How to Make Hand-Formed DIY Concrete Pumpkins – No Mold Needed!

With this simple, beginner-friendly, and fun technique, learn how to make  DIY concrete pumpkins of any shape using dollar store pumpkins.

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With fall around the corner, there is pumpkin everything in the air. Fall decor is all about warm tones and cozy things.

I have been looking forward to trying my hand at a concrete project for a while. I thought concrete pumpkins would be a great way to start off working with concrete.

But to make concrete projects, you first need a mold. And didn’t want to make the usual run-of-the-mill concrete jack o lantern using plastic pumpkins.

Looking through videos of concrete projects, I realized that the consistency of concrete mix depended on the amount of water used. So, you could, in essence, make a putty-type texture and hand-form it.

So, I decided to play with it a little bit and give it a go. I love how they turned out and it only took about an hour to make!

RELATED: Easy 5-minute Fall Wreath

How to Make Cement Pumpkins

Here is a quick video showing you how to make these cement pumpkins. I also have the step by step tutorial listed below.

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DIY Concrete Pumpkins Tutorial

Step 1 – Mix Concrete

Put on your dust mask and gloves to get started. You don’t want to be breathing in the concrete dust.

• Mix the concrete mix with warm water in the bucket per the directions.

I used the directions for the hand-formed mixture. The concrete consistency should be almost like clay or Play-Doh. It should be easily moldable and not too hard or soft.

Step 2 – Hand-Form Pumpkins

• Slowly form the concrete on top of the faux pumpkin.
• Make sure the layer is not too thick so you can see some of the pumpkin’s ridges on the shape. I also added concrete on the “stems” of the pumpkins.

The great thing about this technique is that you can use any shape/size of pumpkin and hand form over it. No molds are needed!

• Once covered completely, lay the pumpkins on a plastic bag or parchment paper to dry.
• Leave to dry for 24 hours.

Step 3 – Paint

• Paint in your choice of color and pattern.

Once the concrete is dry, you can go to town painting or decorating the pumpkins however you like.

I decided to use a bunch of metallic colors to add some fun patterns. I added a stripe pattern, a gold-dipped effect, and a paint drip effect (which has to be my favorite one!). I also painted the stems with metallic green.

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That’s it! Simple 3-step DIY concrete pumpkins!

I really love how they turned out. And it was so easy too! I think hand-forming the shapes opens up a whole new set of possibilities!

No need to worry about molds… now I can turn any shape into concrete! My head is already spinning with all the ideas.

Do you know they also have pigments you can use to color the concrete! There are so many things I could do with them!

You will also love these 33 unique no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas and these 20 fun DIY wood pumpkin ideas

Other Easy DIY Concrete Project Ideas

• DIY concrete flowers – made using a similar technique! 
• Easy Concrete and copper planter – because concrete and copper were born to be together!
• DIY Concrete planter with wooden feet – Combining concrete with my favorite component – wood.