Junk Pumpkins

What are Junk Punkins? They can be decorative pumpkins made entirely from scrap materials or jack o lanterns that incorporate some junk in their design. Check below for examples of both styles and tips on making your own junk pumpkin.

The fall season is the perfect time to add some pumpkins to your indoor or outdoor decor. With Halloween approaching, jack o lanterns add some fun and sometimes spookiness as well. Time to make your fun pumpkin design and don't forget to include the kids in the activity. Fun for the whole family.

Pumpkin Patch Postcard by tiffjamaica on Zazzle

Start by rummaging in your junk drawer. Some of those gizmos have languished in there for five years so clean it out and try repurposing those mysterious bits and pieces in making a jack o lantern. Look in your bedroom for broken costume jewelry, buttons removed from old clothing, and scarves.

Don't have enough stuff? Look in the kid's room and in their toy box for pieces from defunct toys. The kids will have fun rounding up those for the pumpkin project.

Look at things you normally put in the trash or the recycling bin. Bottle caps, a broken sprocket, and other bits and pieces.

Still need more, poke around in the garage for rusty bits of metal. I bet you'll find some odd items that will look great on the junk punkin. You can even use nails which can be stuck into the skin in a pattern.

Make one out of junk

Assemble anything that looks like a pumpkin and glue or tie or nail it together. The more parts that are recycled, and not purchased, the better.

Here's a pumpkin made from a section of clothes dryer hose. These are usually white, so spray paint the hose orange. Pull the hose into a circle and hot glue it or otherwise attach it.

Add a thick stubby stick for the stem and some autumn leaves gathered from your yard. If you want to get fancier, buy some leaves from the dollar store. (photo by my mom, Gail Lee Martin)