Craft your own pumpkin tea light holders

This October is all about making your own decorations, DIY Halloween costumes and spooky snacks. We're going fully DIY and if you fancy joining us then this is the tutorial for you!

Heather Nugent has created a step-by-step pumpkin tea light holder tutorial which is easy to follow and creates adorable mini pumpkins. These clay cuties can stay up in your home all autumn long.

We've also got a bonus Halloween project for you! Heather shows you how to make these beautiful DIY Halloween jars which make brilliant, minimalist decor items. We love the spooky set-up the jars and pumpkin tea light holders create when paired on a shelf together.

Ready? Let's make some easy pumpkin tea light holders together.

These pumpkin tea light holders and DIY Halloween jars were originally featured in Your Home magazine.

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How to make your pumpkin tea light holders

Materials for your pumpkin tea light holders

• LED tea lights (TruGlow LED Mini Votives candles, £24.99 for six, Lights4fun)
• Clingfilm
• Air-dry clay and clay tools (try Sculpd pottery kit, £39, Sculpd)
• Acrylic paint and paintbrush

Top Tip: Use LED candles instead of real-flame ones for safety.

If you're new to the world of air dry clay, make sure you check out our how to use air dry clay tutorial.

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Step 1

Wrap your tealight with clingfilm to protect it. Make a ball of clay about the size of a small orange and then make a dent on one side.

If you're feeling extra creative, follow our how to make air dry clay tutorial and hand-make your materials.

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Step 2

Press the tealight into the dent and then push it down until it’s sunk fully into the clay.

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Step 3

Pull out the tealight and then use a clay tool to cut vertical grooves at 3cm intervals around the outside of the clay.

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Step 4

Shape the edges to give the candle holder a pumpkin-like appearance and smooth it out with a splash of water.

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Step 5

Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make two more candle holders and allow them to dry fully.

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Step 6

Once dry, use your acrylic to paint one pumpkin charcoal black, one mid grey and one light grey, then allow the paint to dry.

This step can be customised depending on your taste and style. Paint your mini pumpkins in autumnal shades, Halloween colours or simply colours that match your home decor.

Apply a second coat of paint if required.

For an extra shiny finish, cover your pumpkin tea light holders in varnish (you can learn how to do this by reading our varnish for air dry clay guide).

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Step 7

Insert your flameless tealight to finish. Your adorable pumpkin tea light holders are complete! Perfect for gifting or displaying this Halloween.

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Bonus Halloween decor project: How to make Halloween jars

Materials you need to make your Halloween jars

• 3 x glass dome bell jar: minimum 14cm diameter
• Newspaper
• Matt black spray paint
• Scissors
• Black card
• Glue stick
• Hot glue gun
• Sticky tape
• Invisible thread

Download and print the bat and cat for your DIY Halloween jars templates here.

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Step 1

Lay down some newspaper to protect your surface and spray paint the bases of the bell jars black (do this outside or somewhere that’s well-ventilated). Allow to dry fully.

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Step 2

Download and print the cat, bat and spider templates.

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Step 3

Cut out the templates and trace them onto black card, you’ll need one of each of the bats, one of each of the larger spiders and two cats. Cut out a few of the small spiders too.

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Step 4

Bend the bat and spider shapes slightly to give them a more 3D feel.

Use the glue stick to glue the two cat pieces together then fold out the tabs on the paws in opposite directions.

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Step 5

Use the glue gun to make web-like strings of glue inside the jar and stick a couple of small spiders to the sides.

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Step 6

Use sticky tape to attach some invisible thread to the back of the bats and larger spiders.

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Step 7

Use the glue gun to attach the threads to the tops of the jars so that the shapes hang inside.

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Step 8

Glue the cat to the base so it stands up.

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Step 9

Finish by placing the jars onto the bases. Your Halloween jars are complete!

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Create your own Halloween decor with Gathered

Quick and easy, these pumpkin tea light holders and DIY Halloween jars are the perfect project for a spooky weekend with loved ones.

Stock up on DIY Halloween treats, brew some witches punch and create your own Halloween decorations this year.

Make a Halloween wreath to complete your creepy decorations

Heather has also created a beautiful DIY Halloween wreath tutorial for you to make here on Gathered. Follow Heather's instructions and make Halloween decor your friends and family will be jealous of!