Build your own treat holder for trick or treaters. This super simple build uses pallet wood or cedar fence pickets and can be painted or stained any color! Free tutorial by Ana-White.com
We love these fun, festive pumpkins at the front door! They make festive planters or treat holders for trick or treaters.
This is a very easy DIY project, perfect for a beginner. These pumpkins are fun to customize, and they are almost impossible to mess up!
You can use pallet wood or fence pickets. With fence pickets, my project cost $8!
I went with a Farmhouse theme, because I'd like to use this wood pumpkin as decor through Thanksgiving.
We are so excited to present trick-or-treaters with this beautiful help yourself display.
It's so easy to make. I made mine with a jigsaw and a hot glue gun (NO Drill or screws or nailer required).
Video Tutorial for this Wood Pumpkin Treat Holder
More Wood Pumpkin Tutorials!
Love making wood pumpkins? We put together all our favorite wood pumpkins in one post!
Free Plans with Cut List List
Preparation
- 2 - Cedar fence pickets, 5-1/2" wide x 6 feet long OR 1x6 whitewood boards OR similar pallet wood
- 1 - 1x2 @ 4 feet long
- 1" brad nails or staples or hot glue
PUMPKIN
4 – cedar fence pickets cut into 18” long pieces (fit all four on one fence picket, can be shorter or longer)
2 – 1x2 @ 20” long
1 – 1x2 @ 8” long (length can be flexible to use up scrap wood)
FRONT BOX
1 – cedar fence picket @17” long
2 – cedar fence pickets @ 5-1/2” long
1 – cedar fence picket @ 16” long
Cut all of your boards according to the cut list. For the pieces on the pumpkin, there is flexibility to cut slightly shorter to accommodate all of the pieces per given materials list. For the box pieces, it is important to cut straight and accurate to the cut list. The easiest saw to cut these pieces with is a miter saw, but a circular saw can be used as well.
You can build this project with HOT GLUE as I did in the video, or you can use a brad nailer or a stapler. Any method works great!
Instructions
Step 1
Lay the four fence pickets on the worksurface, so overall width is about 23”. Place 20” long 1x2s on top, with about 1-1/2” gap on either end. TIP: Use the stem (stem is 1-1/2” in width) as a guide.
Use wood glue and two 1” staples per overlap of 1x2 and each cedar fence picket to secure 1x2s to the fence pickets.
Step 2
Flip the project over. Add additional two staples per overlap of fence picket and 1x2 to secure fence pickets from front to 1x2 supports. Do not staple within 1” of the edges, as there is no 1x2 backing here. TIP: Use the step piece as a guide.
Step 3
Starting 3” out at the bottom edges, draw a pumpkin shape on the front of the cedar boards. Avoid drawing so that the 1x2 supports will be crossed.
Keep the shape organic and unqiue. Pumpkins generally are “bottom heavy” so consider a smaller rounding on the bottom and larger rounding on top.
Step 4
Position project so area to be cut out overhangs work surface to allow jigsaw blade to cut freely. Secure the project to the worksurface with two clamps. Test to make sure project is secure.
Cut out following pumpkin shape with jigsaw.
Remove clamps and reposition and reclamp to cut full pumpkin shape out.
Step 5
Attach stem to the back of the pumpkin cutout.
Step 6
Use glue and 1” staples to attach front of box to the sides of the box.
Step 7
Apply glue along three edges of bottom of box. Place bottom of box inside front and sides. Staple in place along side and front edges with 1” staples.
Step 8
Place box open side up on worksurface. Apply glue along top edges. Place pumpkin on top, aligning bottom edge, and the start of the pumpkin shaped cut with the outside corners of the box. Use 1” staples to secure bottom of pumpkin to bottom of box.
Use a straight edge to guide you when stapling the pumpkin to the sides of the box.
It is always recommended to apply a test coat on a hidden area or scrap piece to ensure color evenness and adhesion. Use primer or wood conditioner as needed.
