How to Make Easy Vintage Lace Pumpkin Decor

Written byMichelle Dickson Updated

Transform a plastic pumpkin bucket into elegant DIY pumpkin decor with vintage lace for a budget-friendly fall craft that lasts through Thanksgiving.

Got an old plastic pumpkin bucket lying around your home?

Don’t toss it—give it a charming makeover with vintage lace!

This easy DIY pumpkin decor idea transforms a simple trick-or-treat bucket into elegant fall decor that looks beautiful from early fall all the way through Thanksgiving.

Best of all, this lace pumpkin craft is practically free, making it one of the easiest and most budget-friendly ways to elevate your seasonal decorating.

Keep reading to learn how to make your own vintage lace pumpkin!

Sunnyside home is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, this blog earns from qualifying purchases with no additional cost to you. Click here to read our  full disclosure policy.

Gather Supplies for Pumpkin Decor

Before you get started, gather a few simple supplies to make this DIY pumpkin decor project easy and stress-free.

I love collecting vintage lace while thrifting or browsing antique shops, but don’t worry if you don’t have a stash on hand—you can easily age new lace with a simple tea dye to create beautiful, timeworn shades.

Get creative with your pumpkin stem!

Look around your home to see what you can repurpose into a stem—old hardware works perfectly (I keep a container just for this!)

Here are some other fun ideas for unique pumpkin stems:

Do you have any other ideas that would make a great pumpkin stem?

Drop us a comment below and let us know!

Prepare the Plastic Pumpkin Bucket

While we’re using a plastic pumpkin bucket as the base for our vintage lace pumpkins, you could also use a craft pumpkin to save a little time.

Woman spreads dry wall mud on a pink plastic pumpkin bucket.
Drywall mud spread on a pink plastic pumpkin bucket to cover the jack-o-lantern face.

The first step is to fill in the jack-o’-lantern face— we used drywall mud and a spatula to smooth it into all the recessed areas.

Once the mud is completely dry, sand the edges with fine-grit sandpaper until the surface is smooth.

White painted plastic pumpkin bucket turned upside down.

After sanding, coat the pumpkin with a paint-and-primer spray designed to bond to plastic.

We chose white for a neutral base, but you could also pick a contrasting color, depending on how you’d like your pumpkin decor to look.

Let the paint fully cure before moving on to attaching the lace.

Are you enjoying this project? Please Pin It, save it for later and share it with a friend.

Sharing is caring!

Pinterest image, Easy Pumpkin DIY made with vintage lace an a pumpkin trick-or-treat bucket.

Attach the Vintage Lace

Now, it’s time to attach the vintage lace.

Various pieces of vintage lace.

Start by laying out your lace and deciding how you want it arranged on your pumpkin.

I initially planned to cut medallions from lace scraps, but I didn’t have enough to cover the entire pumpkin.

Instead, I grabbed various widths and shades of vintage lace and decided to apply them vertically in a random pattern.

Hold each strip against the pumpkin and cut it about ½” longer than the pumpkin’s height.

We also flipped the pumpkin bucket so the bottom became the top, with the bucket opening at the base.

Woman applies hot glue to white painted pumpkin bucket.
Woman applies vintage lace to pumpkin bucket.
Woman applies vintage lace to pumpkin bucket.

Apply a little hot glue around the ridge of the bucket and attach your first strip of lace, then add glue at the bottom and secure the lace there as well.

Woman applies vintage lace to pumpkin bucket.

Wrap the lace around the bucket opening to the inside.

Make sure to protect your fingers with a silicone finger guard—it’s a lifesaver for hot-glue projects!

Continue with the next piece of lace, overlapping each strip slightly, until you’ve gone all the way around.

Woman applies vintage lace to pumpkin bucket.

For the final strip, choose lace with a pretty edge on both sides to complete your pumpkin.

Once the sides are covered, cut a few pieces of lace to fit the top of the pumpkin.

Woman applies vintage lace to pumpkin bucket.

Before gluing them down, drill a small hole to accommodate your pumpkin stem.

Woman applies a lace medallion to pumpkin.

To finish, add lace medallions around the ridge for extra detail and cover the raw edges of the lace.

With wrapping, overlapping, and layering, you’ll achieve a beautiful, textured vintage lace pumpkin that looks elegant and unique.

Welcome to Our Site

If you’re new here, welcome! We’re so glad you’re here.

Let us introduce ourselves, we’re Michelle and Steph, a mom and daughter team who love to DIY and decorate our homes.

Not only are we passionate about making our homes warm, comfortable and unique, but it’s our mission to help you create that same feeling in your own home.

You’ll find ideas for repurposing, creating, decorating and making your home truly yours, while always mindful of a tight budget.

Undoubtedly we love finding ways to make your home look high-end on a small budget.

Plus you’ll also find a recipe or two as we share our family favorites with you.

We’d love it if you’d join our community of doers so you won’t miss any inspiration for your home.

We love new friends.

Add a Pumpkin Stem

Now it’s time to add the pumpkin stem, which really brings your vintage lace pumpkin to life.

You can get creative here—use a faux stem, a real dried stem, or even repurpose something from around your home.

First, if needed, drill a small hole at the top of your pumpkin to fit the stem snugly.

Then, use hot glue or a strong craft adhesive to secure the stem in place.

Vintage brass door knob is glued to the vintage lace pumpkin.

I chose to drill and hold my door knob pumpkin stem and adhere it with E6000 glue.

Make sure that your stem is steady while your glue cures.

Once the glue on my pumpkin stem has set, I tied a piece of lace around the knob for the final touch.

This simple addition instantly transforms your pumpkin bucket into an elegant piece of fall decor, ready to display on a mantel, table, or entryway.

Let’s stay connected! Follow us on social media!

Style and Enjoy

Now it’s time to style and enjoy your vintage lace pumpkin!

Vintage lace pumpkin decor with an old brass door knob stem, styled on a vintage dresser.

Place it on a mantel, shelf, entryway table, or even as part of a centerpiece.

Pair it with other fall decor like mini pumpkins, candles, or autumn leaves to create a cozy seasonal display.

Vintage lace pumpkin decor with an old brass door knob stem, styled on a vintage dresser.

I decided to place my vintage lace pumpkin decor on my entry table and styled it with my textured vase and burgundy stems.

Vintage lace pumpkin decor with an old brass door knob stem, styled on a vintage dresser.

Certainly this easy pumpkin decor adds elegance and charm to any space, and the best part is that it lasts from early fall all the way through Thanksgiving.

Step back, admire your work, and enjoy the compliments on your beautiful, budget-friendly DIY pumpkin!

For 9 more pumpkin decor ideas using trick-or-treat-buckets, check out our YouTube channel.

Shop Fall Pumpkin Decor

More DIY Pumpkin Decor

Final Thoughts

And there you have it—a gorgeous vintage lace pumpkin you made yourself!

This easy DIY pumpkin decor is budget-friendly, stylish, and perfect for adding charm to your fall home.

Vintage lace pumpkin decor with an old brass door knob stem, styled on a vintage dresser.

Don’t forget to share your creations with friends or on social media, and be sure to pin this tutorial for later so you can recreate it year after year.

Happy crafting and enjoy your beautiful fall decor!

We hope you found some inspiration for your fall home today.

Please share your tips and ideas with us.

We love hearing from you!

If you’re new here, WELCOME! We love having new readers and friends!

You can learn more about us here.

Let’s stay connected! Join our DIY community of doers and you won’t miss the weekly updates and more inspiration for you always on a budget.

Sharing is caring!

Pinterest image, Easy Pumpkin DIY made with vintage lace an a pumpkin trick-or-treat bucket.

Thanks for stopping by Sunnyside Home. Empowering you to create a home you love!

Michelle Dickson

Retailers We Love

Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for even more home decor and DIY ideas.

To see what we are working on before it’s on our blog, follow us on Instagram.

You will also find our video tutorials on our YouTube channel.

What New . . .

I have always had a passion for transforming spaces and creating organized, functional homes. Even as a child, I loved rearranging furniture and decorating my childhood home. In fact my dad would comment he was afraid to come home from work and sit, for fear the furniture would be rearranged. I enjoy the challenge of turning ordinary items into extraordinary pieces, whether it’s a piece of furniture or an entire room. My creativity and attention to detail drive me to find unique ways to breathe new life into any space.

As a wife (to a supportive and patient husband, Steve), mother of three, and grandmother of five, I balance my love for home improvement with family life. I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, and exploring nature. I also frequent yard sales, thrift stores, and vintage markets, always on the lookout for my next project.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *