Happy Monday to y’all…

You know we’ve been busy gearing up for Fall at the shop in our displays and have some awesome decor coming, too.

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

We painted about 30 pumpkins to fill our shop windows, and after showing you some sneak peeks on Instagram & Facebook, you guys asked for a tutorial.

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

I’m all about the simple, stress-free projects and this is certainly one of them.  You can get completely creative with color and pattern, but I wanted ours to compliment our shop, so we went with classic colors (albeit off the traditional Fall path).

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

What you’ll need:

  • foam pumpkins ranging in size and shape
  • small craft brush
  • 2 inch smooth nylon sash brush (I use a Purdy)
  • paint (we stuck with 3 neutrals + 2 shades of blue/green to pop)
  • clear wax
  • dark/antiquing wax
  • better than cheesecloth or smooth, lint-free cloths

Optional:

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

1.  Start by painting 2 coats on your foam pumpkin.  I didn’t want to bother with the hassle of priming, so I used Chalk Paint in Old White, French Linen, a custom mix of Chateau Grey and Old White (about 3 parts OW to 1 part CG), Duck Egg, and a custom mix of Florence and Old White (5 parts OW to 1 part F).  You could use any paint that will stick without primer for this project…and those without a super glossy finish like acrylics, or milk paint (mixed with bonding agent).

Use a small craft brush to cut around the stem, then finish the coating the pumpkin with your 2 inch angled brush (I use a Purdy 2 1/2 sash).  Be sure to paint into each groove and notch.  Let dry and paint another coat for lighter colors.

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

2.  After the paint has dried, use a cloth to to apply your wax.  Remember you don’t need that much at a time.

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

3.  Spread the wax on thinly.  You’ll be able to tell where you’ve applied it–the wax will deepen the paint color a little.  Spread it all in each groove and all over the pumpkin, wiping excess off as you go with another cloth.

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

4.  Begin working your dark wax into the pumpkin now.  Apply it all over, pushing it into the grooves and dips in the pumpkin.

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

5.  Work in sections, spreading it in, and wiping it off with another cloth.  Be sure to let the dark/antiquing wax collect in the grooves of the pumpkin as dirt normally would.  I usually like to dark wax to create a deeper/warmer tone, but this project is one where you can use dark wax to look “dirty” and it looks completely natural.

Let them dry & you’re done!

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

Adding the dark wax or detail painting really creates some dimension on the pumpkins, and makes them look a bit more realistic.

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

We did a few different treatments on these….This one was painted with French Linen & once it was dry, I simply ran my finger along the raised edges with King Gold Gilding Wax.

The silver & gold pumpkin was painted with Martha Stewart Gold craft paint & then I sprayed the bottom half with Krylon Glitter Blast in Silver Flash, varying the “edges” a little all around.

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

We labeled this one the “Cinderella Pumpkin.”  We painted it in Old White & I sprayed the top 3/4 with Krylon Glitter Blast in Silver Flash.

Fall Crafts: How to Paint Pretty Pumpkins | perfectly imperfect

See?!  So simple and fun!  Let us know if you try it…and I’ll show you where our pumpkins wound up late in the week.

Happy simple crafting, friends.