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I recently stumbled across the cutest idea from @Vennacrownholm, and I knew right away it was something I had to try for my daughter. She swapped out the plastic handle on a classic pumpkin bucket with two binder rings and a bag strap and I absolutely loved how practical (and adorable) it looked!
Carrying a heavy bucket of candy on Halloween night can be a pain, literally. So this hands-free version is perfect for little ones. My daughter could sling it over her shoulder and go from house to house without worrying about lugging it around.
Since she loves crafting (just like her momma), I thought this would be the perfect little DIY project for us to do together. She got to pick the strap, choose a color to paint it, and decorate it with rhinestones. It turned out SO cute, and even better, she had an absolute blast making it.
What You’ll Need:
- 1 Classic Pumpkin Bucket
- 2″ Binder Rings
- Scissors
- Paint Brushes
- Acrylic Paint (We used a lovely light lavender 💜)
- Mod Podge (to seal the paint)
- Rhinestones (or stickers, glitter—whatever your kiddo loves)
- Bag Strap (we found a cute adjustable one!)
How to Make It:
- Remove the handle from the pumpkin bucket using scissors.
- Paint the bucket in your chosen color. You might need 4 or 5 coats!
- Seal the paint with a layer of Mod Podge and let it dry completely.
- Decorate! Add rhinestones, glitter, or stickers to make it your own.
- Once dry, insert 2″ binder rings into the original handle holes.
- Clip on the bag strap to the rings—adjust to size—and you’re all set!
This was such a fun, simple project and honestly, one of our favorite pre-Halloween activities. Functional and fabulous, just the way we like it!
If you try this out, tag me so I can see your creations!


