DIY Fishnet Pumpkins and Painted Gourds: Easy, Reusable Halloween Decor

This is a fun and simple craft using faux pumpkins and gourds I’d kept in my stash for years, plus a handful of other supplies that were already on hand. The whole project cost me nothing because I used items I already owned, which makes it ideal if you want a quick seasonal refresh without spending money. The two techniques I used—slipping fishnet pantyhose onto faux pumpkins for a spiderweb effect, and painting gourds with craft paint and Sharpie doodles—are both fast, reusable, and look great grouped together.

Materials

• Faux pumpkins and faux gourds
• Three pairs of pantyhose or fishnet stockings (different patterns if available)
• Scissors and small clips
• Craft paint in yellow, orange, and red
• Red or black permanent marker (Sharpie)
• Optional: spray paint for future color changes, small rubber spiders for decoration

How to Make Fishnet Pumpkins

This technique only takes a few minutes per pumpkin. Start with a clean faux pumpkin and one leg of a pair of pantyhose or fishnets. Gently slide the pumpkin into the stocking leg, pushing it down toward the foot (the original stocking toe) so the fabric stretches snugly around the pumpkin’s body. Trim the pantyhose so there’s enough fabric to wrap under the bottom and stay secured, then clip or tuck the extra at the top. Because pantyhose are stretchy, the opening will contract around the stem and create a neat, fitted look without a large, exposed band of white or original color.

Tips: push the pumpkin in as far as possible before trimming the stocking so the fit is snug at the stem. If you cut the stocking too high (for example, at the thigh), the opening will be larger and the fabric won’t hug the pumpkin as cleanly. Different patterns—diamond, fine mesh, white or black—produce distinct looks. I like the diamond fishnet for its bold texture, and the white fishnets for a more delicate, spiderweb-like effect. These slipcovers are reusable and removable, so you can change the look each season.

Painting and Doodling Gourds

For painted gourds I used craft paints I already had and a red Sharpie for details. One previously white gourd got a smeared wash of yellow and red to create an orange, streaky appearance. A pear-shaped gourd received similar treatment, while a few smaller gourds and a goose-necked style were painted solid yellow first. After the base coats dried I added orangey-red bands around each piece—two bands on most, and one wide band near the top on a squat pumpkin.

Once the paint was dry, I used a red Sharpie outdoors to add simple doodles on the colored bands: triangles on the pear-shaped gourd, diamonds on a spindly one, and stripes on the squat pumpkin and the goose-necked gourd. The doodles are intentionally imperfect—think playful, hand-drawn marks rather than precise patterns. If you prefer a more polished finish later, these pieces can be spray painted gold, white, or any color you like.

Display Ideas and Final Thoughts

Group several fishnet-covered pumpkins with a few painted gourds for an eclectic seasonal centerpiece. For a little extra fun, tuck small rubber spiders onto the fishnet surface—kids and adults both enjoy the surprise. These projects are forgiving, inexpensive, and easy to update year after year. If you want a different color palette, the painted gourds can be repainted or spray painted, and the fishnet slipcovers can be swapped out for another pattern.

More Seasonal Craft Ideas

Below are other fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving projects you can try. Images are retained for inspiration; titles describe each project if you want to search for similar tutorials.

A Fall Themed Bridal Shower	Making A Frosted Thanks Jar	Decorating With Fall Leaves
Puffy Painting Pumpkins	Some Creepy Halloween Decor	Making A Spooky Skull Portrait
Making Bleeding Candles	Carving An Ornate Pumpkin	Creepify-ing The Porch

Have fun crafting—these are great weekend projects for a little seasonal refresh, and they’re flexible enough to match any Halloween or fall aesthetic you prefer.