How to Make an Egg Carton Pumpkin Craft for Kids

If you need a fun craft activity to make this Fall, then look no further. I have the perfect way to make an Egg Carton Pumpkin Craft. With just a few simple materials your kids can make these adorable decorations for Autumn, Thanksgiving or Halloween.

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Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times. Some of the links provided in this blog are affiliate links. I will be paid a commission if you use this link to make a purchase.

More Fall Themed Kids Craft Ideas

My kids always have so much fun whenever we make an easy craft. With a few simple craft supplies you can also make some of these other Fall craft ideas with your toddlers and preschoolers.

For more ideas, take a look at these 100 Easy Fall Arts and Crafts for Kids.

Materials Needed

Egg Carton Cups
Orange Paint
Green pipe cleaners
Scissors
Paint brushes

If your kids love painting pumpkins, but you don’t want to waste food. Then you can also try these Pumpkin Painting Kits. These 3D pumpkins can be painted anyway you like, and you can keep them to decorate the house year after year.

How to Make an Egg Carton Pumpkin Craft

1. Paint your empty egg carton orange.

I used orange acrylic paint to coat the outside of the cups. I find that doing this step first is easier because an intact egg carton is easier to hold when painting than holding the individual cups is.

2. Let the paint dry before moving onto the next step.

3. Cut out each of the individual egg cups.

Take a pair of scissors and divide the old egg cartons into each of the individual cups. Young children may find this step a bit tricky, and may need an adult to help them.

4. Make a small hole in the top of the pumpkin.

I used a push pin to make a small hole in the top of each pumpkin. I like using push pins, because with adult supervision even young kids, like preschoolers, can do this step themselves.

However if you don’t have a push pin on hand, an adult can use a pair of scissors or a sharp knife instead.

5. Cut a 1 inch (roughly 3 cm) length of pipe cleaner and fold it in half to make your pumpkin stem.

If you don’t have any pipe cleaners, you can also use green popsicle sticks instead. You’ll just need a much larger hole if you’re using popsicle sticks for your pumpkins.

6. Insert the end of the pipe cleaner stem into the small hole.

Make sure that you insert the end of the pipe cleaner with the two loose ends into the pumpkin. Do not insert the joined end.

7. Bend the ends outwards.

Turn the pumpkin over, and bend the two loose ends of the pipe cleaner outwards. This will secure your pumpkin stem into place.

If you like, you can add some extra stability to the stem, by using sticky tape or hot glue to glue the ends of the pipe cleaner to the inside of the egg carton pumpkins.

8. Enjoy your little pumpkins.

There are several different ways you can now use your pumpkin craft.

Use them as a table decoration for thanksgiving dinner.
Use them to make a pumpkin patch, like in this counting pumpkin seeds sensory activity.
Grab some black acrylic paint or permanent marker to make a jack-o-lantern face. (This is a great way to get into the Halloween spirit)

What You’re Learning

Creativity

Arts and crafts are a great way to use your imagination and then have the freedom to create that idea with your hands.

Creativity is important not only for artistic pursuits, like painting or music, but also for problem solving. Which is an essential life skill that everyone needs to develop.

How will your children make their egg carton pumpkins unique? They may want to try:

Stacking two egg cups on top of each other, making a ball shape.
Using a different color. They may want a green, purple or rainbow pumpkin instead.
Draw funny faces on the front of their pumpkins.

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills refer to the small muscles in the hand and fingers. Developing these skills are important in being able to write when the kids go to school, as well as being able to complete tasks independently. (For example, dressing and feeding themselves).

Holding and using paintbrushes, scissors and push pins are all going to help young kids develop: