Halloween brings costumes, trick-or-treating, spooky decorations, and one special symbol that steals the show every single year — the Jack-o-Lantern!
But did you know this happy-spooky pumpkin face has a story behind it?
Long ago in Ireland, people carved vegetables like turnips to hold small lights. They believed these glowing faces kept away wandering spirits on dark nights. Later, when the tradition reached America, pumpkins became the favorite — because pumpkins were bigger, easier to carve, and looked wonderfully festive.
Today, Jack-o-Lanterns are a fun Halloween icon — not scary, but silly, friendly, sparkly, or spooky depending on creativity.
And guess what? Kids don’t even need real pumpkins to enjoy them! With simple craft supplies like paper, cardboard, jars, and cups, little makers can create adorable Jack-o-Lanterns at home or school.
Let’s explore 15 jaunty Jack-o-Lantern crafts for kids that make Halloween extra magical!
✂️ 15 Jack-o-Lantern Crafts Kids Will Love
1️⃣ Paper Plate Pumpkin Craft
Paint a paper plate orange and glue on triangle eyes and a toothy smile.
Add a green paper stem and curly pipe-cleaner vines.
Simple, classic, and perfect for preschoolers!
2️⃣ Pumpkin Face Stick Puppets
Cut pumpkin shapes, draw expressions, and glue them to craft sticks.
Make a whole family: silly pumpkin, sleepy pumpkin, scary pumpkin, laughing pumpkin!
3️⃣ No-Carve Plastic Bottle Lantern
Recycle a bottle by painting it orange, adding a face, and inserting a tea-light.
Eco-friendly + cute!
4️⃣ Orange Balloon Jack-o-Lantern
Draw pumpkin faces on orange balloons with a black marker.
Great for party decorations!
5️⃣ Paper Bag Pumpkin Puppet
Stuff orange paper bags with newspaper, tie with green yarn, and draw faces.
Instant puppets for Halloween storytelling.
6️⃣ Cup Pumpkin Craft
Turn paper cups upside down, paint orange, add foam faces, and a little stem.
Mini pumpkins for table décor!
7️⃣ Tissue-Paper Pumpkin Mosaic
Tear orange and green tissue pieces and glue onto a pumpkin outline.
Textured art for toddlers and sensory play.
8️⃣ Rock-Painted Pumpkins
Collect rocks, paint them orange, and draw pumpkin faces.
Add googly eyes for extra silliness!
9️⃣ Foam Sheet Jack-o-Lantern Masks
Cut foam into pumpkin shapes, add elastic string.
Kids love wearing their pumpkin personalities.
🔟 Craft Stick Pumpkin Frame
Create a pumpkin shape with sticks, paint orange, glue on face pieces.
Add a photo inside as a “pumpkin portrait.”
1️⃣1️⃣ DIY Pumpkin Candle Jar
Paint a jar orange, draw a pumpkin grin, and put in a battery-operated candle.
Makes glowing night-light decor!
1️⃣2️⃣ Button Pumpkin Canvas
Glue orange buttons into a pumpkin shape and add a green stem button.
Perfect craft for older kids and fall room art.
1️⃣3️⃣ Pumpkin Garland
Cut paper pumpkins and string them across a wall.
Make faces with stickers or crayons.
1️⃣4️⃣ Pom-Pom Pumpkin Craf
Glue orange pom-poms into a pumpkin shape on cardstock.
Cute, fluffy pumpkin art!
1️⃣5️⃣ Clay Jack-o-Lantern
Use air-dry clay or play dough to mold mini pumpkins and carve faces.
Fun sensory + sculpting skill practice.
🤩 Pumpkin Face Ideas for Kids
Encourage little ones to explore emotions!
Ask them to design:
- Happy pumpkin 😀
- Scared pumpkin 😱
- Sleepy pumpkin 😴
- Funny pumpkin 😜
- Surprised pumpkin 😲
This helps build emotional expression + creativity.
🎃 Why Jack-o-Lantern Crafts Are Great for Kids
| Benefit | How it Helps |
| Fine-motor skills | Cutting, drawing, gluing |
| Creativity | Designing unique pumpkin faces |
| Emotional learning | Exploring expressions |
| Recycling | Reusing bottles & jars |
| Confidence | Displaying holiday art at home or school |
| Cultural understanding | Learning Halloween traditions |
Hands-on crafting turns festivals into memorable learning moments.
👨👩👧 Easy Ways to Celebrate Halloween with Kids
- Read friendly Halloween picture books
- Decorate the home with kid-made pumpkins
- Make pumpkin-shaped cookies or sandwiches
- Do a flashlight storytelling session
- Play “pumpkin face bingo”
- Host a mini costume parade at home or classroom
Halloween doesn’t need to be scary — it can be sweet, joyful, and playful.
💡 Safety & Tips
- Use child-safe scissors & glue
- Choose battery-operated lights instead of flames
- Let kids choose faces — no “perfect results” needed
- Display their pumpkins proudly — kids love seeing their work admired!
🍂 Final Thoughts
Jack-o-Lantern crafts are more than Halloween decor — they spark imagination, teach traditions, and let children express themselves through joyful art.
Whether it’s paper, jars, clay, cups, or rocks, each little pumpkin becomes a smiling symbol of childhood creativity and seasonal fun.
So gather your orange paper, glue sticks, and giggles…
and let the pumpkin party begin! 🎃✨