DIY Reversible Pumpkin Snowman

Bring the outdoors in with this adorable DIY reversible pumpkin snowman made from wood slices. With this craft, create pumpkins that last all season and indoor snowman that won’t melt.

Driving through town last fall, my daughter fell in love with a pumpkin stack yard decoration made from wood slices. Her excitement went stratospheric when the seasons changed and pumpkin stack turned into a snowman.

When we needed to prune a tree, we couldn’t pass on the chance to make our own reversible pumpkin snowman stack, but for inside the house rather than the yard. If you don’t have a tree handy or don’t enjoy sawing wood, wood slices are available on Amazon or in craft stores.

My 4- and 5-year olds each painted a pumpkin/snowman stack and I joined in the painting fun as well. No matter the painting ability, this double-duty fall and winter decor is adorable. Add real or plastic fall leaves to the pumpkin stack in the fall. Change to real or plastic holly or other greens for winter or Christmas.

Enjoy this dual season craft that you and your kiddos create.

@creativelyhome

🎃 DIY Reversible Pumpkin Snowman ⛄️. This is a fun craft to celebrate both fall and winter. A great project for kids and adults!! For details search “pumpkin” at creativelyhome.com. #woodslicecraft #fallcraft #halloween #kidcraft #halloweencraft #snowmancraft #diy #diykids

♬ Halloweentown Theme – Retrospectre

More Holiday Crafts

If you love this project, check out some other fall and winter crafts:

• Paper Mache Pumpkin Decor
• Kid’s Thanksgiving Cornucopia
• DIY Yule Log Stack
• DIY Tree Branch Reindeer
• Repurposed Kid-Made Wrapping Paper
• Easy Mickey and Minnie Mouse Ornaments

Reversible Pumpkin Snowman Decor – Materials

How to DIY Reversible Pumpkin Snowman

1. Cut Wood Slices

Following all safety precautions, cut log with chainsaw or miter saw into 1″ thick slices.

Let wood dry for several days to reduce cracking.

Skip this step if you’re purchasing wood slices.

Select three slices for the stack in different diameters; we chose 5″, 4″, and 3″. Select one slice for a base, the same or larger diameter than the largest in the stack. Sand wood slices.

2. Cut Dowel and Drill Holes

Measure and cut three 2″ lengths of dowel.

Line up the wood slices to form the snowman/pumpkin stack. In the center where the slices meet, mark for drill hole in the middle of the bark edge.

Measure and mark 1 1/4″ on drill bit with painter’s tape. This is a very helpful trick for marking the depth of a hole.

Secure slice for drilling into the bark edge by clamping to the work bench. At each pencil mark, carefully drill hole in the center of the bark edge. Drill straight into edge and stop when the painter’s tape on the drill bit reaches the outer bark on the slice.

3. Paint

Working on one side at a time, apply primer, either all the way to the bark edge or leave 1/4″ unpainted. Let dry and prime other side. Priming isn’t necessary, but helps seal the wood and adhere paint to the wood.

Paint one or two coats of a base color – white for the snowman or orange for the pumpkin.

Add detail to each side.

On the pumpkin stack, paint pumpkin ribs and maybe a couple of leaves and tendrils. For the ribs, the key is blending. Apply a thin coat of the base color so you are working with a wet surface. Add a curved line in a slightly darker color (either darker orange or brown). Without rinsing, dip brush back in base color and blend the brown line into the orange base. If too much of the brown gets blended, go back and add some more over the initial line and reblend.

On the snowman side, paint a face, arms, buttons, and scarf.

A quick trick for painting small dots, dip the end of a paint brush in paint so that it has a thick coating. Apply straight down on the wood and lift straight up. Test on paper first to get the feel for the process.

If unsure what to paint, check out images online for ideas and reference.

Apply spray protective sealer after paint dries following can instructions.

4. Assemble Reversible Pumpkin Snowman

After sealer dries, gather painted slices, base slice, and dowels.

Apply wood glue into hole and on wood dowel. Insert dowel into each set of holes. Follow glue directions for drying time.

When glue is dry, center the stack on the base slice and mark two holes around 1″ apart under the stack.

Select a spade bit or drill bit slightly larger than the diameter of the screw head.

Drill hole around 1/4″ into the base slice to countersink the screw head.

Clamp stack to table and arrange base so that the holes are centered on the stack. Applying pressure to base to hold it against the stack, drive two screws through the holes in the base and into the stack. If the base separates from the stack, reverse the drill to pull out the screw, apply more pressure to hold the base to the stack, and re-drive the screws.

If concerned about the base scratching a table surface, cut a round of felt slightly smaller than the base. Use low-temperature hot glue to affix to the bottom of the base.

How to Involve Kids in DIY Reversible Pumpkin Snowman

Kids should steer clear of the cutting and drilling steps in making the reversible pumpkin snowman. But, when it comes time for painting, set up the kid’s workspace and set them free to create. The primer and base layers are less exciting than adding details, but still interesting. Kids also can participate in assembly – nothing more fun than goopy glue. As with any kid-centric craft, their finished version will almost certainly look hand-made. If you want a more polished version, take your time painting a reversible pumpkin snowman stack.

Let us know how your reversible pumpkin snowman turned out!

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