Want to add concrete pumpkins to your fall or halloween decor this year? Here is an easy step by step guide on how to make diy concrete pumpkins!

It’s getting very close to Halloween and we are having so much fun decorating and celebrating! Since learning some basic concrete pouring techniques, we have been trying to do a few projects to really get the hang of it.

When we spotted these plastic pumpkins at Walmart (for $1 each!) we were struck with the idea of using them to make concrete pumpkins.

We made 5 regular pumpkins and one concrete pumpkin bowl – which is the perfect candle holder or candy bowl and make a wonderful gift!

I love concrete pumpkins because they are a neutral, chic option. You can use jack o lantern style pumpkins like we did, or plain pumpkins for more of a fall/autumn look.

We turn ours around after Halloween and let them be plain pumpkins until Thanksgiving!

Here’s how to make your own DIY Concrete Pumpkins.

Pumpkin concrete mold ideas

We used plastic candy pails for our pumpkin concrete molds. But, here are some other ideas for DIY pumpkin concrete molds!

DIY Concrete Pumpkins – Concrete Pumpkin Tutorial

What you need to make DIY cement pumpkins:

• Concrete mix
• Water
• Bucket to mix concrete in
• Stir stick
• Pumpkin candy bowl mold or a pumpkin concrete mold
• Small jar or cup the size of the bowl within the pumpkin

Wear a dust mask when working with concrete for safety.

Here’s a bunch of options for concrete pumpkin molds!

See our whole spooky porch fall decor setup here!

How to make concrete pumpkins – concrete pumpkin tutorial:

STEP 1

Mix your concrete according to the package directions. We were able to get 4 pumpkins out of a standard sized bag of Quickrete concrete mix.

STEP 2

Add the concrete to the pumpkin mold.

STEP 3

Shake the mold to help eliminate bubbles and help the concrete settle into the bottom of the pumpkin.

OPTIONAL

Spray a cup or jar  with cooking non-stick spray and insert into your mold to create the bowl.

*Note – we created 5 regular, solid pumpkins for decor and one candle holder/bowl pumpkin for our boo kit. This step is optional*

To make a pumpkin into a candle holder, you will want to spray a jar with cooking spray and insert that into the pumpkin.

STEP 4

Add some concrete first, then add your jar, then fill it the rest of the way up. If the jar touches the bottom, the hole will go all the way through the pumpkin!

You can see in the image below we put our jar in a ziplock bag. DON’T do that. It was very hard to get out. Use cooking spray instead.

STEP 5

Allow to cure – we let ours dry for one week.

You can leave them outside in the sun to help them dry quicker!

STEP 6

Use a utility knife to carefully cut the plastic mold away from the concrete.

This mold is unfortunately not reusable after this since you have to cut it up into bits.

Get spooky because your concrete pumpkin is ready to go!

I suggest letting your pumpkin dry without being handled too much just over night or so. Sometimes it can be slightly damp as you can see the one above still was.

They dry pretty light in color.

Love this? Check out our DIY plastic pumpkin porch decor and pumpkin topiaries!

How do you make homemade concrete pumpkins?

You make DIY concrete pumpkins by pouring concrete into a pumpkin mold, letting it dry, and then removing the concrete from the mold.

What kind of concrete is used for pumpkins?

We used Quikrete concrete to make our pumpkins. Pay attention to the color of the concrete when purchasing it. You can also add dye to color the concrete as you pour it, but I like the gray color!

How do you make a jack o lantern out of concrete?

You can use paint to paint a friendly – or scary – jack o’lantern face on your concrete pumpkins!

How to you make a DIY concrete pumpkin with moss?

Cool idea! I’d make a moss milkshake and add that to the top or crevices. Here’s how to grow moss!

When you aren’t using the pumpkin as a candle holder, it makes a fantastic candy bowl.

Any questions about how to make cement pumpkins?