Turn your pumpkins and gourds into centerpieces by turning them into candles. These DIY gourd candles made from foam gourds are easy to make and beautiful.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclosure policy to read more. Adult supervision is required for each step of activities, recipes, crafts, and games with children. Small parts are a choking hazard.

How to Make Gourd Candles

This Thanksgiving decoration is perfect for the Thanksgiving table. I love Thanksgiving crafts that double as holiday decorations, like these praying hands placeholders, and Canoe place cards for the Thanksgiving table.

Made from fake pumpkins, this is a gourd candle craft that is much easier than using real gourds. I have made candles from real gourds before, and I’ll tell you how I did those so you can make them if you want to, but as beautiful as faux pumpkins and gourds are now, I definitely prefer the easier method. This Thanksgiving idea for the home is something you can decorate with year after year. Battery-operated tea lights with remote controls make these gourd candles easy to turn on and off for your holiday party.

Table of Contents

[View Less]

[View More]

Why You’ll Love Making Candles from Faux Gourds

Making candles from foam gourds is so much easier than drilling into real gourds
The candles are beautiful to display
Use LED tealights with a remote control to easily turn your pumpkin candle off and on from a distance

Materials You’ll Need for Gourd Candles

Foam Gourds – I love displaying white mini pumpkins, orange, and green gourds. A variety of gourd candles is a lovely Thanksgiving display.
Knife – I used both a butter knife and a pairing knife to cut into my foam pumpkins. I prefer the pairing knife. The butter knife is not as exact as a sharper knife, but it can be done.
Tea Lights – The tea lights fit tightly into the gourds, so having a battery-operated tea light with a remote control would be the most convenient way to

Note: Do NOT USE REAL FLAME CANDLES. Only use LED candles with foam

How to Make Faux Gourd Candles

Pull the stem out of each of the gourds

Using a tea light as a guide, place it onto the center of the gourd and trace a circle around it.

Using a knife, cut the circle out

The easiest way to pull the foam circle out is to, cut pie-shaped pieces out of the circle and remove the pieces from the circle

Turn your tea light on and insert it into the hole you created

If you need to cut a deeper hole, pull the tea light out and cut some more foam out of the center of the gourd

Variation

How to Make Candles from Real Gourds – Expert Tips from my experience

First off, I now realize that the gourds purchased from a farm stand without the hard polyurethane coat are the only type to use when making gourd candles – the polyurethane coat makes it almost impossible to carve and very dangerous.
I also realized that smooth gourds are easier to drill into. The bumpier the surface, the scarier it is to use a drill
Tall gourds are the best to use – the drill bit is further away
A 3/4-inch drill bit works for most tapered candles.
Only an adult should operate the knife or drill – Kids will enjoy watching and can help put the candles in later
Shorter gourds do not work as well for tapered candles
A 1.5 inch Speedbor drill bit is the perfect size for a tea light – battery-operated is the safest for the table.
You can also look for wax granules, although these are not so fun for you to clean up

So, there’s my gourd and pumpkin candle-making experience. I hope you can gain some insight into this fun craft before you get started on your own.

More Fall DIY Crafts You’ll Enjoy

fall decorating ideas — Fall Decorating Crafts

Candy Corn Clay Pot Craft for Fall and Halloween — Candy Cane Clay Pot Candy Dish

Let’s Hang Out

Come and find me on Pinterest and Facebook for more recipes, crafts, party treats, and holiday games!

Printable for Gourd Candles

5 from 1 vote