“Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch …”
-Charles M. Schulz, It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
If you love all things fall, there is no doubt that you, like us, love pumpkin décor. Halloween is over, but that doesn’t mean pumpkins are out of season. Pumpkins are the perfect décor accents all fall long.
Even if you love pumpkins, you might be one of the many people who feel bright orange is too bright for the perfect fall décor. Maybe plain pumpkins aren’t enough to make your guests ooh and ahh. Below are a few of our favorite pumpkin decorating techniques that are sure to impress.
Materials
Pumpkins (varieties below)
Acrylic paint (metallic and satin finish)
Chalk paint
Water in a disposable cup
Disposable plate
White printer paper
Large wide acrylic brush
Small wide acrylic brush
Acrylic fan brush
Foam sponge brush
Chalk pen
Metallic Pumpkin
Inspired by dry brushing and a love for metallics, we used rose gold and copper paint to upgrade a wide New England Cheddar pumpkin.
-Load a large wide dry acrylic brush with rose gold paint.
-With firm strokes, pull the paint upwards towards the stem.
-Focus on covering the bottom half of the pumpkin thoroughly and tapering off as you reach the top.
-As the brush is dry, you will see lines and texture in the paint. Do not blend these out.
-When you have completely covered the pumpkin with rose gold, repeat the same technique in the ridges of the pumpkin using the copper paint and the smaller wide brush.
-Once all of the copper is in place, wipe off your small brush. Go over the ridges with the dry brush, blending the edges of the copper into the rose gold.
Splatter Pumpkin
Dark and spooky can also be chic and impactful. Using Martha Stewart satin acrylic paints in Chipotle and Habanero, we created a splatter inspired Crystal Star pumpkin.
-Mix paints to create your preferred deep or bright shade of red.
-Using a disposable plate, add drops of water to your mixed paint until it is loose enough to drip easily.
-Start with ten drops and add water as needed.
-Dip the edges of the fan brush in the paint. Be careful to not fully coat the brush.
-Test the paint consistency using the paper. Hold the brush handle with one hand close to the bristles/brush head and use the other hand to tap the brush handle at it’s midpoint.
-If your brush will not sprinkle or splatter paint, your paint is too thick.
-If your paint runs and does not create distinct spots, add more paint as the mixture is too thin.
-Now that you have the paint consistency where you want it, repeat the tapping technique around the entire pumpkin.
-When your brush becomes too thoroughly coated in paint, wash the brush off and re-dip the tips of the bristles.
Chalk Paint Pumpkin
Chalk paint, our easiest and most child friendly technique, packs a major color punch.
-Use a foam sponge brush to add a thick coat of chalk paint in your preferred color. Do not worry if the first coat does not go on evenly.
-Let the first coat dry very thoroughly. If you do not wait, the paint will move around when you apply the second coat.
-Apply a second coat of paint.
-When the pumpkin is dry, you can customize the pumpkin with chalk pens.
We would love to see your pumpkins! If you recreate any of the pumpkins above or if you have creative pumpkin designs of your own, share them with us by tagging us on Instagram @leseventsnyc.