Learn how to make a cute 3D paper pumpkin with this super easy fall craft tutorial. Perfect for beginners and kids with step-by-step photos and video instructions!
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to make beautiful 3D paper pumpkins using an easy layering and gluing method that turns flat paper into awesome fall decorations. If you’ve already tried our origami-style 3D paper pumpkin, you’ll love how much simpler this version is. No tricky folding patterns needed! This craft is perfect for parents, teachers, and total beginners who want great-looking results without complicated stuff. I’ve also got a full video tutorial to make it even easier.
Perfect for mantel displays, classroom decorations, party centerpieces, or creating an entire pumpkin patch across your dining table. Make them in traditional orange, try trendy white pumpkins, or go wild with patterned scrapbook paper!
- Parents looking for budget-friendly fall decorations
- Teachers needing classroom-ready seasonal crafts
- Beginners wanting to build confidence with paper crafts
- Anyone creating a festive autumn display without breaking the bank
Project Specifications:
- Difficulty Level: Beginner-friendly (anyone can do this!)
- Cost: Under $3 (using supplies you likely have)
- Time: 15-20 minutes per pumpkin
- Ages: 6+ years (with adult supervision for cutting)
How to Make a 3D Paper Pumpkin
Things You’ll Need
Materials
- Colored craft paper in fall colors (recommend 65-80 lb cardstock – regular printer paper is too flimsy and won’t hold the 3D shape, while heavy cardstock is difficult to fold cleanly) – (alternative: use scrapbook paper with fall patterns for unique pumpkins)
- White paper for template (any weight works – you’ll only use this once to create your pumpkin shape)
- Green craft paper for leaves and stem (same 65-80 lb weight as pumpkin – consistency helps with overall structure)
- Craft glue or glue stick (liquid glue works best for secure bonds, but glue sticks are easier for kids to manage without mess)
Tools
- Sharp scissors (dull scissors create jagged edges that ruin the finished look – invest in good craft scissors)
- Pencil for tracing (mechanical pencils create cleaner lines than regular pencils)
- Sharpies or markers (optional, for adding decorative details to leaves and stem)
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Step by Step Instructions to Craft a 3d Paper Pumpkin
Step 1: Deciding the Size and Preparing the Template
First, decide how big you want your pumpkin. For a 2-inch wide pumpkin, grab a 5×5 or 6×6 inch square of paper. On white paper, draw half of a pumpkin shape. One side should be rounded (the outside) and one side should be straight (this will be your fold line). Cut it out carefully since this shape will be your guide for everything else.
Quick tip: Make your pumpkin shape a bit taller than it is wide. This looks way more like a real pumpkin. Think of it like a 3:4 ratio if you want to get technical, but eyeballing it works fine too.
Step 2: Trace and Cut the Pumpkin Shapes
Fold your orange (or whatever color you picked) paper in half. Make a good crease so it stays put. Now place the straight edge of your template right along that folded edge. This part is super important for getting the 3D effect to work. Trace the curved part with your pencil and keep that template from sliding around.
Step 3: Make Multiple Pumpkin Cutouts
Cut along the line you just traced, but here’s the key thing: keep the paper folded and DO NOT cut the folded edge. When you open it up, you’ll see one symmetrical pumpkin piece. Pretty cool, right? Now do this same thing 15 more times so you have 16 total pieces. I know it seems like a lot, but these all stack together to make your pumpkin look full and round.
What if they’re not matching? If some pieces end up bigger or smaller than others, your pumpkin will look wonky. Every few cuts, stack them up and check if they match. Trim the weird ones to fix them.
Step 4: Start Gluing Your First Two Pieces
Grab two of your folded pieces and keep them folded. Put a thin line of glue down one half of the first piece. Go from top to bottom but only on ONE side of the fold. Press the second piece on top and make sure the edges line up nice and neat.
Why only one side? This is what makes the magic happen. When you glue only one side at a time and keep switching, it creates that accordion fan effect that pops into 3D.
Step 5: Keep Adding More Layers
Now just keep going with the rest of your pieces. Add them one at a time and switch which side you put glue on each time. So if you glued the right side last time, glue the left side this time. Keep doing this until all 16 pieces are stacked up.
Don’t rush this part. Work on a flat table and press each new piece down for about 10-15 seconds before adding the next one. If you go too fast, pieces might slide around or come loose later.
Step 6: Fan Out and Shape Your Pumpkin
Okay, this is where it gets fun. Take your stack and gently spread it out like a fan. Then bring the first piece and the last piece toward each other to make a circle. The accordion folds you created will naturally puff out into a 3D pumpkin shape.
Step 7: Secure the Pumpkin Base
Put glue on both the first and last pieces where they touch each other. Press them together and hold for about 30-45 seconds while the glue sets. Your pumpkin should be able to stand on its own now with nice puffy curves.
Not staying closed? Your glue might not be strong enough, or you might need more pieces. Try making your next one with 18-20 pieces for an even rounder look.
Step 8: Add the Stem and Leaves
Cut 2-3 leaf shapes from green paper and a small rectangle (about 1 inch by 2 inches) for the stem. Roll that rectangle up tight and glue the edge to make a little tube.
If you want to get fancy, use markers to draw veins on your leaves. Glue the stem to the top middle of your pumpkin and stick the leaves around it. Let everything dry before you move it around.
Watch Complete Video Tutorial: 3D Paper Pumpkin
Having trouble following along with the pictures? No worries! I made a complete video tutorial on our YouTube channel that shows you every step.
👉 Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for more fun and beginner-friendly papercraft tutorials. That way, you’ll never miss out on our seasonal craft series and creative DIY ideas!
Tips for Beginners to Craft a Neat 3D Paper Pumpkin!
Use the right paper weight. Medium-weight cardstock (the 65-80 lb kind) works best. If your paper is too thin, the pumpkin will be floppy. If it’s too thick, you can’t fold it without it looking chunky.
Keep your cutouts the same size. Line up your template the exact same way every time you trace. Even if one piece is a little off, you’ll see it in the finished pumpkin. Check your pieces as you go and trim the weird ones.
Less glue is more. Put on thin lines of glue, not big globs. Too much glue makes the paper wrinkle and slide around, which is annoying to fix.
Want a fatter pumpkin? Use 18-20 pieces instead of 16. More pieces give you a rounder, smoother shape. Fewer pieces (like 12) give you a more angular look.
Give the glue a minute. If you’re using liquid glue, let your stack sit for 2-3 minutes before you form it into a circle. Otherwise, pieces might pop apart when you’re trying to shape it.
Add some personality. Draw veins on the leaves with markers or wrap thin twine around the stem. These little touches make your pumpkin look store-bought instead of homemade.
Make different sizes. Try mini pumpkins with 3-inch paper, regular ones with 5-6 inch paper, and big ones with 8-inch paper. Grouping them in odd numbers (3 or 5) looks better than even numbers.
Fun Ways to Display Your Paper Pumpkins
Mantel or Shelf Display Make 3-5 pumpkins in different sizes (use 3-inch, 5-inch, and 7-inch paper). Group them on your mantel with the biggest ones in back and smaller ones in front. Add some real fall leaves or mini hay bales around them.
Table Centerpiece Create a pumpkin patch down the middle of your dining table. Make 7-9 small pumpkins (3-4 inch paper) and scatter them with tea lights or small candles. Really cute for Thanksgiving dinner!
Hanging Garland Make mini pumpkins using 2-3 inch paper. String them on twine or ribbon and hang across a doorway or window. Space them about 6 inches apart. You can mix in paper leaves too.
Tiered Cake Stand Display Stack different sized pumpkins on a 3-tier cake stand. Put your biggest pumpkins (6-8 inch paper) on the bottom tier, medium ones (4-5 inch) in the middle, and tiny ones (2-3 inch) on top.
Corner Arrangement Make one statement pumpkin using 10-inch paper and surround it with 4-5 smaller ones (4-6 inch paper). Add a wicker basket or wooden crate underneath for that farmhouse look.
Classroom or Office Desk One medium pumpkin (5-6 inch paper) is perfect for a desk or bookshelf. It’s big enough to see but won’t take up too much space.
Window Sill Lineup Make 5-7 pumpkins all the same size (4-5 inch paper works great) and line them up on a window sill. The light coming through shows off the paper layers really nicely.
Common Questions About This Craft
Can I use regular printer paper instead of cardstock?
You can try it, but your pumpkin probably won’t hold its shape very well. It’ll be floppy and might collapse. Cardstock that’s around 65-80 lb works way better because it’s sturdy but still bends easily. If printer paper is all you have, make 20-24 pieces instead of 16 to help it stay up better.
Can I make bigger or smaller pumpkins?
Absolutely! Just use bigger or smaller paper. For tiny 1-inch pumpkins, start with 3×3 inch paper. For big statement pumpkins that are 4-5 inches wide, use 8×8 inch paper or bigger. Keep using 16 pieces no matter what size you make.
Do I have to use exactly 16 pieces?
Nope, you can change it. Sixteen pieces give you a nice round pumpkin, but 12 pieces work if you want a more angular, geometric look. Use 18-20 pieces if you want it super round and smooth. Just don’t go below 10 pieces or it won’t form a proper circle.
How do I store these after Halloween?
Here’s the cool part. You can actually flatten them! Just carefully pull apart the first and last pieces where you glued them together. The whole pumpkin will collapse back into a flat stack. Put it in an envelope or folder with a label, and next year just re-glue that one spot to put it back up.
I love seeing what you guys make! When you finish your paper pumpkins, snap a pic and share it on social media with #thecraftaholicwitch so I can see your creations and cheer you on.
Your pumpkins might inspire someone else to give this project a try!
I’d especially love to see:
- Different color combinations you try
- Size variations (tiny to huge!)
- Your own creative twists
- How you styled them in your home
Final Thoughts
Making 3D paper pumpkins is honestly one of my favorite fall activities. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and you end up with decorations that actually look good. This project works great for sprucing up your home for fall, Halloween parties, classroom activities, or just something fun to do on a rainy afternoon with the kids.
As a mom who loves crafting, I really appreciate projects like this that don’t require perfection. Your pumpkins can turn out magazine-perfect or charmingly wonky, and either way, they’re decorations you made with your own hands. Plus, when you realize you can make a whole pumpkin patch for less than the cost of one store-bought decoration, it just makes sense.
Keep making stuff, keep enjoying fall, and remember that homemade always beats store-bought!
Happy Crafting!
