As a seasoned crafter with years of experience creating reusable holiday decor, I recommend faux pumpkins over fresh ones—they won't rot and can be enjoyed season after season.
(3) faux pumpkins in different sizes
hot knife
pliers
pencil
autumn leaf (for tracing)
large brass hook
(1) strand of twinkling lights
footed urn
putty clay or sticky wax (optional)
T-pins
artificial bittersweet vine or garland
1. Assign positions to each pumpkin: bottom, middle, or top.
2. On the bottom pumpkin, pencil a circle on top large enough for the middle pumpkin's bottom to fit through. Cut with the hot knife.
Note: Faux pumpkins are hollow and can also be carved with a sharp knife.
3. Cut a circle from the bottom of the top pumpkin, both top and bottom of the middle pumpkin, and top of the bottom pumpkin for secure stacking.
4. Trace autumn leaf shapes roughly on the front three-quarters of the bottom pumpkin, rotating for a falling leaves effect. Use a dry-erase marker for easy fixes.
5. Cut out leaf shapes with the hot knife, tightening the blade with pliers periodically to prevent slippage.
6. On the middle pumpkin, draw a bottom circle to fit the bottom pumpkin's top hole and a top circle for the top pumpkin's bottom. Cut both.
7. Sketch varied swirls on the front three-quarters; cut them out with the hot knife, squeezing the blade as needed.
8. On the top pumpkin, draw and cut a bottom circle to fit the middle pumpkin's top hole.
9. Add and cut assorted swirls on the front three-quarters, squeezing the blade as required.
10. Screw the large brass hook into the inside top of the top pumpkin.
11. Fold the twinkling lights into equal sections matching the stacked height, with extra for the plug.
12. Gather the folds opposite the plug end and hook them onto the brass hook.
13. Thread the lights through the middle pumpkin, seat the top pumpkin on the middle, then stack the middle onto the bottom. Pull the plug through a back cutout.
14. Position the stack in the footed urn; secure each pumpkin with sticky wax if needed.
15. Wrap the bittersweet vine or garland around the stack starting at the bottom, securing with T-pins.
