So, I have a thing for pumpkins. I don’t just go out and buy a few when Fall arrives. I continue to pick up new ones throughout the season, until all that’s left is the sad one or two at the bottom of the display box. You know that huge box at the grocery store? How do you even pick up the last pumpkin without either flashing your backend, or falling in the box head first? I’m kind of a shrimp, so maybe it’s just a problem for me.
Anyway…my rambling point is, I always have an overage of pumpkins. Last year, I kind of fell off the crazy-crafter-wagon and painted them. You’re thinking that doesn’t sound too crazy, right? That’s because I failed to mention I painted them for Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and again for Valentine’s Day. Yep, I actually had pink pumpkins. I’d like to say it was all about the challenge to see how long I could keep the same pumpkins, but truthfully, I thought they were pretty cute!
The Crazy Pumpkin Lady is back, but this year I decoupaged them! (Well, I also tricked them out for Halloween!)
Fall hasn’t started to dazzle us here yet, so we had to scrounge a bit to find some vibrant leaves. I thought leaves, a pumpkin and some ModPodge would be all that’s needed.
I was wrong. The ModPodge wasn’t strong enough to make the leaves adhere to the pumpkin. So I got serious and whipped out my hot-glue gun.
I just started layering leaves willy-nilly, then gave them a finishing coat of ModPodge. I don’t know why. I guess to seal them, so they wouldn’t dry up and fall apart everywhere? Yes! That’s exactly why I did it.
The pumpkin is not so cute during the process. But hang with it, because once it dries it looks pretty cool!
Really bright and colorful, and all natural. You’re still not sold? Wait until you see them on my front porch, then I’ll have you!
While these pumpkins were drying (and I assumed they would end up a project: fail), I decided to try a slightly different approach. I cut leaves (using actual leaves as templates) out of a pretty sheet of linen craft paper that has gold, swirly accents.
The paper adhered to the pumpkin with just ModPodge (no hot-glue needed), and I sealed them with an additional two coats.
It’s subtle and sparkly and pretty. Perfect, I think, for our Thanksgiving Centerpiece?!?
