Introduction: Spooky Double Pumpkin Eyeball
If you're anything like me, any attempt to fully carve a pumpkin looks like the same effort as when you tried to carve one at age 8. This is where this double pumpkin craft comes in to save the day. All you need to make it is a big warty pumpkin, a smaller white pumpkin, and some acrylic paint. This is a great pumpkin Instructable for all ages! :)
Step 1: Supplies
You will need:
- 1 medium/large warty pumpkin
- marker
- pumpkin carving knife
- pumpkin scraper
- 1 small white pumpkin
- measure tape
- acrylic paints (blue, teal, gold, black, white)
- paintbrushes
- mini towel or paper towels
- cheap red lipliner
Notes:
When choosing your pumpkins, make sure your white one is smaller than the orange one so it fits inside nicely. I used a cheap red Wet n Wild lipliner to draw in the eyeball veins because it slides on smoothly on the pumpkin surface, but stays on nicely.
Step 2: Make the Lid
Draw a circle on top of the orange pumpkin that's a bit bigger than your small white pumpkin.
Cut out the circle at a bit of an angle.
Remove the lid and set aside.
Step 3: Empty the Pumpkin
Begin cutting out the flesh of the pumpkin.
Scoop out the seeds and flesh and place in a bowl. Reserve for another use.
Place the white pumpkin inside, on its side, to make sure it fits. Remove.
Step 4: Cut Out the Eye
Measure the little pumpkin while it's on its side, then mark that width on the front of the big pumpkin.
Draw a large eye shape on the pumpkin, using the endpoints you just drew as the corners of the eye. Make sure this eye outline is not bigger than the little white pumpkin.
Cut out the eye and push it out from the inside.
Trim out some of the flesh around the eye opening.
Step 5: Paint on Eyeball Details
Place the little pumpkin back inside on its side with the smooth rounded side facing the eye opening. Draw a circle around the middle. This will be the pupil to the eyeball. Make sure it's almost touching the top and bottom of the eye.
Remove the little pumpkin. Paint the circle you just drew blue. This is your eye's iris.
Add some lines of light blue from the center going outward, then do the same with some gold paint.
Now draw a smaller black circle in the middle. This is the pupil. Let dry completely.
Step 6: Insert the Eyeball
Place the little pumpkin back inside and press flush up against the eye opening.
Place a mini towel or some crumpled paper towels behind the little pumpkin so it stays in place. Put the lid back on.
Step 7: Add the Final Details
Draw some red veins in the corners of the eyeball using the red lipliner.
To make some eyeball reflections, paint on 2 little white dots between the pupil and iris using the back of your paintbrush.

Seventh Prize in the
Halloween Contest 2019
41 Comments
1 year ago
Awesome instructable! 🎃 I'm going to try this with some old plastic pumpkin Halloween candy carriers and a milk jug for the eye. Then throw in some flameless candles for effect. Thanks for the inspiration!
Reply 1 year ago
That sounds like a fun variation! Hope you can show us when you do it!
Reply 1 year ago
Thanks and will do. It will be a fun project to do with my son. Have a great day! 🎃
1 year ago
I have an idea to do this with smaller gourds attached around the outside and build a beholder. Thanks for the catalyst. Hopefully I'll remember in time for next year.
...I'm evidently not the first! https://www.instructables.com/id/Jack-o-lantern-Beholder-Style/
(The small eyes are usually on stalks like a slug or snail have, however.)
Reply 1 year ago
Ahh interesting! I like it!! I hope you try that out :)
1 year ago
Replace the inner pumpkin with some half sphere 3D print or similar, add a microcontroller and a servo and get real creepy with a moving eyeball :)
Reply 1 year ago
That's all I kept thinking about when I was done! I really wanted it to move/watch me as I passed by :) I need to learn about all that. At least I'm on the right site for all the info, eh? Happy Halloween!
Reply 1 year ago
It's really nice to see some traditional type decorations, without the use of technology, and I say this as a person who works in IT. Personally, I'm all teched-out.
Reply 1 year ago
I was thinking this as well. A concave hemisphere with some optional light is the traditional way to do 3D "following" eyes.
The non-electronic version is also much less likely to be stolen while you're at work or the store!
Reply 1 year ago
Thank you! I know nothing about tech stuff like that and it intrigues me to no end! I'm happy this pumpkin works for you! :)
Reply 1 year ago
You are :) Why not go for it. Getting an Arduino to run with a servo is a doable task for everyone. There are tons of good tutorials for this online. And you actually do not need a 3D printer. You could build an eyeball from paper or similar. Making the eyeball follow you is bit more tricky, that would be a perfect second step if you like to dig deeper into maker electronics.
1 year ago
Great Work. I like it. Carry on.
Reply 1 year ago
Thanks very much!! :)
Reply 1 year ago
Hi attosa!
My Pleasure.
1 year ago
Btw I followed you
1 year ago
That's super cool and I like how creative you are.Well done
1 year ago
WOWWWWWW!!!!! That's amazing Toosa! You've really outdone yourself this time!
Reply 1 year ago
Aww Thanks so much! Glad you like it!!!!
1 year ago
That's just really stinking COOL!
I'm thinking that if I cut the little pumpkin in half, I could do two of them. And, if I use toothpicks to pin the eye inside, there should be enough room for an led lamp.........so yeah great ideas, thanks!
Reply 1 year ago
Sounds like some great tweaks to make it stretch! I hope you try that out! :)