A step-by-step tutorial for making craft pumpkins for fall using thrifted vintage wire bread baskets and mini bundt pan Jello molds.
One of my favorite parts of thrifting is the accidental spark of inspiration that hits when you least expect it. Wandering through shelves stacked with plates, lamps, candlesticks, toys, and miscellany often sends ideas firing off in my head. The other day, I spotted a scalloped wire bread basket turned upside down on a thrift store shelf and thought, “That looks just like the top of a pumpkin.”
I commonly see these wire baskets at thrift stores and yard sales, and suddenly they made perfect sense as a base for a rustic, thrifted fall centerpiece. I grabbed a couple of baskets and an armful of mini bundt pan / Jello molds and headed home to experiment.
This easy DIY turns thrifted finds into charming fall decor: a lantern-style pumpkin made from vintage wire baskets and a collection of small, white-painted bundt-mold pumpkins. Below is a clear, step-by-step tutorial so you can recreate this whimsical centerpiece for your breakfast nook, mantel, or table.
DIY Wire Basket and Bundt Pan Pumpkins
Supplies Used:
- 2 thrifted wire bread baskets (scalloped style)
- 2 sets of mini bundt pans / vintage Jello molds
- Rust-Oleum copper spray paint (or similar copper spray)
- Rust-Oleum Heirloom White satin spray paint (or white spray paint)
- Loctite Super Glue (or a strong craft adhesive)
- 2 pieces of 2″ wire (for securing baskets)
- A couple of small sticks or twigs from your yard (for stems)
1. Decide on your finish. I love copper for fall, so I sprayed the wire baskets with copper spray paint for a warm, metallic look. If you prefer a vintage feel, you can leave the metal as-is or choose a different spray finish.
2. For the small bundt pan molds, I applied a couple of coats of satin white spray paint to create delicate, mini white pumpkins. White mini pumpkins provide a clean, modern contrast to the copper centerpiece.
3. Once painted and fully dry, secure the two wire baskets together. Place one basket upside down over the other (to form a rounded pumpkin shape) and wrap a short length of wire around the connection points. Twist the wire tightly to hold the baskets together.
4. To create a stem, glue a small twig into the top center of the basket pumpkin using a nickel-sized dot of super glue. Hold the twig in place until the adhesive sets. This natural stick stem adds organic texture and completes the lantern look.
5. For each mini pumpkin, glue two matching bundt molds together, placing a small amount of super glue around the edge of one mold and pressing the second mold on top. This creates the classic rounded pumpkin form.
6. Attach a short twig or small wooden stem to the top of each mini pumpkin with another dab of super glue. Let everything dry thoroughly before arranging.
These mini bundt-mold pumpkins are so simple and endearing—you can make a whole family of them in an afternoon. Place them around the base of your wire basket pumpkin or scatter them down the length of a table runner.
To turn the wire pumpkin into a lantern, set a candle or LED tea light in the center. The open wire casting creates a lovely glow and makes a striking centerpiece. You can also fill the basket with faux greenery, seasonal fruit, or decorative filler depending on your styling preference.
In my breakfast nook I used eucalyptus bundles and a few of the mini white pumpkins to create a neutral, early-fall vignette. The combination of copper metal, soft white minis, and simple greenery feels both seasonal and timeless.
Want more fall craft ideas and inspiration? Try a mix of thrifted materials, spray paint, and natural accents like twigs and eucalyptus to create seasonal decor on a budget. This project is a great example of how simple, secondhand finds can be transformed into stylish, handmade accents for your home.
