Fall is finally here! Along with crisp air and pumpkin spice lattes, this season brings an inevitable pile of delivery boxes to our doorsteps. Why let all that cardboard go to waste? Instead of tossing those boxes into the recycling bin, you can easily turn them into gorgeous autumn decorations.
We gathered the ultimate list of 14 Creative Cardboard Pumpkin Crafts You Need to Try This Fall. These projects will save you money, entertain your kids, and bring a cozy, handmade charm to your home. Do you have your hot glue gun ready? Let’s transform that cardboard clutter into seasonal masterpieces!
1. 3D Accordion Cardboard Pumpkins
Create stunning dimensional decor using thin cardboard strips. By looping and securing the strips at a central point, you build a hollow 3D sphere that mimics a real pumpkin. This project looks incredibly high-end but costs virtually nothing to make.
What You Need:
- Thin cardboard (like cereal boxes)
- Brad fasteners or a hot glue gun
- Orange acrylic paint or spray paint
- A small stick from your backyard for the stem
Cut your cardboard into eight equal strips, punch holes at both ends of each strip, and stack them. Secure the stack with a brad fastener, then fan the strips out into a sphere shape. IMO, this is the easiest way to get a modern farmhouse look on a dime! 🤩
2. Rustic Corrugated Cardboard Pumpkins
Have you ever noticed the gorgeous, wavy texture hidden inside your shipping boxes? You can expose this hidden layer by carefully peeling away the top flat sheet of paper. The resulting ribbed texture looks exactly like the natural ridges of a pumpkin.
Simply draw a pumpkin silhouette on your prepared corrugated cardboard and cut it out. Dry brush a tiny bit of orange and white paint over the ridges to make the texture pop. Tie a piece of rustic twine around a cinnamon stick stem to complete the cozy look.
3. Upcycled Cereal Box Pumpkin Garland
Empty cereal boxes make the absolute best crafting material for kids. They cut easily and have a smooth surface that takes paint beautifully. This simple garland will add a festive pop of color to your fireplace mantel or classroom.
Cut out a dozen identical flat pumpkin shapes from your cereal boxes. Let your kids paint them, add glitter, or draw funny jack-o’-lantern faces on the blank side. Punch two holes in the top of each pumpkin and thread them onto a long piece of rustic baker’s twine.
4. Cardboard Tube Pumpkin Stamps
Do you have a few empty toilet paper rolls lying around? Do not throw them away just yet! You can easily bend these cardboard tubes into perfect pumpkin shapes for a fun stamping activity with your toddlers.
Pro Crafting Tip: Crease the top of the tube slightly inward and pinch the bottom to create the classic pumpkin dip and curve.
Dip the end of the shaped tube into orange washable paint and stamp it onto paper. Kids can paint green stems and curly vines onto their stamped pumpkins with their fingers. It is a quick, mess-free craft that builds fine motor skills.
5. Decoupage Cardboard Pumpkin Centerpieces
Elevate your dining room table with these gorgeous, patterned pumpkins. Decoupage allows you to apply beautiful paper napkins or scrapbooking paper directly onto flat cardboard cutouts. The result looks like expensive boutique decor.
Cut a sturdy pumpkin shape out of thick shipping cardboard. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge, press your patterned paper down smoothly, and seal it with another layer of glue. You can mix and match different patterns like plaid, floral, and gingham for a trendy look.
6. Glittery Cardboard Pumpkin Place Cards
Your Thanksgiving guests will love this personal touch on their plates. These mini cardboard place cards add a pinch of sparkle to your holiday table setting. Plus, they double as a sweet party favor that guests can take home.
Quick Steps to Create:
- Cut small, 3-inch pumpkins out of clean cardboard.
- Coat the edges with craft glue and dip them in gold or copper glitter.
- Write each guest’s name in the center with a black calligraphy marker.
7. Cardboard Box Pumpkin Treat Buckets
Ditch the cheap plastic buckets this Halloween and make your own eco-friendly version. You can transform small shipping boxes into durable, custom trick-or-treat containers. They hold plenty of candy and stand up to a busy night in the neighborhood.
Wrap a square box in bright orange construction paper or paint it with acrylics. Cut out classic jack-o’-lantern eyes, a nose, and a mouth from black felt and glue them on. Punch two holes in the sides of the box and attach a sturdy rope handle.
8. Woven Cardboard Yarn Pumpkins
Wrapping chunky orange yarn around a notched cardboard template is incredibly therapeutic. This craft introduces kids to the basics of weaving while creating a cozy, textured decoration. It is the perfect activity for a rainy autumn afternoon.
Cut a circle out of cardboard and cut small, evenly spaced notches around the perimeter. Secure your yarn in one notch and wrap it across the circle, rotating as you go to cover the cardboard. Tuck a green pipe cleaner under the yarn at the top to serve as the stem and vine.
9. Minimalist White-Washed Cardboard Pumpkins
If you prefer a clean, Scandinavian-style aesthetic, this project is for you. White-washing allows the natural, warm brown tones of the cardboard to peek through. This creates a soft, neutral look that blends perfectly with modern home decor.
Mix equal parts white acrylic paint and water. Brush this thin mixture over your cardboard pumpkin cutouts, wiping away any excess with a paper towel. Finish the project by gluing a slice of natural birch branch to the top as a rustic stem.
10. Cardboard Pumpkin Lanterns
Light up your front porch safely with these glowing cardboard lanterns. By cutting intricate designs into a box and lining it with tissue paper, you create a beautiful stained-glass effect. Always use battery-operated LED lights inside these lanterns to keep things safe.
Cut out large pumpkin shapes on the sides of a clean shoe box. Glue orange tissue paper to the inside of the box, covering the cutouts. Pop a flickering LED tea light inside, dim the room lights, and watch your homemade lantern glow!
11. Stackable Cardboard Topiary
Make a bold statement near your entryway with a towering pumpkin topiary. You can easily build this eye-catching piece by stacking three nesting boxes from largest to smallest. Paint each box to look like a different style of pumpkin, such as a traditional orange pumpkin, a green heirloom, and a white ghost pumpkin.
FYI, securing the boxes together with hot glue prevents them from tipping over. Add a large faux leaf and a thick stick to the top box to complete the topiary look. This craft adds instant curb appeal to your home without the high price tag.
12. Mosaic Cardboard Pumpkin Wall Art
Put those tiny cardboard scraps to good use with this gorgeous mosaic project. Mosaic art helps kids practice shape sorting and spatial awareness. Plus, it looks like a beautiful piece of stained glass hanging on your wall.
Draw a large pumpkin outline on a piece of white cardstock. Cut your leftover cardboard into small, irregular geometric tiles and paint them in various shades of orange, yellow, and brown. Glue the painted tiles inside the pumpkin outline, leaving tiny gaps between each piece.
13. Shabby Chic Burlap-Wrapped Cardboard Pumpkins
Bring the cozy farmhouse look directly into your living room. Wrapping rough burlap over sturdy cardboard gives you a wonderful contrast of textures. These pumpkins look beautiful sitting on a rustic mantel or nestled inside a wooden crate.
Cut a plump pumpkin shape out of a heavy-duty shipping box. Wrap strips of natural burlap around the shape, securing the ends on the back with hot glue. Wrap a thick piece of jute twine around the center to create realistic pumpkin sections.
14. Geometric Interlocking 3D Cardboard Pumpkins
No glue? No problem! This clever interlocking design requires zero sticky messes to stand upright. It is a fantastic engineering puzzle for kids and a sleek, modern piece of decor for your desk.
Cut two identical pumpkin silhouettes out of stiff cardboard. Cut a vertical slit from the top down to the middle on the first pumpkin, and from the bottom up to the middle on the second. Slide the two pieces together at the slits to create a self-standing, three-dimensional pumpkin.
Bring on the Autumn Crafting!
Which of these 14 Creative Cardboard Pumpkin Crafts You Need to Try This Fall will you make first? Whether you want to entertain the kids with simple stamps or upgrade your dining table with chic decoupage, cardboard is your best friend this season. Grab those shipping boxes out of the garage, heat up your glue gun, and start crafting your way to a cozier home today!