How To Make Wood Bead Pumpkin Stems

A few years ago I was shopping locally and saw this adorable floral arrangement using pumpkin stems. I couldn’t go into the store at the time, but if I could have, I would have purchased some. The store isn’t selling the item this year, so I wanted to figure out a way to make pumpkin stems like they had in the store, myself. It took me a while to figure out the best way to do it. But then it finally dawned on me to try using wooden beads and bbq skewers.

Trying a new craft can go south pretty quickly, but fortunately, while, they didn’t turn out exactly like the ones I saw in the window display, they turned out close enough, all horseshoe games aside.

DIY Wood Bead Pumpkin Stems

These make-it-yourself wood bead pumpkin stems are super cheap easy to make. You can even turn them into jack-o-lantern stems for Halloween. Oh, the possibilities to make this craft your own.

Paint Dying The BBQ Skewers

1. Mix a quarter cup, or so, of black and brown paint together.
2. Next, add a few tablespoons of water and stir well.
3. Put the wood skewers into a large plastic food storage container and pour watered-down paint over the skewers.
4. Use a set of tongs to mix the skewers around in the paint until completely covered. Let sit for 15 minutes or so. Remove skewers onto several layers of paper towel to drain. Rotate the skewers until they’re no longer dripping (kind of like you do with bacon.) Let them sit on the paper towel until completely dry.

Making the Wood Beads Look Like Pumpkins

5. Mix about a quarter to half cup orange paint (I used Pumpkin Orange), with one tablespoon water and stir well.
6. Place the wood beads into a smaller plastic food storage container and pour the watered-down paint over wooden beads. Use a set of tongs, once again to stir the beads around until fully covered. Let sit for 15 minutes. 

7. Thread the beads through an unpainted skewer, or several, depending on how many you have. Suspend the skewers over the container to let the excess drip off.
8. Turn the skewers about ever 10 minutes until paint is mostly dry. Allow for drying overnight.

Gluing the Wood Beads and Skewers Together

9. Add glue to the blunt end of the painted skewer. Thread the pumpkin bead through the skewer and glue.

10. Position the bead to allow a small tip of the skewer to show. Use an unpainted skewer to spread the glue along the painted skewer so it doesn’t look drippy.
11. Spread a small bit of glue to the top part of the painted skewer to make the tip look thicker or more like a real pumpkin stem.

Allow the glue to dry overnight.

Add the Pumpkins Stems to a Fall Arrangement

13. Arrange with dried grasses, sprigs, or dried floral from your yard. I even added a bit of faux eucalyptus.
14. Spray with glitter dust (optional).
15. Add jack-o-lantern faces with a thin paintbrush and black paint (optional).

The wood beads came in a 16 count packet, so I’m going to try to paint some jack-o-lantern faces, next. I’ll update the post with a photo if they turn out cute.

Pretty easy, don’t you think? How would you use these in your fall decor?

• Our Favorite BBQ Sauce and How to Make Bottle Cap Magnets
• 8 Clever Hacks That Will Make Faux Plants Look Realistic
• How to Make a Pumpkin out of Chicken Wire
• St Patrick’s Day Shamrock Shaped Sugar Cookies – No Cookie Cutter Needed
• Free Hello Fall Pumpkin Printable