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Halloween is the perfect season to mix creativity with a little hands-on building fun. Hardware pumpkins take the traditional pumpkin craft to a new level by combining nuts, bolts, washers, small chains, and other hardware pieces into unique, imaginative decorations. These pumpkins are not only visually striking but also encourage kids to explore design, texture, and composition in a playful way. They are a fun, no-carve alternative that sparks imagination and gives children a creative outlet for their Little Builders spirit. Our Little Builders October workshop is sponsored by Midwest Fasteners.
Materials for Hardware Pumpkins
To get started or spark ideas for your own creations, consider these basic materials. Most of these can be sourced at Niehaus Lumber.
-
Foam pumpkins or small real pumpkins
-
Nuts, bolts, and screws in assorted sizes (courtesy of Midwest Faterners for our in-store activity)
-
Washers and small gears
-
Short chains or decorative hardware pieces
-
Copper wire or floral wire for stems or accents
-
Acrylic paint or paint pens for additional decoration (optional)
-
Safety goggles and gloves for children handling small parts
-
Hot glue and glue sticks for volunteer or adult use
1. Frankenpumpkin
Transform a pumpkin into a quirky monster using bolts, washers, and screws for facial features. This design encourages imaginative faces and is perfect for younger builders.
2. Steampunk Pumpkin
Combine gears, chains, and metallic hardware to give a pumpkin a mechanical, steampunk look. This style is great for older kids to explore texture and design.
3. Washer Eyes and Bolt Mouths
Use washers for eyes and bolts for mouths to create expressive faces on pumpkins. This approach is simple and allows for a variety of facial expressions
by @prekpages
4. Pumpkin with Nuts and Bolts
Decorate a pumpkin with nuts and bolts to create a unique and industrial look. This design is visually striking and encourages creative thinking.
5. Mixed-Media Hardware Pumpkin
Combine hardware with other materials like paint, ribbon, or wire to create a personalized pumpkin. This project allows for endless creativity and results in a Combine hardware elements with other craft materials to create a personalized pumpkin. For instance, you can use screws and nuts to form a face, and then add copper wire for antennae or a stem. This method encourages creativity and allows each child to design a unique pumpkin.
by @ellendavis0
Conclusion
Hardware pumpkins are more than a Halloween craft—they are a creative exploration of texture, design, and hands-on problem solving. They allow kids to combine imagination with real-world materials while creating decorations that are memorable and unique. Whether kids are making faces, mechanical designs, or abstract patterns, these pumpkins inspire innovation and play in a way that is perfect for the Little Builders spirit. With support from Midwest Fasteners and materials from Niehaus Lumber, families can bring this inventive trend to life and enjoy a Halloween full of creativity, imagination, and fun.
Halloween is the perfect season to mix creativity with a little hands-on building fun. Hardware pumpkins take the traditional pumpkin craft to a new level by combining nuts, bolts, washers, small chains, and other hardware pieces into unique, imaginative decorations. These pumpkins are not only visually striking but also encourage kids to explore design, texture, and composition in a playful way. They are a fun, no-carve alternative that sparks imagination and gives children a creative outlet for their Little Builders spirit. Our Little Builders October workshop is sponsored by Midwest Fasteners.
Materials for Hardware Pumpkins
To get started or spark ideas for your own creations, consider these basic materials. Most of these can be sourced at Niehaus Lumber.
-
Foam pumpkins or small real pumpkins
-
Nuts, bolts, and screws in assorted sizes (courtesy of Midwest Faterners for our in-store activity)
-
Washers and small gears
-
Short chains or decorative hardware pieces
-
Copper wire or floral wire for stems or accents
-
Acrylic paint or paint pens for additional decoration (optional)
-
Safety goggles and gloves for children handling small parts
-
Hot glue and glue sticks for volunteer or adult use
1. Frankenpumpkin
Transform a pumpkin into a quirky monster using bolts, washers, and screws for facial features. This design encourages imaginative faces and is perfect for younger builders.
2. Steampunk Pumpkin
Combine gears, chains, and metallic hardware to give a pumpkin a mechanical, steampunk look. This style is great for older kids to explore texture and design.
3. Washer Eyes and Bolt Mouths
Use washers for eyes and bolts for mouths to create expressive faces on pumpkins. This approach is simple and allows for a variety of facial expressions
by @prekpages
4. Pumpkin with Nuts and Bolts
Decorate a pumpkin with nuts and bolts to create a unique and industrial look. This design is visually striking and encourages creative thinking.
5. Mixed-Media Hardware Pumpkin
Combine hardware with other materials like paint, ribbon, or wire to create a personalized pumpkin. This project allows for endless creativity and results in a Combine hardware elements with other craft materials to create a personalized pumpkin. For instance, you can use screws and nuts to form a face, and then add copper wire for antennae or a stem. This method encourages creativity and allows each child to design a unique pumpkin.
by @ellendavis0
Conclusion
Hardware pumpkins are more than a Halloween craft—they are a creative exploration of texture, design, and hands-on problem solving. They allow kids to combine imagination with real-world materials while creating decorations that are memorable and unique. Whether kids are making faces, mechanical designs, or abstract patterns, these pumpkins inspire innovation and play in a way that is perfect for the Little Builders spirit. With support from Midwest Fasteners and materials from Niehaus Lumber, families can bring this inventive trend to life and enjoy a Halloween full of creativity, imagination, and fun.