How to Make a Stunning Fall Pumpkin Cone Topiary

Hey friends! I'm so excited to share this fall project with you today - a beautiful pumpkin cone topiary that's perfect for your seasonal decor! I have to be honest with you guys, I've never done one of these before, so we're learning together. That's what I love most about our crafting community - we figure out what works (and what doesn't work!) as a team.

What You'll Need

Let me show you what we're working with today:

Main Structure:

• 6-inch terracotta pot (opening measurement)

• 11.9-inch styrofoam cone (I got mine at Hobby Lobby)

• 5.7-inch half-round styrofoam ball (fits perfectly in the pot to lift everything up)

• Large wooden dowel (Dollar Tree has amazing ones - way cheaper than craft stores!)

• Sheet moss (yes, it's messy, but it's a necessary evil!)

Decorative Elements:

• Mini pumpkins (about 25 total - all different colors and textures, which is SO important!)

• Maple leaves in various fall colors

• Pine cones

• Small acorns and berry picks

• Fall foliage picks (various sizes and colors)

• Decorative finial for the top (this was a game-changer - thank you Gloria!)

• Optional: Grapevine for texture

Tools & Supplies:

• Hot glue gun (I used mine on 60-watt instead of 100-watt setting)

• Heat-resistant gloves (Amazon - these saved my life! Search "heat resistant gloves")

• Wire cutters or floral clippers

My Secret Weapon: Heat-Resistant Gloves

You guys, I have to tell you about these gloves! After my last floral project ended with a trip to the emergency room (yes, really!), I ordered these heat-resistant gloves from Amazon. They're a little big but fit really tight in the fingers, so I can work fast without worrying. I had my glue gun on the hotter setting and didn't feel a thing! The glue does get all over them, but it peels right off. Game changer!

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Create Your Base Structure

First, place your half-round styrofoam ball into the terracotta pot. This lifts everything up so you don't need your dowel going all the way to the bottom. Run your dowel through the styrofoam ball and up through the center of the cone. Once you've got it positioned where you want it (mine was about midway through the cone), hot glue around the openings to secure everything.

Pro tip: Sometimes with styrofoam, hot glue burns right through it. Using the 60-watt setting instead of 100-watt helps it stick perfectly without burning!

2. Add the Moss Base

This is the messy part, but it's worth it! Using your hot glue gun, attach sheet moss around the base and up the cone. I didn't cover every inch - just added it here and there since we'll be covering most of it with other elements anyway. The moss gives you a nice natural background and helps fill in gaps later.

3. Layer Your Maple Leaves

Start at the bottom and work your way up, adding colorful maple leaves throughout. I used all different colors and sizes - this variety is what makes the project really pop! The leaves help create that full, lush fall look.

Remember: You're bigger on the bottom and smaller on the top with a topiary (which is basically the story of my life! 😂).

4. Add Your Pumpkins

Here's where it gets fun! I used about 25 mini pumpkins in various colors and textures:

• Velvet pumpkins

• Traditional orange

• White pumpkins

• Green pumpkins

• Different sizes (small, medium, and a few larger ones)

Important tip: Don't place pumpkins directly underneath each other - everything needs to be offset a little bit. Some pumpkins I could push the stem/pick right into the styrofoam, but others needed hot glue.

Place your bigger pumpkins toward the bottom and smaller ones as you work your way up. This creates better visual balance.

5. Fill in With Accent Pieces

This is where your topiary really comes to life! Add:

• Pine cones scattered throughout

• Small berry picks

• Acorns (I love using DIY acorns made from plastic Easter eggs - spray paint them white, add black and white checks, and wrap the top in twine!)

• Various fall foliage and florals

My process: I just kept adding little elements here and there, making sure to get a good mixture of colors and textures. Step back frequently and look at it from all angles - you want it to look good from every side, not just the front!

6. Top It Off With a Finial

Okay you guys, this was Gloria's genius idea from our live video! I was struggling with what to put on top, and she suggested a finial. I had some painted curtain finials from Hobby Lobby, and it was PERFECT! It fit right over the top of the cone and tied the whole thing together.

You could also use:

• A small pumpkin

• A decorative ornament

• Pine cones clustered together

• Whatever fits your style!

7. Final Touches

Once your main elements are in place, go back through and fill any empty spaces with:

• Extra maple leaves

• Small berry picks

• Bits of moss

• Tiny acorns or pine cones

The goal is to have it look full and lush from every angle without any awkward bare spots.

What I Learned (So You Don't Have To!)

What Worked:

✅ Using the 60-watt setting on my glue gun
✅ Heat-resistant gloves for fast, confident work
✅ Variety in pumpkin sizes, colors, and textures
✅ The finial top - absolute perfection!
✅ Keeping the terracotta pot simple (I considered painting it with black and white diamonds but decided against it)

What Didn't Work:

❌ That one yellow gourd that stuck out too far (we took it off!)
❌ Some of the grapevine pieces - they were too much
❌ Trying to make every piece "match" - variety is better!

Styling Suggestions

This pumpkin topiary would be perfect for:

• Thanksgiving centerpiece (especially if you're doing black and white table decor!)

• Fall mantel decoration

• Entry table statement piece

• Paired flanking a doorway (make two for a dramatic entrance!)

Make It Your Own

The beauty of this project is that you can completely customize it to your style:

• Christmas version: Use ornaments instead of pumpkins!

• All white: Use only white pumpkins and silver/white accents

• Traditional fall: Stick with oranges, reds, and yellows

• Modern farmhouse: Add black and white buffalo check ribbon around the pot

Tips for Success

1. Don't rush! This took me about an hour, but it's so worth taking your time to place everything just right.

2. Shop sales! I got almost everything from Hobby Lobby on sale. Never pay full price, you guys!

3. Use what you have! I pulled foliage from other projects and arrangements. No need to buy all new supplies.

4. Step back often - or better yet, use your phone camera to check your progress. I can see so much better what it really looks like through the camera than in person!

5. It's okay if it's not perfect - the whole point is that it's handmade and unique to you!

Let's Craft Together!

I hope this tutorial inspires you to make your own fall pumpkin topiary! Remember, we're all learning together, and that's what makes it fun. If you try this project, I'd LOVE to see your creation! Share it in our Studio MDAZ community or tag me on social media.

[Video Tutorial Embedded Here]

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