Concrete Pumpkins

It’s felt like fall lately… the temps have dropped and the days are getting shorter. You know what that means, right?

It’s pumpkin season!

Today I’m sharing a project I originally shared over at Fox Hollow Cottage. Exciting news!! I’m a new monthly contributor (pinch me, please!) and I couldn’t wait to share my latest pumpkin project: Concrete Pumpkins!

I love texture and these pumpkins don’t disappoint!  They also bring such a lovely contrast against regular pumpkins.

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Here’s how to make them:

Concrete Pumpkin by The Wood Grain Cottage

You’ll need:

-Portland Quikcrete

-Sphagnum Peat Moss

-Perlite

-Water

-Plastic Pumpkin

-Cooking Spray

-Plastic Wrap

———

Start by mixing equal amounts of portland quikcrete, peat moss & perlite.

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Then, add enough water to make a wet cottage cheese-ish mixture… Technical, I know!

Mix well.

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Cut a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin…

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Then cover the face of the pumpkin with plastic wrap. Hold in place with a strong tape. I used duct tape.

Concrete Pumpkin by The Wood Grain Cottage

Spray the inside of the pumpkin with cooking spray…

Concrete Pumpkin by The Wood Grain Cottage

Start filling with the concrete mixture, packing it as tightly as possible.

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Let the pumpkin dry at least 24 hours and then remove the plastic wrap.

Concrete Pumpkin by The Wood Grain Cottage

Allow it to dry at least 24 hours.

The next day, use snips and and a razor blade to remove the plastic shell.

Concrete Pumpkin by The Wood Grain Cottage

Concrete Pumpkin by The Wood Grain Cottage

For the next pumpkin, repeat all the steps above…

Concrete Pumpkin by The Wood Grain Cottage

But instead of filling the entire thing, use another plastic container in the center. Be sure to spray it with non-stick spray too.

Conrete Pumpkin by The Wood Grain Cottage

After 24 hours, remove the center container and let it sit another 24 hours before removing the plastic shell.

Once the shell has been removed, let the pumpkins sit at least 72 hours to a week to fully dry and cure.

If you want, lightly paint the eyes and mouth. Sand to distress.

See, they’re easy! But so worth it!

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

Concrete Pumpkins by The Wood Grain Cottage

I absolutely love them! They look aged and time warn and I adore the chippy and crumbly look. They’re also very sturdy and heavy, so I imagine they’ll last as long as I want them too!

They look perfect with fall mums and pine cones and I can’t wait to spook-ify them for Halloween!

It’s beginning to look a lot like fall around here… and I’m excited about the change!

Here’s to fall!

Shayna | The Wood Grain Cottage

Linking up to:

Fox Hollow Cottage

The Inspired Room

So Much Better With Age

The DIY Show Off

The Lettered Cottage

Fox Hollow Cottage

45 Comments

    1. Awe- Shannon! THANK YOU so much! You’re right, they’re definitely going to be used from the beginning of fall alllll the way into Thanksgiving! 🙂
      HUGS!
      -Shayna

      Reply

  7. They’re soooooo cute:) Like super cute…love ’em girl!!! You are so darn crafty, Shayna!
    Ok…TOTALLY cute lol;) Blessings & <3,
    M

    Reply

  8. Love this project. First of all, where can you find inexpensive plastic pumpkins like you used on the first pumpkin? Second, why do you have to use Sphagnum Peat Moss and Perlite with the concrete?

    Reply

    1. THANK YOU so much, Erin! I found the pumpkins at Walmart. I bought the pail for $1 and the other was $5. You could probably find one at the dollar store too, but when I was looking they weren’t out yet!
      Also, the peat moss and perlite break up the concrete so it’s not so “solid”. They cause “bubbles” and give the pits and pockets and make that crumbly appearance. You could absolutely just use concrete, they just won’t have the texture.
      I hope that helps! 🙂
      -Shayna

      Reply
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  23. Hi Shayna – I love these! I do have a question though- in the pictures of the finished pumpkins the facial features look indented on the solid pumpkin, but in the how-to photo’s it looks like they would protrude. Any further tips on how you achieved the indented looking effect?

    Reply

    1. Hi Karla! Great question! When I was making the pumpkins, I made sure the concrete was filled in tightly around the eyes. Once I removed the plastic mold, I was left with indention’s of the face, even though they don’t really protrude out. I hope that helps! 😀

      Reply

      1. I tried this and they looked more like dirt than concrete?! You used equal parts of quick Crete, sphagnum and perlite? Feel like I need much more concrete. I adore these and will try them again! Renae

        Reply

        1. Hi Ranae! So happy you tried them! Try adding in a bit more quickcrete, and mixing, mixing, mixing. I found after making a few other concrete things that the mixing is a very important step, especially with the perlite and moss. I hope that helps!

          Reply

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