How to Make an Enchanting Pumpkin Cottage with Paper Mache!

Watch the step-by-step video tutorial here!

In this whimsical craft project, I’ll guide you step-by-step  through creating a mini pumpkin house. This project starts with a small paper mache pumpkin. You can check out the tutorial for three easy ways to make your own paper mache pumpkin  in this video or this article. 

Fear not, we're keeping this project super budget-friendly by DIYing our own tiny door hinge with some affordable galvanized wire.  Mini hinges are hard to find, and they can be expensive, so of course, we're going to make our own.

Oh! Before we get started, I should let you know that I sculpted a clay wizard toad to live inside this little pumpkin house. If you're interested in making a toad or frog yourself, check out that article here! 

Step 1: Carve the Door

• Use a serrated knife or pen knife to cut a door in your paper maché pumpkin.

• Pull out the fiberfill stuffing and the plastic bag from inside.

• Cover the cut edges of the door and the door opening with a layer of paper maché for a polished finish.

Step 2: Add a Floor

• Cut foam board into pieces small enough to fit through the door opening.

• Secure the pieces inside the pumpkin with friction, ensuring they form a stable base.

• Paper maché over the floor for added durability. 

Step 3: Install Lights

• Create a slot in the foam board for the battery pack.

• Thread fairy light wires through a small hole in the floor. Arrange the lights in the pumpkin's roof.

• Cut a plastic circle from a container and cover it with scrunched blue tissue paper to diffuse the light. Glue this in place as a ceiling inside the pumpkin.

Step 4: Create a Hinged Door

• Use  some cheap 20-gauge galvanized wire from the hardware store to create a door hinge. There's a detailed DIY hinge tutorial in this video or this article.

• Cut a straight length of wire and bend one end into a decorative spiral.

• Coil another section of wire around a toothpick and bend both ends into a decorative spiral.

• Slide the coil off the toothpick and onto the first bit of wire. 

• Bend the remaining straight wire end into a decorative coil.

Step 5: Prime and Base Coat

• (Optional) Prime the pumpkin with gesso to create a smooth painting surface. (Note, you can DIY some gesso by adding a bit of clue and cooking starch to acrylic paint of any colour!)

• Paint the exterior of the pumpkin orange and the stem green.

​Step 6: Paint the Interior

• Now you can decorate the interior of your pumpkin house in any way you'd like!

• I applied a light blue base coat to the interior walls, followed by a darker blue second coat for a rustic look.

• I painted the floor a light tan colour. I think a little rug would be really cute too!

Step 7: Decorate the Interior

• When the paint is dry, you can decorate the interior of your pumpkin in any way you'd like!

• I used a dollar-store paper punch to cut star shapes from some decorative paper.

• I glued the paper stars randomly onto the walls. Stabbing the stars with a pin tool was a great way to pick them up and place them!

Step 8: Finishing Details

• Join the door to the pumpkin house with the hinge.

•  Make and install a small wire door pull.

• (Optional) Blend yellow and brown paints on the pumpkin's exterior for a more realistic and textured appearance.

And that's how you can make your own whimiscal  papier mache pumpkin cottage! I'd be thrilled if you'd check out the tutorial video below or find lots of other budget-friendly art projects on my YouTube Channel.

Are you going to sculpt your own paper mache pumpkin house? If you give it a try, it would make my day if you’d share it with me. I’m @JaneSawyerMakes on TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, Reddit, Threads,  and Twitter (X). Please share and pin this article!