Cruise into Halloween with a Bike Wheel Jack O-Lantern
This is a boo-tiful time of year with Halloween coming up soon. There is still lots of time to transform your front door or add fun flair to your inside space by repurposing a bike wheel as a super cheerful Jack O’Lantern. While this happy-faced pumpkin will make all who see him smile, you won’t be scared one bit because this is such an easy project. All parts have been reused and given a new role as a unique, seasonal decorative piece.
Here’s how:
Step 1: Roll on over Goodwill some spooky fun
Did you know Goodwill often has nice bikes for sale at super low prices? You can certainly pick up one there to take apart for this project, or, like me, you can upcycle an old, unwanted bicycle by using its tires/wheels for other purposes—like a perky pumpkin!
No matter where you find your bike wheel, you are being kind to Mother Earth by keeping things out of landfills.
Remove the tire from your bike and take off the rubber part and inner tube from the frame.
Step 2: Paint it like a pumpkin
If possible, place your bike’s wheel outside on a drop cloth. Spray light layers of bright orange all over it. Spray paint makes this step super easy—and certainly fun! Move around your wheel to get orange paint on all spokes, sides, and parts. After it dries completely, flip it over to give the other side the same colorful treatment.
Given the wheel’s very limited overall surface area, you’ll have lots of orange paint leftover for more Halloween DIY projects!
Step 3: Give Jack a face with cardboard cutouts
Every Jack O’Lantern needs to express itself, so give your guy some eyes, a nose, and a big smile. Consider using some scrap paper to sketch out your pumpkin’s face. A more traditional, happy look was the direction I wanted, so cardboard from a discarded box was cut in two triangles for eyes, a third for his nose, and a half-moon shape with notches for his big, toothy grin.
Consider placing your cut-out pieces on your now orange wheel to see how they will look. Not crazy about it? Easy enough to redraw, cut, and create new face pieces.
Step 4: Spray on more paint—this time, it’s all black
Apply a light coat or two of black spray paint to your Jack O’Lantern’s eyes, nose, and mouth. See, I told you this was super easy and fun!
Step 5: Create a stem, too, with wine corks
A Jack O’Lantern’s stem looks like a hat, so it’s time to add one to your bike wheel. Cut out a stem from your cardboard scraps, and then secure the corks on top with your glue gun. Presto! You now have a topper for your pumpkin.
6. Use your glue gun to pull it together
Position your Jack O’Lantern’s eyes, nose, and mouth in place, then use your hot glue gun to secure them. Consider lining up the various cutout parts with the spokes’ angles to give you some additional surfaces to apply the glue and hold the items.
Put your cork-covered stem on top and glue it in place, too. Silk leaves “borrowed” from a floral arrangement were hot glued, too, for a little additional pop of color and visual interest.
7. Hang it to show your Halloween Spirit
Display this cheerful, not fearful guy on your front door to greet your neighborhood boos and ghouls (okay, I tried!). Arrange him on your Halloween party table to keep a careful watch over tricks and treats.
This super simple project will help you to get in the spooky spirit of the season and a transformation you’ll want to ride home—I mean write home—to tell others about it!
Similar Reads:
- Create a Rideable Work of Art: Use Spray Paint to Easily Upcycle a Bike
- Take an Old Bike for a New Spin: As an Eye-Catching Planter
Tim Kime
Artist, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach
