Introduction: DIY Concrete Halloween Pumpkin Fire Pit

By ToolBox Divas
About: Empowering women (and their husbands and boyfriends) one DIY project at a time -- We teach basic home maintenance and home improvement skills.

HALLOWEEN IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AND ITS TIME TO DECORATE. IN THIS ARTICLE, I’M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW TO CREATE A SIMPLE CONCRETE PUMPKIN FIRE PIT USING A $1 CANDY BUCKET JACK-O-LANTERN FROM WALMART AS A MOLD.

With Halloween right around the corner its time to get festive. It’s getting a bit chilly now with fall underway so I thought I’d mix it up a bit by making a fire pit that I could also display as decoration. Not that I needed an excuse but, it also provides a great excuse to work with concrete, which I hadn’t done in some time since making these DIY Halloween Decorations using Concrete and Plaster !

OK Let’s Get Dirty!

Step 1: 1. CREATE AND SET UP THE MOLD

Sart by setting up the mold. Remove the handle from the candy bucket and create the interior mold using aluminum flashing. Then rub petroleum jelly inside the plastic pumpkin and on the exterior of the aluminum flashing. This will help when removing the concrete from the mold. You can use a large cup in place of aluminum flashing.

Step 2: 2. MIX THE CONCRETE

I mixed Quikrete Fast-Setting Concrete Mix and Quick-Setting Cement Concrete Mix because I didn’t have enough of the Quick-Setting Cement Concrete Mix. The fast setting mix has rocks in it but if you add more water to the mix you can still achieve a nice smooth finish. I recommend keeping an extra bucket of water to the side to use to clean your hands or tools. It can also be used if you need additional water for your mix. With quick-setting concrete, everything really does set quickly so have as much at hand as possible to avoid any mishaps. Use the trowel to get in the mix and ensure everything at the bottom of the mixing bowl or bucket is fully mixed in

Step 3: STEP 3. POUR THE CONCRETE INTO THE MOLD.

Spread a plastic bag or something over your work area because this can and will get messy. Pour the concrete into the pumpkin mold almost to the rim of the pumpkin. Then take the center mold and push it down into the concrete mix. Place a weight on the top of the pumpkin to ensure the center mold stays submerged in the concrete.

Step 4: STEP 4. ALLOW 48 HOURS FOR THE CONCRETE TO SET.

Step 5: STEP 5. REMOVE THE CONCRETE PUMPKIN FROM THE MOLD

Take a utility knife and score down the side of the pumpkin, all around it. This will take some muscle, but slowly work the concrete form out of the plastic mold. Then using some pliers remove the flashing from the center. Wear gloves while handling the flashing.

Step 6: STEP 6. PREPARE THE FIRE PIT.

Cut the poultry wire to fit in the opening of the pumpkin. Place the sterno in the center and cover it with the wire. Places the glass stones over the wire, making sure not to place too many over the center of the sterno. The fire will need to breathe. I mixed a little tiki oil in the sterno to get a nice realistic flame.

Step 7: STEP 7. SAND AND PAINT.

Sand the opening of the pumpkin with a light sandpaper and paint it.

Step 8: STEP 8. LIGHT AND ENJOY.

***Please keep in mind this is not a project I recommend doing around children nor having an open flame around kids unmonitored, especially trick-or-treaters. Always be aware and safe***

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