Egg Carton Pumpkins

Egg Carton Pumpkins are a simple and creative way to turn everyday materials into festive fall fun.

With just a few basic supplies and easy steps, this project lets kids paint, bend, cut and draw while creating pumpkins full of personality.

It’s a low-prep activity that encourages creativity, fine motor practice, and plenty of imaginative play once the pumpkins come to life.

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Egg Carton Ghost Craft and Egg Carton Flowers Craft are fun crafts to use up your egg cartons. Pipe Cleaner Flowers are a fun, easy craft, too!

Why You’ll Love This Egg Carton Pumpkin Craft

• Simple and budget-friendly: Egg cartons, pipe cleaners, and paint turn everyday supplies into adorable pumpkins.
• Hands-on creativity: Kids paint, bend, and decorate each pumpkin, making every one unique.
• Fine motor skill development: Cutting egg cups, poking holes, and drawing faces strengthen hand control and coordination.
• Seasonal fun: The pumpkin theme makes this craft perfect for fall activities and Halloween crafting.
• Quick and engaging: Short steps and fast-drying paint keep kids interested from start to finish.
• Imaginative expression: Drawing different faces encourages creativity and storytelling.
• Cute finished result: The mini pumpkins make great decorations for tables, shelves, or classroom displays.

This egg carton pumpkin craft delivers creative fun, skill-building, and charming fall décor in one easy project.

Fun Activities to Extend Creativity and Learning

Here are activities that pair well with these Egg Carton Pumpkins — a simple recycled craft where kids turn egg carton cups into mini pumpkins using paint, pipe cleaners and markers, making it a great fall art and fine motor project.

Related Pumpkin & Fall Crafts

• Mini Paper Pumpkins: Cut pumpkin shapes from orange paper and decorate them with faces or patterns.
• Pumpkin Patch Collage: Glue multiple egg carton pumpkins onto a larger sheet to create a pumpkin patch scene.
• Paper Bag Pumpkins: Stuff brown paper bags with scrap paper and decorate them as pumpkins for a different texture.

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Art & Design Extensions

• Patterned Pumpkins: Add dots, stripes or zigzags with paint or markers to explore patterns.
• Color Mixing Pumpkins: Mix light and dark orange paint to create pumpkins in different shades.
• Face Variations: Draw different emotions on each pumpkin to explore expressions.

Fine Motor & Learning Activities with Egg Carton Pumpkins

• Counting Pumpkins: Count finished pumpkins and line them up from smallest to largest.
• Pipe Cleaner Practice: Twist and bend pipe cleaners into different stem or vine shapes to build hand strength.
• Cutting Skills: Practice cutting egg carton cups with supervision.

Fall Theme I Spy ‘Flip’ Board GameFall Yoga Cards for KidsFall Apple Roll and Color Math Games

Display & Group Activities

• Pumpkin Garland: String finished pumpkins together to create fall decor.
• Classroom Pumpkin Patch: Display all pumpkins together for a collaborative fall display.
• Storytime Connection: Pair the craft with a pumpkin or harvest-themed story for a seasonal activity.

These activities extend the Egg Carton Pumpkin while encouraging creativity, fine motor development, early math skills and seasonal exploration.

Egg Carton Pumpkins

Needed Supplies

• Egg Carton
• Green and Brown Pipe Cleaners
• Orange Paint
• Black Marker
• Scissors

How to Make Egg Carton Pumpkins

Cut several egg cups from the egg carton.

Paint cups orange. Allow to dry.

While cups are drying, cut 2-inch lengths of green and brown pipe cleaner, 1 set for each pumpkin.

Bend green pipe cleaners into a leaf shape.

Poke a small hole in the top of each cup.

Poke one stem (brown) and one leaf (green) through each hole. 

Draw faces on pumpkins with black marker.

Tips

– You can just poke the pipe cleaners through the hole, but a little hot glue on the inside of the cup will add stability.

– If you struggle with drawing the face, make triangles for the eyes and another one for the nose. Draw a regular smile for the mouth, but add 1-2 square teeth for the top and bottom.

More Pumpkin Crafts

More pumpkin crafts offer creative, hands-on projects that celebrate fall with playful and imaginative fun.

• Paper Pumpkin Craft
• Reversible Yarn Wrapped Pumpkin Garland
• Paper Plate Pumpkin Pie Craft
• Mason Jar Pumpkins
• DIY Candy Corn Pumpkin
• Printable Gratitude Pumpkin

Don’t miss out our other fun family-friendly kids crafts!