Please note: This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase from a partnership site, I may earn a commission.

Black grape vine pumpkin with lights tutorial

Written by: | Published: October 13, 2011 | Updated: October 25, 2021

I’ve been seeing these really cool black grape vine pumpkins all over the place this but was shocked at the prices.. anywhere from $39 up to over $100 but a pumpkin made of sticks and lights. So I set out to make my own. You need a little patience, the steps require drying time so the project takes a few days, but I’m loving the end result and the price can’t be beat. I’ll show you how…

DIY Lighted Grapevine pumpkin Halloween decor
DIY Lighted Grapevine pumpkin Halloween decor

Materials you need:

  • Grape vine wreath
  • Black spray paint
  • Craft string or twine
  • String of lights
  • Painters tape
  • Black craft wire
  • Optional: glitter and clear spray sealer
  • Additional tools: wire cutters and scissors

Make sure the grape vine wreath you choose is not woven or twisted. You will be unraveling the vine so make it easier on yourself by finding the wreathes that are just bunched together.

Back grapevine pumpkin with lights
Back grapevine pumpkin with lights

Making the grape vine pumpkin

Soak the wreath in water for 24 hours.
Unwind the vine carefully. Use wire cutters if there are wire rings holding it together. You want to divide the vine into 3-4 loops of vine. make sure to cover work area for this step as the vine will create a bit of a mess on the table.

Soak the vine for 24 hours and then unwind while wet
Soak the vine for 24 hours and then unwind while wet

Insert one vine ring into the other intersecting in the middle so you create a 3 dimensional x. Add a 3rd loop of vine into the 1st and 2nd loops, you’ll start to see the “wire frame” of your pumpkin take shape as a bit of a sphere.

separate grapevine into loops of vine
separate grapevine into loops of vine

building the pumpkin from grapevine

Tie the vines together at the central intersection of all the loops at both the top and bottom of sphere. If you’re sphere isn’t sitting upright well, press down on the top while tying one piece of string to the top center and tightly pulling through and tying secure to the bottom center. This will create a bit of a base of your pumpkin.

making a grapevine pumpkin
making a grapevine pumpkin
secure with string by pressing down and tying top to bottom
secure with string by pressing down and tying top to bottom
spray paint black applying as many coats as needed for full coverage
spray paint black applying as many coats as needed for full coverage

Carefully separate the vines and spread out the various pieces to fill in your sphere. Readjust or add new string ties to help the vines stay in place.Once you are happy with the shape of your sphere, create a stem using remaining vine, cut and tie with string. Secure in place on top of the sphere using craft wire. Create a cork screw curl for extra detail.
Spray paint the entire pumpkin and let dry as directed. Add a second coat as necessary to ensure all visible areas are black. Set aside.

Painting the lights – if you can not find decorative lights with black cords, you can paint your standard lights black. This is what I did…

  1. Using painters tape, carefully cover every light bulb of your light string (this is a great activity to do while you’re on a conference call!) – Don’t forget to cover the metal of the plug and the holes on the other plug.
  2. Spray paint the light string until all areas are black. Remove tape. Voila.. black cords on your string of lights!
cover lights with painters tape before painting string of lights
cover lights with painters tape before painting string of lights

Finishing Touches

  1. Add lights to the pumpkin by carefully weaving the light string in and out of the vines. Make sure to leave enough excess so you can plug the cord in.
  2. Optionally spray a little clear varnish on the entire piece and lightly sprinkle with glitter. I also added a little extra sparkle by spraying some Smooch Spritz in both orange and purple.
glitter details of black painted grapevine pumpkin
glitter details of black painted grapevine pumpkin
DIY Lighted Grapevine pumpkin Halloween decor
DIY Lighted Grapevine pumpkin Halloween decor
« previous post

next post »

Jen Goode Headshot

Jen is Passionate about Creativity. She is the owner and "doodle in charge" of JGoode Designs, a Denver based design studio. She is an illustrator, mixed media artist and creative lifestyle blogger. Jen has been a creative professional since 1998 but says she's been an artist since she was old enough to eat glue.

Connect:
Facebook iconTwitter iconPinterest IconInstagram IconFeed Icon
Join the FREE Creative Club!

Get tutorials, free file downloads and project ideas right in your email.

14 thoughts on “Black grape vine pumpkin with lights tutorial”

  1. Oh Jen
    Beautiful! I also went shopping and saw the black trees with roots showing painted black with a string of lights for 50.00 I came home and made one last night with a tree in my woods. Now I will be back to the woods to get grapevine today I have to have a pumpkin to go with my tree.

    Thank you I had not thought of doing a pumpkin.

    So much fun!
    Katy

    Reply
  2. Thank you SOOO much!! I’ve been searching hi and low to find information on how to make this. I was just about to order the grapevine itself and have a go. This looks MUCH simpler and I LOVE the way it looks in comparison to the others!!

    Love, Love, Love this!!

    Happy Holidays to you!!
    =0)

    Reply
  3. Fantastic. You are so creative. I hope mine turns out as great as yours has. But, nevertheless, the idea is awesome, and so great to be able to make something with the stuff I have here at home-rather than buy someone’s. Thank-you!

    Reply
  4. Wow! Got here via CraftGossip, btw-Congrats on being featured! I can sure see why, what great ideas your 100 directions take you to! 😀 Thank you – susan

    Reply
  5. Super idea and great tutorial! I’ve pinned this to my autumn/fall board, so I can find it again. Thanks so much!
    xoxo
    Joy

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Featured on:
Brands Jen at 100 Directions has partnered with.
100 Directions is full of tutorials and project ideas to inpsire trying something new and sharing creativity in every direction.
I work with a variety of companies to share ideas and insight about products, services and all kinds of fun, creative things to do.
I stand behind my recommendations and hope you love the things I share as much as I love sharing them with you!

 

Privacy Policy and Disclosures | Work with me

 

100 Directions is a JGoode Designs property. Copyright © 2011-2024 Jen Goode. All Rights Reserved.

100directions.com is a JGoode Designs property. Owned and operated by Jen Goode.