I’ve always loved the charm of old-fashioned Halloween decorations, especially vintage jack-o’-lanterns with their funny faces and imperfect aged finishes. This year I decided to make my own DIY vintage-inspired jack-o’-lanterns, and I love how they turned out! They have that slightly aged, collected-over-time look I was hoping for, and they’re simple to make too.
For me, the hardest part was actually finding cheap plastic pumpkin pails in the off season. Persistence paid off, and over the summer I managed to find six at thrift stores around town. These jack-o’-lanterns look great inside or out for a festive fall display. If you’re looking for more affordable ways to decorate, check out my How to Bleach Pinecones blog post too.
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SUPPLIES FOR DIY VINTAGE-INSPIRED JACK-O-LANTERNS
- Plastic jack-o’-lantern pails
- Craft knife
- Copper spray paint
- Black paint (craft or wall paint works)
- Craft paintbrush
- Paper towels
- Hole punch
- Brown 16 gauge aluminum wire
- Wire cutters
- Battery-powered candles (optional)
HOW TO MAKE VINTAGE-INSPIRED JACK-O-LANTERNS
The first step is to use a sharp craft knife to cut around the jack-o’-lantern eyes, nose, and mouth. Take your time and use a fresh blade for cleaner cuts. If your cuts are slightly imperfect, that’s okay! Vintage pumpkin faces are often a little quirky, so perfection definitely isn’t necessary.
Once the face is cut, remove the original plastic handle. I used metallic copper spray paint on both the inside and outside of the pumpkin and let it dry completely. Starting with an orange pumpkin pail is ideal because it already has the warm undertones you want, so you may not need to fully paint the inside. While thrifting, I found pink, orange, and green pumpkin pails. The non-orange pumpkins needed a little more spray paint inside, while the orange ones needed much less — or could even be left unpainted inside altogether.
CREATING THE AGED VINTAGE FINSH
Once the spray paint was completely dry, I mixed basic black paint with about an equal amount of water. Any black paint will work. I used leftover wall paint from our formal living room. The mixture should look very watery and a little sheer — that’s exactly what you want.
Brush the watered-down black paint over the pumpkin and let it sit for a few minutes. Then use an old rag or paper towel to wipe most of it away, leaving the darker color in the grooves, around the edges, and in the face cutouts. If you want a deeper aged look, repeat the process after the first coat dries. Just make sure each coat is fully dry before adding another, or you can start removing the original paint underneath.
You may be happy with one coat or want another. It’s totally up to you! Remember a slightly imperfect finish is what we’re going for.
ADDING THE FINAL TOUCHES
Once the black paint is fully dry and you’re happy with the finish, it’s time to add the metal handle. I used a hole punch to make a slightly larger hole so I could easily thread in the 16 gauge wire. Pull out enough wire to create your desired handle length, but leave a little extra for bending it around the hole and cut with wire cutters. Nothing fancy here — just thread the wire through the hole and wrap it around. I left the exposed ends showing for a more rustic look, but you could also curl any leftover wire into a little coil if you prefer.
If the paint has only recently dried, this step can scratch it around the edges. Make sure everything is fully dry and take your time while wrapping the wire. If you do scrape off a little paint, just dab on some black paint to camouflage the spot.
THE FINISHED JACK-O-LANTERNS
These vintage-inspired jack-o’-lanterns are just as fun to style as they are to make. I love adding battery-powered candles or small battery-powered lights inside so the faces glow at night without having to worry about a real flame. They look great indoors on a staircase, mantel, or entry table, but they’re just as fun outside too. You can line them along a porch, tuck them into a fall display, or hang them from tree branches for a slightly spooky vintage look. The pumpkins themselves can handle outdoor decorating, although the wire handles may eventually rust if they’re exposed to rain. Honestly, I think a little rust would only add to the aged, imperfect look and make each one feel even more unique.
Shop some of my favorite Halloween decor items below and supplies used to make these Jack-o-lanterns below. Happy Halloween!
