We’re the only house on our street that goes all-out with Halloween decorations in our yard. Even though we don’t get many trick-or-treaters because we’re on a cul-de-sac, I like to let them know that we’re ready for them with our outdoor DIY Halloween lights and handmade decorations.
We have a full display of glowing lights, candlelit carved pumpkins, ghosts in the trees, spiders on webs, cats in the window, and a witch gathering. This year I added a few more DIY Halloween lights to our front yard setup.
Both my Glowing Jack ‘O Lantern Totem and my Tispy Pumpkin Buckets have been such a hit that I wanted to make more pumpkins lights using pumpkin treat buckets. The subtle orange glow is perfect for spooky nights.
Glowing Jack-O’-Lantern Totem
Create a light-up totem of pumpkin pails with this easy DIY Halloween decoration.
How to Make DIY Halloween Lights
If you can drill a few holes and twist some wire, you can make these easy Halloween solar lights for as little as $2 per light. A set of a dozen can be made in under an hour.
Tools & Materials to Make Halloween Light Decorations
Here are the tools and materials I used to make this light up Halloween craft project. Get creative with materials you can find or what you have on hand.
- pumpkin pails
- for this project I used the 7″ pumpkin pails found at Target)
- drill + drill bits
- aluminum crafting wire
- This flexible, bendable, and rust-proof wire is a must-have in your craft kit!
- wire clipper
- solar lights
- I used these solar lights.
- For maximum glow, choose solar lights where the solar panel is on top and the light underneath.
Begin by drilling several holes into the bottom of the pumpkin pails. This will allow rainwater (or melted snow) to drain out the bottom of the pails.
On both sides of the pumpkin pail, drill two small holes near the handle. These holes only need to be big enough to push the floral wire through.
RELATED: Make this easy Witch Hat Windsock. Includes a free witch hat sewing pattern!
For each pumpkin light, cut two pieces of wire approximately 12 inches long. This may vary based on the size of your pumpkin pail and solar light. Do a test run before cutting all the wires.
Bend the pieces of wire around the solar light and twist them together on the sides.
You will have created a harness for the solar light to sit in.
Push the ends of the wire through the previously drilled holes on the sides. Place the solar light into the wire harness and fold the ends up and into the pumpkin pail.
The solar panel should be near level to the top of the pumpkin pail opening so the sun will shine on it. Now repeat with as many pumpkins pails as you’d like.
More DIY Halloween Decorations
Make some handmade Halloween decor using recycled, repurposed, and upcycled materials.
Make one pumpkin light or many. I made twelve solar-powered Halloween lights and hung them in a tree just like giant Christmas ornaments.
These fun DIY Halloween Lights can hang from hooks, branches, or be on the ground to create a walking path for trick-or-treaters. However you display your Halloween lights, they will be enjoyed by Halloween lovers like you and me.
Get more DIY Halloween Decorations inspiration and DIY Halloween Costume ideas.
Did you make these? I would love to see them and feature them on Scratch and Stitch.
Leave a comment below with your creations and be sure to tag @scratchandstitch on IG.
I love the jack o lanterns. I will be making a few this October. Thank you for the idea.
Thanks Peggy! It’s one of my favorite Halloween decorations to have up. My husband, however, is the one who has to get them high up in the tree. :)
Can these be made into stake lights for a walkway?
That’s an awesome idea! The only thing to consider for solar lights is that the solar panel is exposed to the sun. If the panel is close or flush with the top hole, I think it would work great and would be very cool for a walkway!
(I may have to give that a shot this year, my husband would be very happy to not have to hang these up in the tree 😂)
Just drill a hole in bottom of pumpkin large enough for the stake of solar lite to go through & you have instant stake that can be put into the ground.
This is a great idea Peg, I will definitely be making these this Halloween 🎃.
I love these!! When I used your solar lights link it takes me to multi colored lights. Does that make a difference when illuminating the pumpkins?
Thanks for the comment. The one’s I used were not colored, so that product link must have changed. I just updated the link to these bright white solar lights.