Embroidery Hoop Pumpkin Lantern | DIY Fall Decor Tutorial

You know how sometimes you see something in the store and bam!—the perfect craft idea pops into your head? That’s exactly what happened when I was at Walmart last night. I spotted these embroidery hoops and immediately knew I had to turn them into the cutest little pumpkin lantern. I came straight home and got to work, and I can’t wait to show you how fun and easy this project is!

Supplies You’ll Need:

• 2 embroidery hoops 

• Hot glue gun & glue sticks

• Stick Fast glue (optional, for extra hold) Get it here on my affiliate link

• Cardboard

• A jar, cup, or other round object for tracing

• Tea light candle (I used a battery-operated one from Walmart)

• Orange Acrylic Paint 

• Paintbrush

• Spanish Moss

• Craft wire

• Cinnamon (for texture & scent)

• Mod Podge

• Fabric scraps (fall colors/patterns)

• Greenery

• Buttons (Walmart – brown, green, and fall tones)

• Brown craft paper (for tag)

• Sharpie extra fine point marker

• Dixie Belle antique wax (black)

• Baby wipes (or other material for applying the wax)

• Scissors

Step 1 – Create the Pumpkin Frame

Grab your two embroidery hoops. You’re going to use the full two hoops from one set, and the inner ring from the other hoop (the one without the clamp)—set that part aside for a future craft. Slip the three hoops together with the outer ring with the clamp on the very outside so they form a pumpkin shape. Make sure the clamp ring is at the top to act as your pumpkin stem. To secure it, I added a little Stick Fast glue where the hoops touched, then went back over the joints with hot glue for extra hold.

Step 2 – Make the Base and Tea Light Platform

Trace a large circle (I used a jar) onto cardboard for the base and a smaller circle (I used the tea light itself) for the inside platform. Cut both out and test fit them—you want the small circle to fit perfectly inside the pumpkin without too much wiggle room. Trim as needed.

Step 3 – Add Color

Paint the hoops and both cardboard pieces with orange acrylic paint. My favorite orange paint is Toasted Terracotta from Folk Art. Be sure to get all the edges and inside curves.

Step 4 – Assemble the Pumpkin Lantern

Once everything is dry, hot glue the pumpkin-shaped hoops to the large cardboard circle, then glue the smaller cardboard circle inside the pumpkin where your tea light will sit. Center everything as best as you can.

Step 5 – Hide the Base

Wrap Spanish moss around the bottom to hide the base and add texture, securing it with hot glue.

Step 6 – Make the Pumpkin Stem

Loop craft wire around 3 or 4 of your fingers a few times. Leave the bottom looped so it can slip over the clamp at the top of the pumpkin, then wrap it around and secure it with hot glue.

Step 7 – Add Rustic Texture

For a rustic, grungy finish, dab Mod Podge randomly around the pumpkin and sprinkle on cinnamon. Shake off the excess (I used my blow dryer to get cinnamon out of the moss as needed).

Step 8 – Add Greenery and Tendrils

Cut springs of greenery and hot glue them around the base of the stem. Wrap more wire around a pen to create curly pumpkin tendrils, then glue them in place.

Step 9 – Make and Attach the Bow

Make a small, simple bow from your fabric scraps and glue it to the stem.

Step 10 – Create and Attach the Tag

Cut a small tag shape from brown craft paper. Write “fall” (or your desired word) on it with a Sharpie extra fine point marker and add little dots for a cute touch. Crumple the tag a few times, then age it by wiping on some antique wax with a baby wipe. Add a little black Dixie Belle wax for extra grunge if you like, and hot glue the tag in place. Top it with a button.

Step 11 – Add the Tea Light

Slide your tea light inside, and your embroidery hoop pumpkin lantern is ready to glow!

I hope you enjoyed this embroidery hoop pumpkin lantern tutorial as much as I loved creating it! It’s such a cozy, budget-friendly fall craft that can brighten up your home or make a thoughtful handmade gift. Now it’s your turn—grab those hoops, add your own creative twists, and make it uniquely yours. I’d love to hear how yours turns out! Drop a comment below with your favorite part of the project or any fun ideas you added. And if you give it a try, don’t forget to snap a picture and share it with me on social media—I absolutely love seeing your creations! If you found this tutorial helpful, please share it with a friend or pin it on Pinterest so more crafters can join in on the fun. Let’s keep inspiring each other this season!

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