Blowing Pumpkins

_Blowing Pumpkins are lightweight, vase-like pieces that can be transformed into decorative pumpkins using a simple plastic-blowing technique inspired by glass blowing._

Three sizes—Small, Medium and Large—share the same nozzle, allowing you to combine them with three interchangeable stem designs. A Mega Pumpkin version maximizes a standard printer’s build volume and has its own dedicated stem.

The printed piece is softened in hot water and inflated by blowing through the nozzle, creating a larger pumpkin shape. Once cooled, the nozzle is reheated and the selected stem is inserted to form the final neck and groove around the stem.

The process is fully reversible: reheating allows the pumpkin to be reshaped again. The pumpkins can be printed in orange for decoration or white to create illuminated pumpkins using an LED candle.

Check my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/creaserra/) to see the process videos

How to print Pumpkin bodies - Vase Mode / Spiralize Outer Contour - Layer height: 0.16 mm - Wall lines: 1 - Flow: 120% - Slightly increased nozzle temperature - Low print speed - Bottom layers: 4 / 3 (easier cut for the candles) - Supports: None - Infill: None - Print upright with the nozzle facing upwards.

Stems - Layer height: 0.16 mm - Infill: 100% - Supports: None - Print flat on the build plate.

Shaping - Soften the printed body in hot water while holding it by the nozzle. - Remove it and blow through the nozzle to inflate it. - Hold the desired shape while cooling. - Reheat the nozzle and surrounding area in hot water. - Insert the selected stem into the softened nozzle to create the final neck and groove. - Let it cool completely.

For the lighting version, carefully cut a small cross-shaped opening underneath the pumpkin and insert an LED candle.