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Today I have another easy DIY Halloween decoration for you: the Glowing Plastic Jack O’ Lantern Totem. You can make this for about $10 or less if you already have materials that can be used. It’s pretty simple and adds a beautiful orange glow to your Halloween front step.
2020 Update: Look for $1 plastic pumpkin pails at Target and Walmart in early fall. They sell out quickly!
DIY Pumpkin Totem Materials and Tools
- 5 plastic jack o’ lantern buckets
- witch hat (find one at a dollar store)
- power drill
- 1″ to 1 1/2″ hole drill bit
- garden stake (at least 5 feet tall or at least 2 foot taller than you’re stacked plastic jack o’ lanterns)
- 1 string of white lights
- mallet
- wire
Customize your Glowing Jack O’ Lantern totem by using more or less plastic jack o’ lantern buckets, other hats, more lights, multiple colors, or line several totems in a row.
How to Make a Glowing Plastic Jack O’ Lantern Totem
Start by drilling a hole in the bottom center of each of the plastic jack o’ lanterns. If you do not have a drill or 1″ hole drill bit, carefully cut a hole with scissors or a knife. The hole should be big enough to slide over your garden stake plus a little extra for pulling the string of lights through.
Decide where the glowing plastic jack o’ lantern totem will stand and pound the stake into the ground. Since the totem is lightweight, about 1 foot into the ground should do it. Leave about 1 foot of the stake to be above the stacked jack o’ lanterns to hold a witch hat on.
Starting with the bottom jack o’ lantern, begin threading your lights through the hole. Make sure to leave the extra cord hanging out so you can plug it in.
Place the first jack o’ lantern onto the metal stake.
Leave a small number of lights in the first jack o’ lantern and thread the string lights through the next jack o’ lantern. Place onto the metal stake.
I like to use cheesecloth for my DIY Halloween projects and decorations. Check out my Cheesecloth Halloween Spiderweb Wreath and DIY Cheesecloth Ghost Costumes. The spider in the image above is a DIY Sock Spider.
Repeat until all plastic jack o’ lanterns are on the stake. Make adjustments to the string of lights as needed to space them evenly through the pumpkin buckets.
Poke a piece of wire through one side of the hat at the bottom of the cone, then through to the opposite side. Under the hat, wrap the wire around the metal stake. Tighten and twist the wire as needed to hold the hat in place. Optionally, hot glue the hat onto the top pumpkin bucket to keep in place in windy weather.
Plug in your lights and enjoy your glowing plastic jack o’ lantern totem! Add a timer to come on at dusk and turn off a few hours later.
I’ve had this DIY pumpkin totem in my front yard for three Halloweens now. The amount of comments I get from this easy DIY Halloween decoration is off the charts. People look at this jack ‘o lantern totem and think “I can make that.” And you can too :)
Here’s a miniature plastic pumpkin totem for a tabletop Halloween decoration. All items in the above picture are found at Dollar Tree.
Did you make this DIY Halloween decoration? Send me a picture of yours, and I’ll feature here on Scratch and Stitch.
Great idea! I’m going to use a solar led rope light from Harbor Freight.
Thanks! A rope light will work great! Send me a picture of yours, I’d love to see how it turned out :)
How has this worked outside when it rains? We’re thinking of putting ours by our bushes
Hi Ashlee – It’s perfect for outside. Any rain will drain through the holes drilled in the pumpkins. If you’re adding a hat, I recommend securing it well for the wind. And be sure to use outdoor string lights.
Send me a picture of how it turns out! I’d love to see it :)
Here we go! Think next year we’ll put lights in the hat, we had some difficulties keeping the hat on :)
https://imgur.com/a/GDftL
Yeeesssss!!!! I love it! You even used the same silly faced pumpkin that I had. Thank you for sharing. Do you mind if I repost this?
Feel free! :)
Also there are a lot of other people who have “tried” it over on the pin on Pinterest :)
OMG!! I had seen a few but now there are a bunch more. Thank you so much for pointing that out. :) I’m humbled.
What length of lights did you use?
Great question Kristy! I used a 16 ft strand of lights. I believe they’re these ones.
Rope light sounds like a better idea. I used the mini lights but you still need to make hole bigger than 1″ to accommodate the bigger end of plug. Cute idea though.
Rope lights would get the job done too! Send me a picture of yours Lynn, I’d love to see how it turned out :)
Great project we could not find the larger pumpkins but we love how it turned out!
Love it and water proof!! My favorite holiday, I’m always looking for more ideas
I love the pumpkin tower but I am having trouble getting the lights spaced correctly. I am using a 25 count led light string that wants to lay on the bottom of the each of pumpkins. I’m thinking of either using tape, small pieces of wire or zip strips to position the lights better. Do you have any ideas or suggestions to get a more even light in the pumpkins? Thanks
Hi Janet – The lights that I’ve used are pretty standard Christmas lights so I just kind of wing it as far as getting them even. Are you stacking them on a post or stake of some sort? If so, maybe wrap the lights around the post first? I wish I could give more suggestion. Please send me a pic of your totem! I would love to see and feature it here. :)
I love this! Could this be used as an inside decoration?
Of course! I’ve been sent many pictures of people with these inside.
Does the plug in from the lights come out of the very top pumpkin or can you start from top and come to the ground to plug in?
I have the plug come out the bottom on mine. If it’s more convenient for plugging in when it comes out the top, you can certainly do that too. Send me pics of yours! :)
That is what I’m gonna do come out the bottom with the lights thanks!
There are two different sizes of pumpkin buckets at target which size do I use? the small are 1 dollar so I’m assuming thats the right one
I’m so glad you found the pumpkin buckets at Target! I would use the smaller buckets but wouldn’t a giant one be super cool too?!?! Send me pics of your totem, I’d love to see them and feature them here.
Ty for the info and when I make it I will definately send pics
How will it stand up if I use it on my front porch?
Great question Lydia! I’ve seen people put a garden stake in a planter or use a patio table umbrella stand. Follow-up and tell us what works for you, and don’t forget to send pics :)
Please tell where I can find these pumpkins? I have looked everywhere and I can not find them.
They’re available at Target for $1 each right now (10/7/20). Check online to see if they’re available in your area. Search “pumpkin pail”
Thanks for the tips it looks great , going to do it plié the idea of solar light that way you can put it anywhere without the long cord, and turning it on and shutting off, love all your ideas .
Hi Carolyn – That’s a great idea! I would love to see how it turns out :) Send pics.
I loved doing this little decoration! I used a pirate hat instead and it looks great.
Thanks for the idea
Where did you buy the small white lights you used? They don’t look like the standard C7 bulb in the picture.
These are standard holiday LED string lights. I purchased from Target.