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You are here: Home / Naturally Frugal Living / How to Make a Pumpkin Lantern – A Dollar Store DIY Project

How to Make a Pumpkin Lantern – A Dollar Store DIY Project

August 28, 2015 by Katie Femia 5 Comments

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a homemade pumpkin lantern using a dollar store foam pumpkin and twinkle lights
easy diy pumpkin lantern
a diy lantern pumpkin
How to Make a Pumpkin Lantern

This homemade pumpkin lantern is a frugal dollar store DIY project.

a diy pumpkin lantern

Dollar store pumpkins can be used for so many things during the fall season. Take a look below at how we turned an ordinary dollar store pumpkin into a fun pumpkin lantern, perfect for lighting up Halloween nights! Making your own pumpkin lantern is easier than you may think, and the total project only cost us $2!

How to Make a Pumpkin Lantern

Supplies Needed:

  • Foam pumpkin ($1 at Dollar Tree)
  • Strand of twinkle lights ($1 at Dollar Tree)
  • Knife
  • Screwdriver

Supplies Needed: Foam pumpkin ($1 at Dollar Tree) Strand of twinkle lights ($1 at Dollar Tree) Knife Screwdriver
You want to use a screwdriver with a nice round tip. A pencil would also work for this purpose if you don’t have a screwdriver on you.

Directions:
1. Begin by taking a knife and removing a 2 inch wide square from the back of the pumpkin. Simply poke the knife in and cut until the square is created. Discard the piece you have cut off. You won’t be needing it any further.

How to Make a Pumpkin Lantern with a foam pumpkin and twinkle lights

This will be the back of your lantern, so don’t worry about the cut being perfect.

2. Now, take your screwdriver and poke holes into the pumpkin. You can make them random as we did, or make the dots into a shape or letter even. Get creative! Continue poking through the pumpkin until you have the pattern of your choice.

Use a screw driver to make the holes for the light to shine through foam pumpkin

3. Next, tuck the strand of lights into the pumpkin. Simply press them into the inside and leave the plug hanging out. We used orange lights, but you can use any color you wish.

Insert twinkle lights inside foam pumpkin

Now all you need to do is plug the twinkle lights in. The lights will shine through the holes and illuminate the design!

how to make a diy pumpkin lantern using a dollar store foam pumpkin and twinkle lights

Head to your local dollar store and gather the supplies you need to give this easy pumpkin lantern a try. Just think of all of the spins you could put on it and designs you could try!

More Frugal Fall Decor Ideas

  • Rustic DIY: Tree Stump Pumpkin
  • Rustic Pumpkin Made with Fall Leaves
  • No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas
  • Decorating for Fall with Candy Corn
  • Framed Vintage Leaf Art
  • Spooky Glamorous Tablescape
  • Dollar Store DIY: Frugal Fall Tablescape
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Comments

  1. Wendy says

    September 13, 2021 at 7:03 am

    Cute idea! You could also use a battery operated tea light candle with a timer

    Reply
  2. Chelsea @ The Johnsons Plus Dog says

    October 13, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    Just a friendly note to let you know that this project was featured today on my post of 20 Pumpkin Crafts! Hope you’ll come by and check out the amazing Halloween inspiration!

    http://www.thejohnsonsplusdog.com/2015/10/13/fall-favorites-20-pumpkin-crafts/

    Reply
  3. Tianna says

    September 3, 2015 at 9:14 am

    totally brilliant idea! I’m off to the dollar store STAT haha. thanks for this!

    stop by and chat 🙂 http://storybookapothecary.com/

    Reply
  4. Jeanette says

    September 1, 2015 at 8:42 pm

    Great Idea! I am definitely making some of these! I was at Dollar Tree today, but they only have one little aisle of Halloween so far and these aren’t out yet. I think I might make a lighted pumpkin topiary! Thanks for the idea!

    Reply
  5. Christin at Must Love Home says

    August 31, 2015 at 7:15 am

    What a great idea!! I am heading to Dollar Tree today to see what they have! Please visit our party, Friday Favorites, to share what you have been working on! The doors open every Thursday at 7PM at mustlovehome.com! Have a super week – Christine.

    Reply

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Prep-Ahead Breakfasts and Lunches by Alea Milham

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Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

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