As soon as the Halloween-themed Pottery Barn Kids catalog hit our mailbox, Zack got busy pointing out all of the things that he “wished he could have.” Yeah, you and me both, Kid.
One of the things that he kept going back to was the Pirate Build-A-Pumpkin kit.
After looking at the photo in the catalog and reading the description, I figured I could make my own version of the adorable pumpkin accessories. Pottery Barn wants $12 each for the Pirate, Cat, Skull, and Spider sets, but I knew I could make all four of them for half of that.
Wanna know how? Yeah, of course you do. 🙂
1. I began by drawing out each of the pieces I wanted to add to each pumpkin.
Don’t fancy yourself an artist? No worries. I did the hard work for you and drew out everything you need for the four pumpkins. Click here to download the .pdf file of the artwork. The artwork is scaled for a medium sized pumpkin, so you will need to enlarge or reduce if you are using a large or small pumpkin.
2. Print out the .pdf and cut out the shapes for the pumpkin(s) you want to put together. For this tutorial, I am showing the Skull accessory kit.
Note: On the Cat set, you actually need to cut out 4 front and 4 back of the white rectangles, not 2 of each as noted on the artwork.
5. On the pieces that stick out of the pumpkin, I inserted a toothpick in between the front and back shapes to make a little toothpick sandwich. I just left a small portion of the toothpick sticking out to stick into the pumpkin. I had to break a few of the toothpicks in half so that they wouldn’t be too long. Once your little sandwich is put together, you will probably need to trim the edges so that the pieces match up nicely.
The pieces you will need to set up with a toothpick are:
- Pirate – Hat (I put one toothpick in the center and one on each side)
- Cat – Ears, whiskers
- Skull – Bones
- Spider – Legs
6. After assembling the rest of the pieces that layer on top of each other, draw in the faux stitching. On the white pieces, I used a thin black marker. On the black pieces, I used a silver metallic marker I found at the craft store for a few dollars.
8. Display your new friends proudly!
I can’t believe how much my knock-offs look like the “real” ones!
You can create your own Pottery Barn-inspired pumpkin kits for under $5 for all four of them. The only difference between these knock-offs and the real thing is some polyester stuffing in some of the pieces and actual stitching instead of faux stitching. Oh, and $43.
Zack really wanted his picture taken with his new pumpkins. Here he is posing with his favorite, “Fat Cat.”
Jenny@ L.O.T.s of Love says
Nicely done!
Runner Mom says
Just too cute! Love saving that 43$$! Your son and his pumpkin are precious!! Enjoy the day!
Hugs!
Susan
Amanda says
Awesome job!
Megan says
I love this! Definitely going to be making these. Thanks!
Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam says
Whoot whoot whoot – you rock!! LOVE THEM!!
PHARES CAUSEY says
Perfect! Couldn't have been done better!
Kathleen says
Your pumpkins are adorable! I have a PB WSonoma Outlet near me, I can't afford the real sore, so I hunt down bargains at the outlet.
In Monday's post I showed something you would like…and orig 19.00 for .25!!
Thanks for sharing your works of art!
Happy Fall!
http://www.cuisinekathleen.com
Amanda says
Great job. I'm definitely going to try this.
Mrs. (not) the Jet Set says
You are the best! You just saved me a ton of time. I was wanting to do that with the kids at the Halloween party!
Beth@The Stories of A to Z says
These are adorable! What a fantastic idea.
Sheri says
Hey now, those are adorable!!!!!
Cathy says
Definitely going to try these! They are so cute!!
niartist says
Oh this is just beautiful! Definitely a fantastic way to ring in fall! Oh, and if you're going to be doing any spooky Halloween decor, stop by my blog for a how-to and a giveaway! I hope you can!
frugal farmhouse design says
You did an amazing job on these. I did not even know they made felt like that. Thanks for the tutorial. This is one of the projects I will be doing with my younger guy. All the best, Lori
duchess says
You're good! They turned out great.
Jenny Garland says
Freaking awesome!!
Shanty 2 Chic says
Your pumpkins are adorable and your right! They look exactly like the PB pumpkins! Great job! ~Ashley
lindsey@junkstyle says
These look so GREAT!! They are just like the 'real thing'! Good idea!!
Jane says
Very cute…your son looks adorable with his pumpkins!! Thanks for the tutorial and the patterns.
Jane
pk @ Room Remix says
I can't believe how much they look like the real ones either! Great job Lindsey! They're adorable.
pk @ room remix
Richella says
So adorable! I'd rather do it your way and keep the $43 in my pocket, thank you very much. And thank YOU very much for telling us how to do it!
tinycandi says
cuuuuute! You always have such great ideas! 🙂
Marianne@Songbird says
Excellent! That will show them for asking such ridiculous prices. Job well done!
melissa * 320 Sycamore says
Adorable, Lindsay! I like yours better than PB!
Stephanie @ A Fine House says
omg! So cute! I love the "bones" one.
Courtney says
Those are adorable! And much less messy and dangerous than carving jack-o-lanterns.
southerninspiration says
What a lucky little boy who has a mamma that can give him all FOUR sets !!! Those are adorable, and he's pretty cute, too.
Suzanne
Nikki Cogg says
You're amazing!! I don't have kids but my husband and I love to decorate pumpkins, so we'll definitely be making a few of these!
Isabella & Max Rooms says
My kids want to come over to your house…
Janell
Lindsey @ Better After says
I'm totally going to do this! My three year old just wandered up and said "Hey! That pumpkin has BONES on it!" I asked him if we should make some, and his eyes lit up and he said "YEAH!"
😉
michelle@somedaycrafts says
These are awesome. I love the multi colored and multi-dimensional aspect of the felt. I will feature this on somedaycrafts.blogspot.com Thanks!!!
Cindy says
Love it! And it lasts longer than carving. Very cute!
Kelly says
i had no idea that sticky felt existed. how cute!
kelly
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com
Victoria says
Awesome! I saw these in PB and I too thought "I can do that". Thanks for sharing the template!
Annette says
That is fantastic! I love recreating higher priced items for less. Way to go!
Michelle says
Fantastico! My little guy will love this! I love things that are already done for me! Thanks!
Blondie's Journal says
Great job, Lindsay. I know you & Zack are both happy!! Take That PBK!!!
Happy Fall!! 🙂
xoxo
Jane
Style Sisters says
Hello!! Brilliant idea. They look as good as the originals. I love knocking off PB! 🙂
Lisa-Marie says
Lindsay, these look AH-MAZING! I shall perhaps have a pirate pumpkin this year!
nopinkhere says
So super cute!
Will definitely be some at our house this year–Thanks for the templates!
Tina says
Wow, great job! I think yours actually look better!!
Empty Nest Full Life says
I think yours look even better! and I know that sweet boy is delighted. Jackie
Catherine Hansen Peart says
These look fantastic!
Infarrantly Creative says
Lindsay so cute…love it. If you son is like my Isaac I bet your son will change out the faces to make a pirate cat and a skull spider.
Sarah says
Love it! I'm so going to try this.
Thanks!
Amber B. says
Those are adorable! I really can't tell the difference between yours and the PB ones. Very good job!!
adrienne says
fabulous lindsay! you rock!!! i'm on my way to hobby lobby!
Lynette says
I Loooooooooooovvvvvvveeee that idea! How cute, and how simple. Thanks for sharing the idea!
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality says
Very cute, Lindsay! You are definitely ready for Fall & I bet your cute little ones loves it all too.
Marie says
Hello Lindsay – oh my, I'm lovin' your PB look-alikes! In fact, I really like yours better. Especially that sweet kitty! Great job and thank you for sharing the pattern. Emma would love to make one!
Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
Kasey at Thrifty Little Blog says
Yours are just as good… even better! (My favoite is also Fat Cat 🙂 )
nanny says
those are some of the best pumpkins I have ever seen….great job!
Wendy says
Love them!
Julia says
Very cute. I cannot believe how similar they look to the pb ones!
sonia says
i just received my PB catalog yesterday and these caught my eye. i love that you put a tutorial together. yours rock!!!!!! thanks from all the folks on a budget and think PB prices are crazy stupid!!!!!!!! hey, how about you make a tutorial for one of those $69.00 costumes featured. we would love it!!!!!!!
KellyH says
Looks exactly like the pottery barn ones!!!!
Anonymous says
I love the ideas of saving money on Halloween crafts. Especially ideas from the PB. I love that place. Keep up the good work. Keep the frugal ideas coming our way.
janadec9 says
Thanks so much for figureing this out..and then posting so the rest of us don't have to!
little bird says
i recently started a blog for nursing home activity directors. I search the web for great ideas for them to use. I used this one the other day. It really came out great
Mandy says
Just discovered your site and love so many of your ideas. I would love to feature your "Pottery Barn on a Budget" over on our site Steals and Deals (www.stealsdeals.blogspot.com)! We have a day where we share with our readers how to save some $ and this piece would be FAB! Of course I would direct all of our readers to your site. 🙂 Please let me know, thanks!
gasnb@msn.com
Sarah says
Congrats on a beautiful job! I LOVE THEM!!! God's blessings, Sarah 😀
Anonymous says
Love it – I almost bought one but now am going to make them instead.
Great site.
Meghan says
I totally adore this!
You are the Queen of all craftiness!!!!
Love, love, love it!
Diane@A Picture is Worth.... says
Lindsey,
I just discovered your blog through Gracious Southern Living…great project!
Valerie says
What a great idea! I have added you to my file box at thecraftersfilebox.blogspot.com.
Thanks for sharing!!
Kristin says
Lindsay, you are so ridiculously creative. LOVE the pirate! And your little man is adorable. p.s. You looked gorg in Leigh's wedding photos. : )
Misia Pepa Adventures says
What a great idea. Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial. This pumpkins are so cute I can wait to do this.
Peanut says
Just wanted to write and tell you that we made them! My kids had a great time. I posted my blog link, so you could see the pictures. I also credited your site to friends, who wanted to make the pumpkins for themselves.
Thank you!
http://arrowjones.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-have-to-have-to-have-to-share-fun.html
Anonymous says
First time reader. Can I say I love you? This is such a cool tutorial. I think my son is going to love you too! THANKS so much!!! Will be doing this over the weekend!
bj says
omgosh….I am a first time visitor to your amazing blog. I don't know how I've missed it all this time but I just became a follower so I won't lose you….:)
Amazing pumpkins and they DO look just like PB.
Please come by sometime…
xo bj
Petit Debutant says
I'll definitely be making these knock-offs too!
Anonymous says
I came across your blog yesterday and found this project. it is super awesome. I had to make the pirate pumpkin today! My boys each made their own pirate pumpkin and loved it. Thanks for the DIY
Jamie says
I just printed out your pdf file to make my own PB project! What a cute, clever, and bargain idea. This will be a DIY project this weekend.
Jessica says
Ive linked you to my blog! your site is great 🙂
http://myquarterlifecrisisjmu.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-round-up.html
Nicole says
You are soooo creative! Thanks for the great idea1 Me and my kids just made our own pumpkins following your instructions!
amber gariety says
These are so cute! I can’t wait to try them this Halloween. We have been growing lots of pumpkins in our garden and will have lots to carve and decorate.
Tom Coleman says
Su-weet! You are amazing… it’s funny, we get so used to buying stuff, that we don’t realize that buying imitations is just that (imitating), and making it ourselves is the way to make lasting memories. When you’re a kid, you actually want to DO stuff, create stuff… not just buy it. Great job!
amanda pedro says
awesome job! My kids will love it. Kinda like a large version of Mr. potato head. I think I’ll use foam sheets as that’s what I have on hand. Thanks again for sharing
Amanda says
We liked this so much over at Copycat Crafts that we have decided to feature it today! You can view it here
http://www.copycatcrafts.com/pb-kids-inspired-pumpkins/
We’d love it if you’d like to display a featured button! You can grab your button on the right hand side of your post. Thanks!
Kids Kitchen Playset says
Thanks Lindsay for the ideas for creating a Pottery Barn Halloween on a budget.
I love pottern barn’s kids range but you are right they can be really expensive
Thanks again
Katie
Lori says
I ran across this post on pinterest and loved it!
Mary says
These are the most adorable pumpkins, ever!!! I love them! Great share, thank you!!!
Lindsay Ballard says
Thanks, Mary! They are SO easy to make!
cherryl says
Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you, Thank-you!!!! This is exactly what I needed and you did such a good job. You are awesome for sharing your patterns with us and we are grateful. God Bless!!
Lindsay Ballard says
You are so welcome, Cherryl!