In today’s post: Spruce up your fall decor with these easy DIY plaid flannel pumpkins made with toilet paper rolls.
You’ve probably seen toilet paper pumpkins before – this is one of those crafts that’s been around for AGES. I mean, I think people were making these back when I was a kid and that was a LONG time ago. Anyway, I was at the fabric store the other day and saw a collection of gorgeous plaid flannels and decided the good old toilet paper pumpkin could use a little update. A PLAID update.
Crafting doesn’t get much easier than this, people. Find yourself some pretty fall colored fabric, wrap up a roll of toilet paper, and stuff a stick in the top for a stem: (pumpkin) mission accomplished.
How to make toilet paper pumpkins
As you’ve probably deduced, this craft hardly requires instructions, but it’s your lucky day–you’re getting them anyway. Start by gathering your supplies:
- Toilet paper rolls: I used “mega” rolls because they are a lot wider than the standard rolls. We want our pumpkins to look round and fat, not tall and square (more on that later)
- Fabric: you’ll need an 18 inch square of fabric for each pumpkin. You can buy a fat quarter, which is 18×22 inches, or purchase half a yard of fabric, which will be enough for two pumpkins. I used plaid flannel because it’s soft and pretty, but you can use pretty much any fabric you’d like.
- Sticks: you’ll want at least one 3-4 inch stick for each pumpkin stem. I just told my kids to find me some sticks last time we were at the park and then I cut them to size. If you don’t want to forage for sticks, feel free to buy cinnamon sticks and use those instead.
- Green ribbon or leaves
- A pencil
Watch this video to see how to make plaid flannel toilet paper pumpkins (written instructions follow):
1 – Lay out your fabric square. Place a roll of TP in the center. 2 – UNROLL the toilet paper 8-10 times. Then loosely ROLL it back up, twisting and scrunching the toilet paper as you do so. This give you a rounder pumpkin shape. 3 – Grab one corner of the fabric and tuck it inside the toilet paper roll, using a pencil to push it down. 4 – Continue with the other three corners, gathering up the fabric as you stuff each corner into the center of the toilet paper roll. 5 – Tie a ribbon around a twig and stuff it in the center of the pumpkin for a stem.
Did you catch the most important part of the instructions? Make sure to UNROLL the toilet paper about 8 times, then loosely roll it back up, twisting it as you do so, to make your toilet paper roll a little rounder. This makes the finished TP pumpkins much cuter!
Want more Halloween ideas? Check out some of these posts:
Print + fold Halloween bookmarks
Print + color Halloween masks for kids
20 best Halloween treats for kids
20 scary movies for tweens and teens
Marcie says
Love these pumpkins and it’s just what I need right now! I saw some cute pumpkins similar to this at JoAnn’s today and even though there was a good sale I just couldn’t see paying $5 for a small stuffed pumpkin. Well now I don’t have to! I’ve got plenty of fabric so I’ll be making a few this evening. Love your website! Thank you!
Kaelyn Smith says
Love this! So adorable
Linda Pasini says
This is something I think I can actually do! Thanks so much.
Deborah Albertson says
Oh it’s very easy. I’ve made 3 today.. And I love it.
Kym says
I feel out of touch! I’ve never seen these before but they are so adorable! That plaid is awesome!
LCJinCheltenham PA says
Love this – something I can make with The Grands, while knowing my minimalist DIL won’t be too upset because G’ma stuck her with something more to store – easy enough to take apart and keep the makings in one flat ziplock bag (or hand them back to me), They can even use the tp after Halloween!
Bernice Knight says
Since they are plaid, they can stay out all the way through Thanksgiving! Two holidays for the price of one!
Kim says
SO SO HAPPY U POSTED THIS ! ❤️THank u bunches , loving these and while I’m not the craftiest Grammie I’m going to pull this off with the kids ??very excited ? neighbor kiddos saw it and want to do it too ! Wonderful good instructions and it keeps them out of trouble double win !!
Debbie says
Very cute idea! Think I’ll be making some for Thanksgiving this year…
Mary says
this has to be one of the cutest things I’ve seen in a long time! Going to the fabric store tomorrow!
Lenora says
I love the pumpkins..I will be making some.
Kimberly says
I made these! They are so cute! Thank you for the idea!
Terri says
I also used brown pipe cleaners shoved into the center hole and wound them around the pencil to make curly vine looking accents.
Carol Jones says
These are so easy. I know my grandson will love helping me make them.
Wanda Denison says
This is a great and fun idea for fall decorations. Can’t wait to try it.
Ashley Holbrook says
Where do those fabric pieces come from?! I’m obsessed with the orange, black, and maroon one!!!
Karen Leonard says
So cute always forget how cute an easy. Keep in bathroom if run out of TP always got it on hand
Andrea says
I love this craft and will be doing it for a ladies craft night. Where did you get the wood slabs for the pumpkins to sit on? Or what other ideas does anyone have for the pumpkins to be displayed? I like the idea of some being higher.
P T Thomas says
Just saw this. WHERE did you find that Orange, Black, Rust color plaid flannel???
It’s PERFECT for this! I’ve been searching EVERYWHERE!
LOVE this idea!!!
Thank you!!!!
Autumn Baldwin says
I found it at JoAnn’s! Thanks!
susan says
great idea! how big is the fabric square please?
thanks,
susan
Arlene reno says
These are so cute. Love the video. I’ve been looking for a craft for a nursing home and wondered if this can be done with paper napkins?
Carole Rookes says
WOW WONDERFUL QUICK CHEAP EASY AND SO FAB I AM GOING TO MAKE SOME OF THESE, GREAT THING TOO IS THAT THE FABRIC AND PAPER CAN BE UNTANGLED AND USED AFTERWARDS AND THEN NEW FABRICS USED NEXT YEAR, THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT IDEA, CAROLE – FALL / AUTUMN AND HALLOWEEN FAN IN THE U.K.
Nancy Trenholm says
These pumpkins also look cute with bandanas !
autumn says
I bet they’re adorable with bandanas – what a good idea!
Nancy Trenholm says
Thanks, Autumn. I just did one in red with the wadded toilet paper at the top of the roll, covered it,
but pulled the bandana tight from the bottom to the top and left the last two tails sticking out and added
a twig. Wallah !! A red delicious apple !! Really cute.
Shirley Koehler says
I made my pumpkins they turn out very nice made about 10 of them with the grandchildren they took some home for their parents and school teachers certainly I took three of each kind. I made some with flannel bleach and orange plaid and a light fall plaid color and two made out of regular cloth orange and gold poke a dot they got nice. The kids enjoyed them self’s. Thank You
Teresa Cullnan says
Looks like fun! will try it soon. thanks for the idea1
Valerie Poutanen says
Rather than going to the fabric store to buy mateiral, I went to my local thrift store and bought several button up shirts and even a jacket in fall and neutral colors, even one knit type. Saved a bunch of money doing this considering the price of new fabric. Just had to cut an 18 inch square from the back and have some leftover materials and buttons for another project.
Gmama Jane says
Great tip! Gonna head on down to my local through store asap! At approx.$2 per flannel or plaid shirt, a Lot of cute pumpkins for cheap!!! Hint: I always wash any thrift items before using just because I’m a germ nut!
Karen Goodwin says
Thanks for this idea I have been pumpkin obsessed most of my life. I have made plaid and Halloween ones love them they are so fun and cute!