I made an easy DIY book pumpkin this year. It’s been on my “want to try list” for the longest time. It was easy and cost nothing. Use an old book to make a pumpkin in under 2 hours, including the painting!
I have a thing for creative pumpkins…
As much as I’ve wanted to try one of these I’ve been torn… pun intended 🙂 on cutting up a book. I mean, they are books right? In our family books are sacred for goodness sakes!
We are readers. Book readers, Kindle readers, you name it readers…
So, for a few years I only thought about making a crafty DIY book pumpkin. I just couldn’t get over the guilt.
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How to make a DIY Book Pumpkin
I got over my guilt of cutting up a book when I discovered one of them falling apart with chunks of pages missing! At that moment, I dropped everything else I was doing and went for my scissors and hot glue gun!
Seriously, I’d waited forever to do this, right?
In a few easy steps you can make a DIY book pumpkin too.
Supplies needed to make a book pumpkin:
- Old Book – garage sales and thrift stores are great for this!
- Spray Paint – Be sure to use flat paint!
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun and glue – this one is my go to for everything
- Twig from a tree
- Raffia ribbon
Step 1. Remove the book cover.
Start with a small section of pages and cut along the top and bottom to make a pumpkin shape. See the center picture below.
Step 2. Fold the spine in half and hot glue the ends together.
Your book pumpkin will stand up now. Trim any pages that don’t have enough of a pumpkin shape.
Step 3. Put a dab of glue in between each page to help keep the pages separated. This is the most time-consuming part!
It’s worth the time!
Step 4. Spray paint the paper book pumpkin.
Step 5. Make the stem. Hot glue a twig onto the top for a stem. I thought my DIY book pumpkin was still a little plain and tied a few pieces of raffia around the base.
Place the paper book pumpkin on a chalk painted tray and add some burlap and a few colorful seasonal fillers.
The bright orange and fall colors really perk up my little entry table by our front door.
…and this is about the easiest paper craft I’ve tried yet. I’d love to have a wine & pumpkin night with my girlfriends. I can see jazzing these up with all kinds of glittery, flashy, colorful, feathery funky, junky and fun items!
Pin this now and share with your friends on Facebook!
That’s it. So simple, so quick and guilt free! Would you, could you..make a craft with a book? Would you feel more comfortable if it were falling apart before cutting it?
Where would you display your DIY book pumpkin?
Krista @ the happy housie says
Adorable Wendi! Sharing on my FB page this weekend. Thanks for sharing it with us at WIW!!
Wendi says
Super Krista, Thank you! These are so much fun and easy to make, I hope you try these too:) I appreciate the share!
Anita says
This is such an amazing idea! Thanks for sharing it. I’m Anita visiting from Freedom Fridays.
Karen says
Wendi, this is terrific! It looks beautiful!
Thanks for sharing at Something to Talk About!
Pinning to my Autumn board!
Wendi says
Thanks so much Karen:) I loved making this project..
Megin says
I LOVE book page projects and this is great, Wendi!
Thank you for sharing this week at Brag About It link party on VMG206 (Mondays at Midnight).
~ Megin of VMG206
Brenda Young says
Very cute DIY Wendi, I to am an avid book lover as well, but I also think its great to re purpose old beat up books and find adorable new uses for them this project is so cute I foresee one or two in gold in my decor this year!
Milissa M. says
I’ve always wanted to try one of these adorable little pumpkins too! Yours is so stinkin’ cute! The reader in me hasn’t been able to get past “destroying” a book yet (even one that is falling apart), but the crafter in me keeps screaming “Do it! Do it!!” LOL! Again, well done!
Wendi says
Milissa, Thank you so much! I felt the sme way about destroying a book for the longest time. I figure it was guilt free when the one I choose was destined for the trash can anyway. So, yes! Do it!
Joor says
I love this DIY Pumpkin! Pinning this for Halloween or Easter. I think it would also be great as an Easter egg!
Cheryl says
This is so cute!! Thank you for sharing, going to find a book I can tear apart without feeling guilty too, lol. Visiting from Wake Up Wednesday!
Harry says
thanks for sharing I’m going to try and make some for my store.
Wendi says
Harry, You are so welcome. Have fun making the pumpkins, they are adorable! Thanks so much for your visit and note:)
Jamie says
This is adorable! I will be trying it out this year! Found you at the Inspiration2 link party! Would love it if you shared your ideas at my weekly Pinterest Party. Here is the link if you are interested!! lifeissweeterbydesign.com
Wendi says
Hi Jamie… Thank so much. I’ll do my best to join in this week. I’m traveling this week and haven’t had much time on the computer:) Again, thanks so much!
Suzan says
What a fantastic idea – I just love this – how perfect !
Pinning now – thanks for sharing š
Wendi says
Thanks so much Suzan! Gotta love the easy crafts that look so cute. I appreciate you pinning my project too!
Tianna says
such a cool and easy idea! Thanks for this!
stop by and chat ā„
Wendi says
Tianna, Thank you so much! It’s a fun and easy project to do. I hope you’ll share a picture on my H2OBungalow Facebook page of one you make:)
Jill says
This is such a cute idea and looks easy to make! I’m definitely going to try!
Jill
Wendi says
Thanks so much Jill! I’m planning to make a few more this year in different colors:) Have fun and share a picture on my H2OBungalow Facebook page when you do!
Salty Sweet Smilea says
What a cute craft. Thanks for sharing on wine’d down Wednesday. Can wait for my next girls night with this.
Wendi says
Thank you! I think having a girls night with a little wine and pumpkin making would be a hoot! Thanks so much for your sweet note & visit:) Happy pumpkin making!
Kati says
I just love the way they turned out. The trick to put a dot of glue between each page to keep them out is brilliant. Cant wait to try this one.
Wendi says
Kati, The glue made all the difference! Thanks so much for your visit and I hope you make pumpkin…or two!
Lisa at Concord Cottage says
Hi Wendi, I just love this cute Bookpage Pumpkin. Thanks so much for sharing at our Something to Talk About Link Party 33 this week. I’m sharing it on my Fb page today. Have a great week, Lisa at Concord Cottage
Wendi says
Thank you so much Lisa, I appreciate the share! I love my little Bookpage Pumpkin and am glad you did too:)
Chelsey says
Such a cute idea! I couldn’t get mine to work though š The spine of the book got in the way of making a round shape… all of the pages would not spread evenly because of the spine.
Wendi says
Chelsey, I’m so sorry! Mine didn’t hold well either until I added a dab of glue in between the pages. Did you try that? Best of luck! Thanks so much for reading my post!
tish says
hi wendi, when u say a dab of glue…lol i am kind of confused? won’t the glue just keep the pages together? i really would like to try this but i want to be sure on the glue part. thanks š
Wendi says
That’s a good question Tish. I used a drop of hot glue close to the spine and the bulk of the glue kept the pages separated and evenly spaced the entire way around the pumpkin. Have fun with your project!
Cyndee says
Wendi, This is really a neat idea and so easy. I’ll have to try this!
Wendi says
Hi Cyndee…Thanks so much! It was so simple to make and I love the cost.. basically free!! Please post a picture on my Facebook page when you make one! I’d love to share it! Thanks so much for visiting and leaving a sweet note.
Marie@The Interior Frugalista says
Love it Wendi – so simple and cute. I like the vignette you created around the pumpkin too, very pretty! I hear ya about not wanting to destroy a book. I just finished a project where I used some hardcover books and it was hard to apply that first brush stroke of paint. Like you, I love my books.
Wendi says
Marie..I KNOW the guilt factor was awful! I’m so glad this book started falling apart. I’m off to find your book project I love paper crafts! Thanks friend for your sweet comment as always!!