Blog, Crafts, Fairie Doors, Fairie Houses, Fairie Tutorials, Halloween Miniatures

Pumpkin to Enchanted Fairy Cottage

Pumpkin Fairy Cottage

🧙‍♀️ From Pumpkin to Enchanted Witch-Fairy Cottage: A Magical DIY Guide

There’s something utterly whimsical about transforming a humble pumpkin into a tiny dwelling that looks like it might belong to a forest witch or a fairy queen. So, whether you’re crafting for Halloween, a fall display, or just for delight, here’s how to turn pumpkins into charming fairy-witch houses that feel both magical and a little spooky.

Below is a step-by-step guide, styling tips, and ideas to hopefully spark your creativity.


1 | Gather Your Materials & Tools

Before you begin, collect:

  • A pumpkin (real or a craft/faux pumpkin) — one with a relatively flat side works well

  • Carving tools (pumpkin knives, craft knife, scooper)

  • Hot glue gun or craft glue

  • Twigs, bark pieces, acorn caps, pinecones

  • Moss (sheet moss, reindeer moss, etc.)

  • Miniature fairy/witch doors or windows (or materials to make your own)

  • Small pebbles or gravel

  • Faux flowers, leaves, mushrooms

  • Battery-operated fairy lights or a small LED light

  • Paints or markers (optional, for accenting)

  • Baseboard or tray (if you want to mount your pumpkin as a “garden scene”)

Using a real pumpkin gives you natural texture, but it will eventually decay. A faux pumpkin gives longevity and lets you reuse the little accessories year after year.


2 | Hollow & Shape Your Pumpkin

  1. Cut an opening

    • For a real pumpkin, cut a lid around the stem or in the back (whatever works best) and scoop out the insides.

    • For a faux pumpkin, you may cut from the back or bottom—just leave enough structure to mount windows or doors.

  2. Plan out openings

    • Sketch where you’ll place doors and windows.

    • Use a marker to outline where you’ll carve.

  3. Carve carefully

    • Cut window shapes and door shapes.

    • If using prefabricated little windows or doors, trim to fit.


3 | Add Doors, Windows & Architectural Details

Fairy Fall Pumpkin
  • Doors & windows
    Mount mini doors or windows using glue, then frame them with bark, thin twigs, or thin wooden strips to give a cottage look.

  • Stairs & paths
    Try using small slices of wood or flat pebbles to build steps or a pathway leading to the door.

  • Roof & moss cover
    Cover the top of the pumpkin with moss to look like a thatched roof or forest covering.

  • Chimney or cap
    You can glue a small twig or bark “chimney” up on top, or placing a pinecone as a turret would be fun!

  • Accents
    Use acorn caps as shingles, bark strips as window shutters, or tiny mushrooms made from clay or foam to decorate around the base.


4 | Arrange in a Miniature Scene

To make your pumpkin house look like it came from a fairy forest:

  • Mount it on a baseboard or tray covered with moss.

  • Add small pebbles, gravels, or tiny stepping stones around.

  • Place faux grass, dried leaves, twigs, or tiny woodland figurines.

  • Tuck battery-operated fairy lights inside, shining through windows and doors to give an enchanting glow at dusk.

  • You can also nestle multiple pumpkin houses together to form a “fairy-witch village.”


5 | Styling – Witchy or Fairy Themes

You might want to lean into witchy vibes instead of purely fairy-pastoral. Here are ideas:

  • Use darker mosses (deep greens, browns) or dry grasses

  • If using a faux pumpkin, paint the outside with acrylic paint in a plum or black moody color
  • Add tiny broomsticks made of twigs and raffia and lean them by the door

  • Place miniature cauldrons, or spellbooks, potions (made from small vials)

  • Use twisted twigs for “branches” or gnarled trees and hang an acorn top as an outdoor light

  • Dust with a bit of metallic or shimmer paint (copper, purple)

  • Instead of pretty flowers, use dried seed pods, black roses, or berries

Mix the whimsy of a fairy house with the edge of a witch’s lair for a truly unique look.


6 | Care & Longevity Tips

  • If using a real pumpkin: keep it in a cool place. Mist lightly to slow drying, but expect it to last perhaps a week or so once carved.

  • Use faux pumpkins for longevity and reuse.

  • Mount lights on a timer to conserve battery and preserve the effect.

  • Store the accessories (tiny doors, windows, moss, etc.) safely so you can redecorate next season.


7 | Inspiration Gallery

Pumpkin Turned Fairy Witch Cottage
  • This picture shows a classic whimsical pumpkin fairy house with moss roof, twig windows, and floral details.

Use these as springboards—your own pumpkin houses can lean more rustic, spooky, delicate, or wild.


✨ Final Thoughts

Turning pumpkins into fairy-witch houses is a magical blend of nature, craft, and fantasy. With just a few materials and lots of imagination, you can create captivating little worlds on your porch, in your garden, or as indoor seasonal decor.