How to Make a Pumpkin out of Chicken Wire

Can you make a pumpkin out of chicken wire? Yes you can!! This project only took me about an hour and a half to do. Using 1″ chicken wire and a pair of wire cutters, I was able to form several pumpkins in varying sizes with my bare hands… tucked inside a pair of gardening gloves, of course!  Let’s just say that after making a chicken wire lamp shade and chicken wire mini seamstress form, I’ve had a scratch or two.   So wearing a pair of gardening gloves is the very first step in what I would call the easy-does-it guide for how to make a pumpkin out of chicken wire.

How to make a pumpkin out of chicken wire:

Supplies
1 Roll of 24″ length – 1″ Chicken wire / fence
(Note:  if you use a longer length roll, you will be able to make bigger, fatter pumpkins)
Craft wire cutters
Thin craft wire
Garden gloves (or any pair of safety type gloves)
Can of spray paint

Put on your pair of garden or safety gloves.

Unroll and cut pieces of chicken wire along the length of the roll. Allow about 6 inches on the top and bottom for twisting and forming the top and bottom of the pumpkins.

Cut several strips of craft wire into 2″ pieces

You will also want to cut a piece several feet long for when you are about to wrap the pumpkin handle (this step will be several steps below.)

Form the chicken wire piece into a cylindrical shape with cut ends on top and bottom; crossing the length ends over each other by about 3 inches. Line up the wire honeycombs.  Note: It works best if you form the cylinder by folding the chicken wire against the natural way it wants to curl up on itself.

Using the 2″ strips of craft wire, tie off the lined-up section in two places along the seam. Make sure it is in the center area and not near the top and bottom.

While your gloves are still on, begin to gather the top or bottom end section with your hands and scrunch the ends together.

Continue to scrunch together and start to twist the ends slightly .

Repeat this step for the opposite end.

Next hold one of the ends (which should start looking like a pumpkin stem or handle)  and while twisting, pull the outer, non-stem wire section outwards to form a bowl shape, if you will, around the stem or handle.

The top part should be subtle, and like the handle part of a pumpkin. At this point you can wrap the long length of craft wire around the make shift pumpkin handle.

The bottom section or stem-looking part should be more severe and deep, so that the outer-bowl area allows the pumpkin to stand up evenly. You can also wrap craft wire around the bottom stem if you choose; however I did not do this form mine.

Finally, pull, push and form the chicken wire – while still wearing those gloves –  until you have the pumpkin shapes you are pleased with.

Spray paint your pumpkins white, black, orange or even blue!

Add more detail with craft paint or make them rusty with one of these rust causing techniques!!

I think these pumpkins look pretty darn cute next to the Re-Purposed Home Decor for Halloween project from last year.

Chicken wire pumpkins

Have you seen all the crazy fun Fall and Halloween pumpkin craft ideas going on around the web this season?   I’m wishing I could make every one of them. Hopefully you think that these chicken wire pumpkins are in that category, too!

And if you do happen to make a few… just BE SURE TO WEAR SOME GLOVES!!
Thank you for stopping by ~ Amy

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