Thread: Flickering Pumpkins

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These are flickering fake pumpkins that are on a timer. For the latest edits or lessons learned please go directly to my albums where all my tutorials are located: Halloween Forum - Terra's Album: Tutorial: Flickering Pumpkins

To see them live, here's a video:







These are brightly lit and have a slight flicker to them. You can do any combination of pumpkins by the way. This a picture of a set of three. This tutorial shows how to make a double set.











Materials Needed (for one double set):

2 Michael's fake pumpkins
1 Flickering light set
2 White C7 bulbs
2 Ground stakes (mine was pilfered from a store-bought prop I had)
Glue sticks
Gorilla Glue (not pictured)
Outdoor timer (not pictured)

Tools needed:

Drill (optional)
1 1/2" hole spade bit (optional)
5/8" hole spade bit (optional)
Wood burner tool with Exacto knife attachment (or a pumpkin saw)
Glue gun
Beer or wine (this wouldn't be as fun without it)










Trace out your design on the pumpkin while the wood burner with Exacto knife blade is heating up. Then, plunge the knife into the pumpkin and slowly drag it through. It's a bit slow going but does a great job cutting.

Alternatively, you could cut the pumpkin out using traditional tools.










Using the 1 1/2" hole spade bit, cut two holes near each other in the back of the pumpkins (you could also just cut out the holes). You will be putting half of the flickering sockets into one pumpkin and half into the other. But first change out one of the flickering lights with the white C7 bulb in each pumpkin. This one white bulb makes the inside of the pumpkin much brighter than just using all the flickering lights (too orange and dim).

Be sure to have the plug sticking out of one pumpkin and the socket sticking out of the other.

If you were making a single pumpkin, just put a whole string in with one of the flickering lights changed out to a C7 white bulb, but again, have the plug and the socket sticking out. For a set of three pumpkins, divide the light string up into thirds.










Picture 1: On the bottom of the pumpkin, draw a large circle and mark a line through both sides so when you replace the lid, you know where it should go back. Take the ground stake you are using and mark the size of the hole you will need.

Picture 2: Using your 5/8 drill bit (or regular pumpkin cutter) cut out the hole for the stake.

Picture 3: Use your heated wood burner (with the Exacto blade) to cut out the bottom of the pumpkin where you marked it. Also, cut out some notches so rainwater can drain.

Picture 4: Hot glue the stake to the bottom of the pumpkin. Go really thick and do both sides. (I did a couple of coats to be extra sure it was going to handle being set into the ground.










Picture 1: Line up that line you marked, put a bead of hot glue around the edge and quickly set the bottom of the pumpkin back in place.

Picture 2: Put a heavy coat of hot glue all around the seal (avoiding the notches) to keep the bottom in place.

Using Gorilla glue, glue your two pumpkins together. For the three, I stacked one on top of the two (the top one didn't need a ground stake). I tried using hot glue but it didn't hold. If you don't have Gorilla glue, just use a very strong glue.











The ground stake may be pretty secure in the pumpkin but I don't know how hard your ground is. So, pre-make a hole in the ground where the stakes would go so you don't have to literally drive the pumpkin into the ground. My ground stakes are really just to help keep the pumpkin in place in the ground.....

Now, plug into the outdoor timer. You can daisy chain sets of pumpkins together too.

The pumpkins really add some life and spirit to the graveyard, I think. Thanks for looking at my tutorial

Terra your work is amazing! i try the candles today an i was very happy. your help was great. i wish i had more time to do this project.

-BYH

Those are really terrific looking!
Another great job, Terra!

Thanks guys.

This is a pretty quick project. Knocked out three sets in two hours.

wow i might have to try this. ill see if my micheals has any left.

Originally Posted by Terra

Thanks guys.

This is a pretty quick project. Knocked out three sets in two hours.

AMAZING, as always Terra!!
quick project for you- would take several days for me. And that includes hospital time after I electocuted myself.

your biggest fan,
Cathy

Terra - PLEASE stop having these great ideas and tutorials..... I can't take it anymore!!!!!!!

Great job, as usual!

Thanks so much everyone.

I took a hard look at them last night to see if the flicker is still noticeable from a distance of about 15'. Unfortunately, with the white light I put in there, the flicker is a bit drowned out. I still really like the color they have so I still recommend them. But, I suggest you try not adding the extra white C7 bulb first to see if you like that look better. Using the straight flickering lights makes the pumpkin obviously flicker as if you have a real candle in there (but on the orangy side).

With the pumpkins next to my candles, I thought they blended in too much (uses the same type of light). But, if these aren't displayed along with flickering candles then the straight flickering lights should look great.

Just wanted to let everyone know and thanks.

Amazing as usual! Not to hijack your thread, but I did something very similiar to this using Joann "Funkins". But, I used a replacement C7 cord for a lamp, an orange replacement xmas bulb, and a CS-2 starter with inline fuse. (all available at Lowes). Pretty simple but puts out a lot of light, and flickers very noticeably. I also found that painting the inside of the pumpkin black helped accentuate the eyes and mouth.
I love this forum!

-James

That is a great idea and one you can use year after year.