair of work gloves.

As always with lighted pumpkins and candles, be very careful and never leave your candles burning unsupervised!

How to Create Pumpkin Candles

These are so incredibly easy! If you have a drill, they take less than 2 minutes to make! Check out the little video below that I made.

  1. For the drill method- Pop off the stem, either by hand, or with a set of pliers so you just have the spot in the top where the stem was attached.
Pliers removing the stem off a little orange pumpkin.

2. From there, stick the tip of the drill bit into the pumpkin top where the stem was. Use one hand to hold the pumpkin firmly. This is why it is nice to have a good pair of work gloves. You will want to hold on tight to these little guys as you drill, or else you'll have a pumpkin rodeo! Don't feel bad, this usually happens to me at least once when I make these. You will actually see part of it in the video below! But no big deal! Just reposition, hold on tight and start again! Use the other hand to drill into the top of the pumpkin. Apply light pressure with the drill as you start drilling. This way it will smoothly drill into the skin of the pumpkin. If you push too hard and drill too fast, you risk chipping or cracking the pumpkin.

A mini pumpkin being held in place while a drill drills into stem.

3. It should only take a couple of seconds to drill through the top of the pumpkin. Be careful to drill just through the top layer of pumpkin. Leave the guts and what is left of the top inside the pumpkin. This will give the tea light candle a little platform to sit on.

A white gloved hand holding a white pumpkin with a tealight in it.

4. Wipe your pumpkin off, pop a little tea light candle in and that is it! The candle should fit snugly. Press it in until the candle is about even with the top of the pumpkin. See pictures and video for examples. Continue this process with as many of these little guys as you'd like! Enjoy your beautiful new fall decor!

Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Oh, let us count the ways to decorate with these little guys!!

  • Tablescape- One of the more obvious ways to use these is as your tablescape.
    • The easiest way to do this is to place the pumpkins in a line down the center of your table. Then, I love to use this Easy DIY Pinecone Garland to wind between the pumpkins. Then, use pinecones, or leaves or small boughs from whatever you have outside to fill in the spaces between. This makes your table decor unique to your part of the world. If you are in an area that has Eucalyptus trees, use some of these deliciously fragrant leaves! If you are in a mountainous area, use pinecones, or pine or juniper sprigs. If you are somewhere with Maple or Oak trees, use leaves and acorns from these. Or, if you are somewhere that has flowers still blooming, scatter some of these in. Get creative and make it uniquely your own!
  • Mantel Decor- Use a similar technique to decorate your fireplace mantel. Line your pumpkins out on your mantel. Then, use pinecones, or even pretty rocks, that are just a bit smaller than the pumpkins to scatter around. Like the tablescape, use whatever foliage is available and unique to you to fill in the spaces. You can also find faux foliage (fauxliage!!?๐Ÿ˜†) in local craft stores or on Amazon. Fill in the spaces until your mantel is covered in beautiful fall decoration. For the mantel decor, I would recommend using the battery operated tealight candles like these ones. It will just be safer this way and you will get the same golden glow. From a distance you won't be able to tell that they are not the real thing!
  • Kitchen Island Decor- We all know that the kitchen island is where the crowds always congregate! So using these little tealight candle pumpkins is a perfect way to decorate and make it cozy and festive. Use the same technique that you would with a tablescape. If you are using your kitchen island as a buffet, this is great place for these pumpkin candles! Scatter the pumpkins about, placing a couple on raised surfaces, such as upside down bowls. Hide the base with decorative linens, or a little bit of decorative straw. Use battery operated candles or be very sure to keep the candles far from anything that could catch on fire.
  • Coffee Table Decor- Use a couple pumpkins, or even just one to create a smaller version of the tablescape.
  • Guest Room Decor- Place one on the nightstand in your guest bedroom with a battery operated tealight. This will create such a cozy warm, welcoming glow for them when it is time for bed.
  • Bathroom Decor- It is always nice to have a candle lit in the bathroom when you have guests over. It creates a soft, relaxing feel. Using a scented candle, adds a nice fragrance that somehow makes the bathroom feel even cleaner! Check out these Made in the U.S.A. soy-beeswax tealights! They come in a variety of scents from Apple Harvest, to Pumpkin Spice Latte, to Anjou Pear and many more!
Pumpkin decorating idea centerpiece with pumpkin candles, leaves and pinecones.

More Fall Decor DIY Projects

DIY Pinecone Wreath

If you love pinecone crafts, check out this DIY Pinecone Wreath ! It is so easy, absolutely gorgeous and perfect for unique fall decorating.

Pinecone garland on the headboard of a bed.

For another super easy fall home decor idea, check out this Easy DIY Pinecone Garland. It would be so pretty wound between these pumpkin candles!

Both projects just require a few simple items and are easy, fun and oh so satisfying! Happy Fall!

I hope you have so much fun creating these sweet little DIY pumpkin Candles! I would love to hear from you in the comments below. Thank you and thank you for visiting Mollie in Montana~*!โ™ฅ๏ธ

More Decorating for the Seasons

  • Naturally dyed Easter eggs on a cake stand.
    How to Naturally Dye Easter Eggs
  • Tiny Christmas tree in front of a blue wall.
    Winter Decor Ideas with Tiny Trees
  • DIY Pinecone Wreath
    DIY Pinecone Wreath
  • Pinecone sitting in the grass.
    Easy DIY Pinecone Garland

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One of my favorite things in life is creating a cozy and comfortable home for my loved ones and our guests. It brings me joy to cook fresh meals with seasonal ingredients that fill the belly and the soul and to create dazzling cocktails that surprise and delight!

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