Clay Pot Jack-o’-Lanterns Craft
Home » CREATE » Crafts » Pumpkin Crafts »With Halloween just around the corner, this clay pot Jack-o’lanterns craft is one to make using cheap craft store supplies like mini terra cotta pots, orange color paint, wiggly eyes, and chenille stems.
Clay Pot Jack-o’Lanterns Craft
Forget the fuss of pumpkin carving; this craft is adorable and incredibly easy to make.
These whimsical terra cotta pumpkins are perfect for adding that festive touch to your front porch or inside your home. Stick around for the full tutorial!
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The list of materials, tools, and instructions is in the printable tutorial card at the end of this post. We recommend reading the blog post thoroughly before starting this project to ensure you have everything required and understand the steps and timings involved.
DIY Terracotta Pumpkins
The magic of this craft is transforming the most unassuming materials (clay pots and paint) into joyful Halloween (or fall) decor!
You can find clay pots in different sizes, making creating a whole family of Jack-o’Lanterns easy!
Once you’ve gathered all your craft supplies—see the complete list below— you’ll be shocked at how quickly you can assemble these little guys.
Trust us; this is an easy Halloween craft even the kiddos can help with. For the really little ones, you could make plastic pumpkins using plastic pots instead of clay pots.
You’ll find the printable step-by-step tutorial card at the end of this post.
For more pumpkin craft ideas, check out our Ceramic Pumpkin Pot Tutorial, Halloween Jack-o-Lantern Hoop Craft (with changeable faces!), and Felt Ruffle Pumpkin.
To use up those wiggle eyes, the Googly Eye Pumpkin Craft is an easy, no-carve idea for kids!
Materials & Tools Used in This Craft
The materials and tools needed for this project have been linked to Amazon below for your convenience. The quantities are on the craft tutorial card at the end of this post.
Clay Pot Jack-O’-Lanterns Craft Supplies
- Terra Cotta Clay Pots – approximately 2.5″/6cm in diameter. You can, of course, make the Jack o’ Lanterns any size you like! Larger ones are ideal to place outside by your front door, and smaller ones are perfect for the mantle or tier tray display.
- Acrylic Paints – in the colors Bright Orange, Dark Orange, Pink
- Googly Eyes
- Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks – You can use liquid craft glue for this project but must wait for it to dry.
- Natural Jute Twine
- Pipe Cleaners – also known as chenille stems, in the color green.
- Permanent Black Marker
- Twigs from your backyard
- Scissors
- Pruning Shears or Wire Cutters for trimming twigs.
- Paintbrush – this set of paintbrushes has various sizes and types for different types of paint and glue.
- Pencil with New Eraser – this is to dot the pumpkin’s rosy cheeks. You could paint them freehand if you like.
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Where Can I Get Cheap Craft Supplies?
This budget-friendly craft uses supplies you may already have or can purchase cheaply at a dollar store (or local equivalent).
Check out your local dollar stores like Dollar Tree if you’re in the USA. If you’re in the UK, the Poundshop, The Range, Wilko, and Baker Ross are great places to shop for cheap and inexpensive craft supplies. To the rest of the world reading this—we’re sorry we don’t know every cheap store out there, but please do hunt the ones out in your location for crafting bargains!
How Do I Make Clay Pot Jack-o-Lanterns?
The printable tutorial card with the complete supplies list and instructions can be found at the end of this post.
Step 1 – Paint Clay Pots: Gather all your materials and remove the packaging and labels.
Basecoat the clay pots with bright orange acrylic craft paint. While still wet, add vertical stripes with dark orange acrylic craft paint.
Blend the colors with a paintbrush and set the pot aside to dry.
Step 2 – Add Face: Glue two googly/wiggle eyes on the Jack-O-Lantern face using a glue gun and glue sticks.
Create cheeks by dabbing a new pencil eraser in pink craft paint and stamping on the right and left sides, just below the eyes.
Draw a mouth from cheek to cheek with a permanent black marker.
Step 3 – Add Stem: Trim one-inch (2.5cm) sections from a tree twig using pruning shears or wire cutters. Add some hot glue to the end and insert the twig into the drain hole of the clay pot.
Step 4 – Add Vine: Wrap a green pipe cleaner around a pencil to create a vine, then slide it off.
Cut the pipe cleaner in half and attach it to the side of the pumpkin stem with a glue gun.
Step 5 – Add Bowties: Tie two small bows with natural jute twine. Attach to the front bottom of the clay pot Jack-o’-Lanterns with hot glue. Trim any long ends of the twine with scissors. Leave everything to dry, then display where desired!
You can customize your clay pot Jack-o’-Lanterns craft in several ways—use various pot sizes, paint them in different colors (not all pumpkins are orange!), and add different facial expressions. Kids will love stamping their personality into their terracotta Jack-o-Lantern!
More Clay Pot Crafts
We love making characters with clay pots! Take a look at these other ideas for different seasons:
- Clay Pot Reindeer Decoration
- Flowerpot Chicks Craft for Easter and Spring
- Flower Pot Snowman Candy Dish For The Holidays
- Flowerpot Easter Bunny Craft
We’ve shared over 500+ crafts for all seasons and holidays—why not take a look at them next?
Printable Clay Pot Pumpkin Jack-O-Lanterns Craft Tutorial Card
The printable tutorial card is below—please leave a star rating and quick review to share your experience with others!
Clay Pot Jack-O’Lanterns
Materials
- 2 2.5″/6cm Terra Cotta Clay Pots
- Acrylic Paints – Bright Orange Dark Orange, Pink
- Googly Eyes
- Natural Jute Twine
- Twigs from your backyard
- Green Pipe Cleaners Chenille Stems
TOOLS
- Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
- Pruning Shears or Wire Cutters
- Pencil with New Eraser
Instructions
- Gather all your materials and remove the packaging and labels. Basecoat the clay pots with bright orange acrylic craft paint. While still wet, add vertical stripes with dark orange acrylic craft paint. Blend the colors with a paintbrush and set the pot aside to dry.
- Glue two googly/wiggle eyes on the Jack-O-Lantern face using a glue gun and glue sticks. Create cheeks by dabbing a new pencil eraser in pink craft paint and stamping on the right and left sides, just below the eyes. Draw a mouth from cheek to cheek with a permanent black marker.
- Trim one-inch (2.5cm) sections from a tree twig using pruning shears or wire cutters. Add some hot glue to the end and insert the twig into the drain hole of the clay pot.
- Wrap a green pipe cleaner around a pencil to create a vine, then slide it off. Cut the pipe cleaner in half and attach it to the side of the pumpkin stem with a glue gun.
- Tie two small bows with natural jute twine. Attach to the front bottom of the clay pot Jack-o'-Lanterns with hot glue. Trim any long ends of the twine with scissors. Leave everything to dry, then display where desired!