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How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween

Introduction

How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween From:Emily Fazio

Emily Fazio, 2015

Thrill trick addicts by making a jack o' lantern totem pole. By day they look adorable, but lit up at night they create an eerie glow.

Step 1

How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween

Cut and gut

Use a knife or saw to cut off the top of the pumpkin, just as you would for any lantern carving project. Give the caps a fairly wide diameter because you will be drilling a hole in the top to remove the stem.

Remove the seeds and entrails from the inside of the pumpkin..

Step 2

How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween

Remove stem and bottom

To make pumpkins stackable, you will need to remove the stem. Identify a gourd to place on top of the totem pole - leave the stem on top of that gourd.

Use a 2” hacksaw bit in a drill to cut the long stem off the top of the pumpkin. If the squash is thick, you may need to manually cut out this circle with a knife.

Step 3

How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween

Drill background

Use the saw to drill a hole in the bottom of the pumpkins, too. With one opening at the top of the pumpkin and one at the bottom, you'll be able to place the pumpkins on the fence post.

Stage 4

How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween

Carve the pumpkins

Get creative with your pumpkins and carve faces, your house numbers, or a word like BOO! Carving with a jigsaw makes the job easier, but if you're using regular knives, use a serrated blade for the most speed and accuracy. Plan to put the heaviest pumpkins at the bottom of the totem pole.

Step 5

How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween

Install the fence post and lights

Anchor the fence post by pressing its base into the ground. Wrap the white light filament from top to bottom, making sure that access to the electrical plug emerges at the bottom and can reach the outlet or an extension cord.

Step 6

How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween

Emily Fazio

Carve and stack pumpkins on a fence post to make a unique pumpkin totem pole.

How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween From:Emily Fazio

Mount the pumpkins on the pole

Thread each pumpkin and its lid up the fence post over the lights. Put the heaviest pumpkins on the bottom.

Step 7

How to make a pumpkin totem pole for Halloween From:Emily Fazio

Emily Fazio

Light 'em up

Enjoy your personalized pumpkin decoration and celebrate the season..