Make a Giant Jack-o'-Lantern From Trash!

What if I told you that you could make a giant spooky Jack-o’-Lantern statue entirely from trash?

Yes, bubble wrap, yogurt pots, plastic bags, all turned into an epic Halloween centerpiece!

Let’s get crafting!

For the Youtube tutorial, click here: https://youtu.be/V1oGm258vPY

1. Balloon (for the pumpkin base)
2. Wet paper towels & glue
3. Orange tissue paper
4. Paper mâché clay (store-bought or homemade)
5. Yogurt container
6. Bubble envelopes or bubble wrap
7. Plastic bags (non-degradable)
8. Masking tape & hot glue
9. Ram Board or heavy cardboard
10. Foam pieces
11. Cereal box cardboard
12. Kraft paper
13. Aluminum foil
14. Acrylic roller or sculpting tool
15. Paints (orange, black, gray, green, etc.)
16. Silk paper (orange)
17. Canvas fabric or tote bag
18. Green denim or fruit netting
19. Burlap cord
20. Battery-powered string lights

1. Blow up a balloon to your desired pumpkin size.
2. Cover it completely with wet paper towel strips, let it dry, then brush on glue and layer orange tissue paper until you have full coverage.

1. Using paper mâché clay, sculpt eyes, nose, and mouth shapes.
2. Stick them onto the balloon like stickers while still soft.

1. Use a yogurt container as the pumpkin’s neck.
2. Place the balloon on top.
3. Wrap the yogurt container in a bubble envelope (cut slits at the end to fold neatly underneath).
4. Secure everything with masking tape.
5. Roll long strips of bubble envelope to add volume around the neck.
6. Cut an oval shape from another bubble envelope, keeping its sealed edge intact so the cut piece remains two connected sides.
7. Tape that sealed oval to the chest area, stuff it with plastic bags for volume, then close and secure the opening with masking tape.
8. Place two balls (made from stuffed bags or foam) on the shoulders and tape them securely in place.
9. Insert plastic bags into each other to form shoulders, then wrap additional plastic bags around the yogurt container for the torso shape.

Stabilize everything using Ram Board, cutting slits around curved edges for a snug fit. This will keep the head and torso aligned and give you solid surfaces to attach more details.

1. Use a cardboard cylinder (like a duct tape roll) as the center post.
2. Cut a foam circle that fits around the cylinder — this becomes the base.
3. Place your statue on the pedestal.
4. Add two foam squares beneath for extra support and hot glue everything together.
5. Wrap Ram Board around the bottom of the torso, cutting slits to fit the curves.

1. Brush on glue and cover the chest with Kraft paper strips.
2. Roll plastic bag strips into cords and glue them around the head to mimic pumpkin ridges.
3. Cover the cords with glue-soaked Kraft paper, wrapping them like foil on hair.
4. Once dry, paint the entire pumpkin orange, adding layers of orange silk paper for extra texture.

1. Trace the inner and outer circle of an empty masking tape roll on cardstock.
2. Cut small slits along the outer edge, fold them inward, and tape neatly.
3. Cover the lid with glued Kraft paper.
4. Cut a leaf shape from a cereal box, staple it to the lid, and cover both with paper mâché clay.
5. For the stem, roll aluminum foil into a coil, bend it, and cover it with clay.
6. Carve subtle lines for realism.

1. Add a band of paper mâché around the pumpkin head where the lid sits — but don’t attach it yet! This band will later hold the lid and stem in place.
2. Smooth it with a roller and add two smaller vine-like bands on the sides.

1. Draw leaf shapes on bubble envelope material and cut them out.
2. Cover them with fabric from an old canvas tote bag or similar material.
3. Hot glue folds to add texture, then glue the fabric leaves across the pumpkin’s chest to form a tunic.
4. Wrap additional fabric strips around the shoulders and back for layering.

1. Cover the first step of the pedestal with paper mâché clay, smoothing with a knife.
2. For the rest, glue small cereal box squares to mimic stone tiles — paint them gray once dry for a realistic stone look.

1. Paint all details:

Eyes, nose, mouth, vines, and lid — black

Pedestal — gray

1. Carefully cut open the top of the pumpkin and remove the balloon (wait at least 3 days for full drying before cutting).
2. Reinforce the inside with cardboard strips.
3. Add cereal box bands around the lid’s base, cover them with clay, and paint them black.

1. Insert battery-powered string lights inside the head.
2. Decorate around the opening and lid with green denim leaves, fruit netting, and one red leaf for contrast.
3. Wrap burlap cord around the pumpkin’s neck to hide seams and give it a rustic touch.
4. Hot glue the lid securely on top.

And voilà, your giant recycled Jack-o’-Lantern statue is complete!

Perfect for greeting trick-or-treaters or standing guard on your porch.

The best part? It cost nearly nothing — just a few dollars for the burlap cord. Everything else was made from recycled materials!