A decorative setup features a gray marbled vase holding tall dried grass, two black hexagonal cutting boards crafted from scrap wood with wooden handles in varying sizes, and a red floral cloth underneath, all elegantly placed on a wooden surface.
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DIY Scrap Wood Pumpkins

As an avid DIYer, it is inevitable that I have accumulated a surplus of scrap wood in the garage. Sometimes it comes in handy for a new project, as an aid to another or becomes a new project all together. Today we are in that latter camp with some DIY scrap wood pumpkins. With fall starting to creep in, I am getting the itch to fallify (that’s a word right?) the house.  And if you have learned anything from me over the years, I love to repurpose items especially if they can become decor for $0.  The best part is, I am going to show you how to make your own scrap wood pumpkins.

A decorative setup showcases two black octagonal wooden pumpkins crafted from scrap wood on a shelf, beside a tall vase of pampas grass. A red patterned cloth drapes elegantly over the shelf. Text reads "DIY Scrap Wood Pumpkins" with a website link below.This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my policies.

As I mentioned above, we have no shortage of scrap wood in our garage. Let’s just say its a good thing our garage is oversized and we don’t have large cars, haha!  You might recall this is not the first time I have scavenged my scrap wood pile and my  wood houses definitely inspired this project. 

A garage workshop features three orange buckets labeled "Let's Do This," brimming with wooden planks and scrap wood. Stacks of lumber and various tools are neatly organized on a wooden shelf above. Insulation and wood cabinets add depth to the background.

DIY Scrap Wood Pumpkins

Scrap Wood 
Wood Glue
Spray Paint (optional)
Miter Saw
Sander

Step 1

Rummage through your scrap wood pile and pick a sizeable piece. I chose to use a 20×9 inch piece of plywood I used to make a side table for our family room.  It was already painted from the previous project and would work well for my pumpkins.

Three orange buckets labeled "LET'S DO THIS" are filled with wooden planks and scrap wood in a workshop. Behind them, insulating materials line the wall. A stack of various wood pieces is neatly arranged in front of the buckets.

Step 2

Cut it in half. I wanted to make two pumpkins so I cut my scrap piece of wood in half with the miter saw. I didn’t cut it quite in the middle because I wanted one to be larger than the other. You could also use two smaller pieces depending on what kind of scraps you have on hand.

A miter saw with a bright green and black design is mounted on a workbench surrounded by scrap wood. It sits next to a brick wall and wooden fence, enjoying the backdrop of a clear blue sky.

 

Step 3

Make the 45 degree angled cuts. I wanted my pumpkins to be octagons so I set the miter saw to 45 degrees and rotated my piece of wood to cut off all four corners giving me the octagon shape. Save two of the corner scraps to use for later. To see video of how I did this, check out my scrap wood pumpkin story highlight on Instagram. When you make these cuts, make sure the side of the wood you want to be the front is on the top for all your cuts to prevent tear out on the face side.  

Two octagonal boards made from scrap wood are placed on a white surface. Painted black, they show a slightly weathered look with visible grain texture. The top board appears slightly smaller than the bottom one.

Step 4

Cut another small piece of scrap wood to use as the stems. I used the scraps from our new stair treads. These were long thin pieces perfect to cut a small amount off of. I never like cutting a small piece from a small piece because I don’t want to lose a finger, haha! I cut a 1×1 inch piece for the small pumpkin and 1×1.5 inch piece for the larger pumpkin. 

A wooden plank, perhaps salvaged from scrap wood, is positioned on a Ryobi miter saw stand, ready for cutting. The stand is set up on a paved area with decorative stones nearby. One corner of the miter saw blade can be seen in the background.

Step 5

Give the octagons, stems, and two of the corner pieces a light sanding to get rid of any rough edges or splintering. I used my orbital sander to do this. You could also do this with sand paper, I just think it’s faster to use the sander. 

An orange and black electric sander rests on a black wooden hexagonal surface. Nearby, small wooden blocks and triangular pieces of scrap wood are scattered. The background is a white surface.

Step 6

Spray paint the pumpkins. This step is totally optional, but because mine started out black and because the cutting and sanding took away some of my finish, I decided to give the octagons and the corner pieces a fresh coat of black paint. I chose to leave the stems natural. 

A can of Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover Paint + Primer in black sits on a workshop's wooden surface, surrounded by scrap wood, tools, and shelves in the background.

Step 7

Once all the paint is dry, glue on the stem and the corner pieces which will act as a stand for the pumpkins. Because I used 3/4 inch plywood, the pumpkins would not stand upright on their own and needed some additional support on the back. I let my glue set and dry overnight.  

A bottle of Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue sits on a workbench beside a black painted wooden piece, and scrap wood is scattered around. In the background, shelves brimming with various tools and materials create a bustling workshop setting.

Step 8

Set your pumpkins out and enjoy your fall decorating! I have only decorated the front porch and now the credenza with my pumpkins, but I am sure there is more to come 😉 

Two black, octagonal paddles crafted from scrap wood with wooden handles are displayed on a light wooden shelf. A vase with dried pampas grass and a red floral fabric rests beside them against a neutral wall.

This project was SO easy and it didn’t cost a dime! My favorite kind of project! But don’t worry, I have a big, exciting project in the works coming at you very soon. So stay tuned 😉 

Two black, geometric-shaped cutting boards, crafted from scrap wood and featuring wooden handles, are propped against a light wall. They rest on a wooden surface next to a decorative vase filled with dried, feathery plants.

Two finished black geometric wall hangings are displayed with an inset "Before" image of two rectangular boards made from scrap wood. An arrow points from "Before" to the wall hangings. The wall hangings have wooden pegs at the top. Text reads "Garrison Street design studio.

A decorative dried grass arrangement in a textured vase sits on a shelf crafted from scrap wood, next to two standing black chalkboard signs, one larger and one smaller. The brand name is subtly printed on the shelf.

If you enjoyed my DIY Scrap Wood Pumpkins, please share it on Facebook or hover over an image and save to Pinterest! And if you don’t already follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook, I would love for us to be friends!

A modern interior scene showcases a sleek console table crafted from scrap wood, adorned with a small potted succulent and two black geometric decor pieces. In the background, a staircase with cable railing adds to the contemporary vibe.

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Two black, octagonal wooden boards resembling pumpkins are displayed. Crafted from scrap wood, one is slightly larger than the other, each with a small rectangular stem. These boards are part of a DIY project titled "Scrap Wood Pumpkins" by Garrison Street Design Studio.

This post, DIY Scrap Wood Pumpkins, appeared first on Garrison Street Design Studio.

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