We loved making a gumball costume so much that we created a matching pumpkin gumball machine. Yes, that really is a pumpkin decorated like a vintage gumball machine. It’s a simple, festive project that adds a playful, seasonal touch to any Halloween display.
Supplies:
- Small round pumpkin with a short stem (a sugar pumpkin works well)
- Assorted gumballs
- Edible adhesive or candy melts (so the gumballs remain edible), or hot glue if the pumpkin is purely decorative
- Red plastic cup
- Aluminum foil
- Double-sided tape
- Craft knife
- Black cardstock or construction paper
- Pencil
Instructions:
- Use a craft knife to cut an opening in the bottom of the red plastic cup large enough to fit the pumpkin stem through. Cut carefully to keep the rim intact.
- Cut a piece of aluminum foil about 2.5″ x 3″. Attach it to one side of the cup with double-sided tape to mimic the shiny coin slot panel on a gumball machine.
- Make the crank from black cardstock: cut a rectangle and a small circle, then tape them together. For a three-dimensional look, scrunch a small ball of foil and hot-glue it behind the crank before adhering the assembly to the foil-covered panel.
- If you plan to use the pumpkin contents later, remove them now. Replace the pumpkin lid, place the pumpkin upside down on the cup and mark where the cup meets the pumpkin with a pencil.
- Apply your chosen adhesive along the penciled line (edible adhesive or melted candy for an edible display; hot glue for a nonedible decorative piece). Press gumballs into the adhesive, working in sections until the entire pumpkin is covered.
- Once the gumballs are secured and the adhesive has set, place the decorated pumpkin onto the cup and add a little glue where the cup and pumpkin meet for extra stability.
Note: Use edible adhesive or candy melts if you want the gumballs to remain safe to eat. If you use hot glue to attach them, the gumballs should be considered nonedible.
Photos by Jeff Mindell
This pumpkin gumball machine is perfect for a Halloween centerpiece, a festive front-step display, or a playful addition to a costume-themed party. Once finished, pair it with matching decor and your gumball costume for a cohesive, creative look.
This post was created in partnership with a sponsor. All content and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep creative projects like this going.