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Standing at 3 feet tall, this leggy jack is the cutest DIY Halloween decoration. Make your own adorable jack-o-lantern with legs!
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Jack-o-Lantern with Legs Tutorial

Standing at 3 feet tall, this leggy jack is the cutest DIY Halloween decoration. Make your own adorable jack-o-lantern with legs!
Course Crafts
Cuisine Halloween Crafts
Keyword Halloween decor, jack-o-lantern, pumpkin
Cook Time 45 minutes
Dry Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Cost 20

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3/4" PVC Pipe
  • 2 3/4" 90° Elbow Fitting
  • 2 3/4" PVC Push Cap
  • Large Pumpkin Pail (available at Target)
  • 2.8" Styrofoam Ball
  • Kid's Knee High Socks
  • Kid's Shoes
  • Adult Witch's Hat
  • Plaster Wrap

Instructions

  • Cut down 2 pieces of 3/4" PVC to 18" using a mitre saw or hand saw. Shove an elbow piece onto one end of your PVC leg as far as it will go. Place inside of your boot or shoe and determine how long you should cut your "foot" piece. For my little kid sized 12 shoes my foot pieces were a tiny 1.5" apiece. Tap your smaller piece into the elbow.
    Cut down 2 pieces of 3/4" PVC to 18".
  • Cut a 2.8" inch Styrofoam ball in half. I use an old bread knife. About 8.5" down from the top of each leg (where it will meet with the pail) make a mark. Hot glue one Styrofoam ball centered on top of this mark on the same side as the feet for each leg.
  • Wrap plaster wrap (use package directions) around the knees to fully secure. Wrap several layers onto the legs leaving about 0.75" free at the top of each leg. Apply several layers allowing each to dry. Once dry the added plaster will add a heft to the legs that help keep the jack upright.
    Wrap duck tape or plaster wrap around the knees to fully secure.
  • Trace a piece of pipe on the back half of the bottom of the pumpkin pail. You want the legs far enough apart so that your standing jack is sturdy and doesn't easily tip over.
    Drill holes around the inside of your drawn marks. Try and make the holes as close together as possible. Use a sharp craft knife and connect the holes to completely cut out the circles for each leg. Take care to cautiously cut out the holes for the legs for a snug fit.
    Trace a piece of pipe on the back half of the bottom of the pumpkin pail.
  • Take a long sock and cut it down the back side stopping just before you get to the heel. Place the "foot" inside of the sock. Hot glue both of the cut sides of the sock along the middle of the back of each leg. You'll need to trim excess and/or fold to get a clean seam that isn't very visible.
    Take a long sock (these are children's knee high socks) and cut it down the back side stopping just before you get to the heel.
  • Trim the sock away so you have around .75" of bare PVC at the top of each leg. Paint to match your socks and allow to dry.
    Trim so you have around 1-1.5" of bare PVC at the top of each leg. Paint to match your socks and allow to dry.
  • Pop your legs into your shoes and tie them up as tightly as possible. Finagle as needed to make the legs stand straight. This can be achieved with wadded up paper.
    Pop your legs into your shoes and tie them up as tightly as possible. Finagle as needed to make the legs stand straight.
  • Turn your pail over and pop your legs into place. They should be held in the holes snugly enough that you can turn the entire piece over once the legs are in place.
    From inside of the pail attach the pvc caps over each leg to secure into place.
    At this point give your leggy jack a good look over. If the pail is leaning forward a bit, place some weight (like a handful of change in a sandwich bag) into the back of the pail behind the legs.
    From inside of the pail attach the pvc caps over each leg to secure into place.