These stacked jack o’ lanterns were such a pleasure to create not only because they were easy to assemble but as a Halloween fanatic I already had all the plastic pumpkins scattered throughout my Halloween apartment! Also, using the hot glue gun allowed me to peel the dried glue off my plastic pumpkins without causing any damage to them at all.
What you need:
What you need:
- Plastic pumpkin buckets
- Glue gun & glue
- Penguin dry ice
- Warm water
- Depending on how you go, I suggest small stones or something to weigh down the bottom jack*
Step 1: Decisions, Decisions
Decide how you tall you want to go! For this project, I chose 3 pumpkins tall would be the perfect height for what I wanted. Before I did anything, I stacked and arranged them to see how they fit on top of each other. The snugger the fit the better but in the end, the hot glue will do the job so it’s okay if there are a couple of gaps between each one, like the one below.
If you’re stack has a jumbo pumpkin base like the one here in the lower right, and you’re not planning to go too tall, you can start gluing your stack together already.
Decide how you tall you want to go! For this project, I chose 3 pumpkins tall would be the perfect height for what I wanted. Before I did anything, I stacked and arranged them to see how they fit on top of each other. The snugger the fit the better but in the end, the hot glue will do the job so it’s okay if there are a couple of gaps between each one, like the one below.
If you’re stack has a jumbo pumpkin base like the one here in the lower right, and you’re not planning to go too tall, you can start gluing your stack together already.
Step 2: Keep em’ Steady
However, if your stack includes pumpkins that are all fairly the same size then you’re going to need to steady the bottom jack or else it’ll be way too top heavy (the dry ice and water go in the top pumpkin so keep that in mind). For mine, I threw in some aquarium rocks in the smaller jack bases and that worked perfectly.
After that, I just hot glued the pumpkins together by gluing around the rim and held them until the glue dried - about 20 seconds. I repeated the process for the next pumpkin in the stack until it was the height I wanted.
However, if your stack includes pumpkins that are all fairly the same size then you’re going to need to steady the bottom jack or else it’ll be way too top heavy (the dry ice and water go in the top pumpkin so keep that in mind). For mine, I threw in some aquarium rocks in the smaller jack bases and that worked perfectly.
After that, I just hot glued the pumpkins together by gluing around the rim and held them until the glue dried - about 20 seconds. I repeated the process for the next pumpkin in the stack until it was the height I wanted.
Step 3: Stacked, Glued and Ready
Your stack should be assembled and glued at this point – all that’s missing is the magic: dry ice.
At this stage is where I recommend you really examine your jacks and make sure the stack can sit steady.
Remember: this is top heavy, and you’ll be refilling that top pumpkin so make sure your stack can handle the weight of water and ice.
Your stack should be assembled and glued at this point – all that’s missing is the magic: dry ice.
At this stage is where I recommend you really examine your jacks and make sure the stack can sit steady.
Remember: this is top heavy, and you’ll be refilling that top pumpkin so make sure your stack can handle the weight of water and ice.
Step 4: Fill ‘em up!
Decide where you’re going to use your pumpkin stack and place it there.
Using safety gloves, I put of scoop of dry ice in the top pumpkin in each stack. TIP: Try to leave your dry ice as chunky as possible. I hammered mine a bit too much and turned it into powder. This ended up evaporating the dry ice so fast it didn’t give the effect I was going for. The bigger your chunks, the better the effect.
After you place your dry ice in the top pumpkin, slowly pour warm water over it and voila! You have a smoking jack o’ lantern stack!
Decide where you’re going to use your pumpkin stack and place it there.
Using safety gloves, I put of scoop of dry ice in the top pumpkin in each stack. TIP: Try to leave your dry ice as chunky as possible. I hammered mine a bit too much and turned it into powder. This ended up evaporating the dry ice so fast it didn’t give the effect I was going for. The bigger your chunks, the better the effect.
After you place your dry ice in the top pumpkin, slowly pour warm water over it and voila! You have a smoking jack o’ lantern stack!
Step 5: Where to Use
Step 6: Enter the Penguin Dry Ice Contest!
Show off your own Frightfully Cool Halloween creation by entering the Penguin Dry Ice contest! This year there are not one, but two $1,000 grand prizes! Head over to the Frightfully Cool website HERE for official rules, prize list, safety guidelines and find out where you can buy dry ice. I found mine at Smart & Final.
- Halloween tablescape
- An Instagram or Snap Chat photo op
- Place in your garden for spooky outdoor party fun
- Makes a fun family project while learning about safety
Step 6: Enter the Penguin Dry Ice Contest!
Show off your own Frightfully Cool Halloween creation by entering the Penguin Dry Ice contest! This year there are not one, but two $1,000 grand prizes! Head over to the Frightfully Cool website HERE for official rules, prize list, safety guidelines and find out where you can buy dry ice. I found mine at Smart & Final.
I hope I inspired you to create your own Halloween scene! Did I mention I also happen to be a judge for the Frightfully Cool contest again this year? I cannot wait to see what you all dream up!
Halloween Hugs,
Venus aka @HalloweenXO
Halloween Hugs,
Venus aka @HalloweenXO
