Candy Stuffed Pumpkins Craft
This candy-stuffed pumpkin craft is one of our favorite Halloween preschool activities — it’s cute, creative, and filled with treats! These little pumpkins are simple enough for preschoolers to make on their own and double as party favors, trick-or-treat gifts, or fall table decorations.
With just tissue paper, pipe cleaners, and candy, your kids can turn ordinary supplies into something festive and fun. No scissors, no glue — just hands-on fun and a sweet surprise tucked inside.
Whether you’re planning a fall party, setting up a classroom craft station, or looking for a quick homeschool activity, this pumpkin craft is easy to prep and fun to share. Let’s get started and make something sweet this season!
Tissue Paper Pumpkins Filled with Candy
These tissue paper pumpkins are as fun to make as they are to unwrap. With just a few simple materials, kids can create their own candy-filled surprises — perfect for parties, classroom gifts, or just a sweet afternoon activity.
What You’ll Need
- Orange tissue paper (1 sheet per pumpkin)
- Green tissue paper or napkins (for the stem)
- Green pipe cleaners
- Wrapped candy (small pieces work best)
- Scissors (for adults if needed)
How to Make a Candy-Stuffed Pumpkin
Lay out the tissue paper.
Start with one sheet of orange tissue paper laid flat on the table.
Add the candy.
Place a small handful of wrapped candy in the center of the tissue paper.
Wrap it up.
Gently gather the edges of the tissue paper around the candy, forming a ball shape.
Create the stem.
Place a small piece of green tissue paper over the gathered top and twist a green pipe cleaner around it to secure everything in place.
Add a curly vine (optional).
Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner around your finger or a pencil to make curly vines.
Display or gift!
Your candy-stuffed pumpkin is ready to give away or enjoy as part of your fall decor.
Pumpkin Books for Preschoolers
Pair your crafting fun with some delightful pumpkin-themed stories! Reading together is a great way to extend the excitement of this candy pumpkin craft while building early literacy skills. Here are a few of our favorite pumpkin books for preschoolers that perfectly complement your fall activities.
Big Pumpkin tells the story of a witch who grows a pumpkin too big to move. With help from a ghost, vampire, and mummy, she learns the value of teamwork in this fun Halloween tale.
Pumpkin Jack follows Tim as he watches his jack-o’-lantern decompose and grow into a new pumpkin plant. Kids learn about nature and life cycles in a simple, engaging way.
Too Many Pumpkins tells how Rebecca Estelle, who dislikes pumpkins, ends up with a yard full of them. She learns to make the best of it by baking, carving, and sharing with her neighbors.
This candy-stuffed pumpkin craft is such a simple way to add a little magic to your fall celebrations. Whether you’re making them for a classroom party, a homeschool activity, or just a fun afternoon with your kids, these sweet little pumpkins are sure to bring big smiles.
Gather your supplies, let your preschoolers get creative, and enjoy the joy of making and sharing something festive together.
Candy Stuffed Pumpkin Craft
Equipment
- Scissors
Materials
- Orange tissue paper
- Green tissue paper
- Green pipe cleaners
- Halloween candy
Instructions
- Cut your orange tissue paper into squares. Each square should be large enough to hold a small handful of candy in the center (around 10×10 inches works well).
- Place a small handful of candy or treats in the center of each tissue paper square. Make sure to leave some room around the edges to gather the paper.
- Gather the edges of the tissue paper around the candy, pulling it together to form a small pouch. Be careful not to tear the tissue paper as you shape it into a round pumpkin form.
- Wrap a green pipe cleaner around the gathered tissue paper near the top to secure it. Twist the pipe cleaner tightly to hold the candy inside and create the pumpkin's "stem." You can leave some extra pipe cleaner at the top and curl it to resemble a vine.
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
These are the perfect Gifts for the children in my sons classroom so this weekend I will see if some of Charlies friends would like to come over and make these cute pumpkins with us. Also, I will share this craft with his teachers and my step daughter as they might like to make them as well.