Learn how to make simple 3D DIY pumpkins using plywood. They make the perfect indoor or outdoor fall decor and can be easily put away for storage.

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Title Tag: DIY 3D Plywood Pumpkins (Free Printable Pattern & Cutout Guide) Meta Description: Learn how to make 3D interlocking plywood pumpkins using scrap wood and a jigsaw! Includes a printable pumpkin pattern and outdoor sealing tips.

DIY 3D Plywood Pumpkins (Free Printable Pattern & Cutout Guide)

Fall looks a little different where we live, but it doesn’t mean I don’t still like to decorate for the season! Real pumpkins are great, but they don’t always last all season long. Especially after we carve them for Halloween, there is nothing worse than carved pumpkins sitting for a couple of weeks. Yuck!

I decided to make 3D DIY wooden pumpkins out of plywood (scrap plywood to be exact). These simple plywood pumpkins are easy to make in different sizes, budget-friendly (use scrap plywood or multiple pieces from one sheet!), and they can be dismantled to store completely flat.

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How to make plywood pumpkins

Whether you use them on your front porch, in your yard, on a fall mantle, or as a centerpiece on your dining table, these 3D plywood pumpkin cutouts are incredibly versatile.

Step 1: Prepare Your Plywood

To make the wood pumpkins, you will need two pieces of plywood. You can easily use scrap plywood if you have pieces that are large enough.

• Cut the plywood using a circular saw and a straight-cut guide.

You could also have your local home improvement store cut your plywood for you if you don’t have a circular saw.

RELATED: How to Use a Circular Saw Without a Table

Step 2: Make a Pumpkin Template

• Make the pumpkin template.
  I freehanded this, but you can pull up images online as references. Remember, it doesn’t matter if it isn’t perfect. Natural pumpkins are never perfect 🙂

Here is how to make the template:

• Decide on the size of your pumpkin
• Fold a sheet of paper in half
• Draw half the pumpkin on one side

Drawing the pumpkin shape on folded paper will make sure that it is symmetrical. It is very important that the pumpkin shape be symmetrical.

• Cut out the pumpkin shape, keeping the paper folded for a symmetrical full pumpkin.

• Trace it onto one of the pieces of plywood. This time, we are tracing the complete pumpkin.

Step 3: Cut Out the Pumpkin

It is time to cut out the pumpkin using a jigsaw. We need two identical cutouts for the the 3D effect to work.

• Clamp the two pieces of plywood together so that they are exactly aligned.
• Cut out the pumpkin shape using a jigsaw.

Important: Clamping the two pieces of plywood together while you cut will create two perfectly identical cutouts at the same time. Making sure they match is crucial for sliding them together later! As you are cutting, don’t worry too much if you deviate from the drawn line a little bit.

• Cut the stem off one of the cutouts. This will be the bottom cutout for your pumpkin.

Step 4: Cut out the Interlocking Slots

This is the hardest part of this project only because it needs a little bit of measuring and math – but I’ve got you covered.

In order for the pumpkin cutouts to fit together, you have to calculate the center line and the height of the slot.

Here is how to do that:

• Measure the width of the bottom of the pumpkin.
• Divide that by 2. This is the midpoint of the pumpkin. You can draw a center line if you like.
• measure the thickness of the plywood.
• Divide that by 2 and mark that width on both sides of the center line.
• Measure the height of the pumpkin.
• Divide that by 2. This is the height of the slot.

Measure and mark the center of each cutout.

I used my template to draw the center line, but you could also use a straight-edge guide.

Draw lines for a 3/4″ slot on the bottom half of the cutout with the stem and on the top half of the cutout without a stem.

I used my combination square to draw the slots in the cutouts that will allow them to slide together.

Once the slots are measured and marked, cut them out using a jigsaw.

Step 5. Finish

Once the slots are cut, slide the two cutouts together for a perfect pumpkin. They should fit together snugly because we aren’t using wood glue.

You want to be able to pull them back apart to store them away when the season is over.

Sanding is optional. If they don’t quite fit together, you can lightly sand the slots to make it easier.

Depending on how smooth you want the painted finish to be you could sand each cut out before painting.

You can leave them natural or paint them any way you want. Be creative and have fun with it.

You could use spray paint, or paint them with a paintbrush. Add some raffia around the stems or distress them for a rustic look. The possibilities are endless!

When painting a solid color as I did with orange paint, be sure to use a base coat of primer first to ensure even coverage.

As you can see, you can make them in all shapes and sizes. That’s what makes this project so much fun!

Check out these 21 Creative DIY Wooden Pumpkin Ideas for more ways to make wooden pumpkins.