It is always exciting to welcome a new season and to greet
it with anticipation, highlighting the uniqueness to each time of year. In the fall, I love to see all the magazines,
view Pinterest and see all the pumpkin-laden porches. However, in Texas it is really too warm to
set out the real deal, the parade of pumpkins become a mush in just a few short
weeks (sometimes, days depending on the temperatures). SO, I am so thankful to our big craft/box
stores for giving us the faux pumpkins in plastic, papier-mâché and sometimes
ceramic…but sometimes, they need a little help to match our décor. For this pumpkin project, I chose the cream-colored
plastic pumpkins at .98 each – I grabbed all they had and of course shared some
with my mom!! These little gems don’t
need a pre-paint prep, no primer – they are a great base just as they are. Using fusion paints, two coats was all they
required. I decided to continue with a
dark wax to highlight and give definition.
Deciding what to add to give them a touch of my style was easy- a little
string, wire, shells and ICE Resin® paper were the perfect palette!! Let your style come through- in selecting
your paints, choosing those things that speak to you, embellishments that you
love – ribbons, buttons, vintage jewelry…the pumpkin possibilities are
limitless.
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Since these are plastic, they are too light weight for
outside but they will grace our fall table (once my kitchen remodel is
finished) nestled in a wood tray that will be filled with shells and reindeer
moss. My perfect blend of fall and the joy of gathering –shells, memories and
more as we gather around the table. To create your
pumpkin paradise, let’s gather a few things and get started…
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| I love these little jars!!! |
Gather
Faux pumpkins
Fusion Paints™ mineral paints in Algonquin, Inglenook, Sterling Gris and
champness or acrylic paints of your choice
Sponge Brushes
Painter’s tape
Annie Sloan® Dark wax
Rustic wire
Bamboo skewers
Wire cutters
Jute
ICE Resin®
Disposable cup, sponge
Vintage papers
Adhesive such as Glossy Accents™
Sea shells
Glue Gun, glue sticks
Make
1.
Cover
stems with painter’s tape.
2.
With sponge brush, paint 2 coats of fusion
paints on each pumpkin. Set aside to dry
between coats.
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| Second coat and look great!! |
3.
Once dry, remove painter’s tape and wrap stems
with jute* and tie in a simple knot.
4.
To create wire curly ques, cut a manageable
length of wire and from the middle of the wire, begin to wrap around a bamboo
skewer or a pencil. Repeat on the other
side.
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| wire curly question and the start of the ICE Resin® leaf |
5.
Add wire to the stem. Secure by tightening the
wire around the stem.
6.
Using a leaf punch, punch leaves from the ICE
Resin® Paper**
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| a little light from the studio gives them a fall glow |
7.
Using adhesive such as glossy accents, adhere
leaves.
8.
Using glue gun, glue shells to the pumpkin.
*To curl the jute, wrap the jute around a pencil; spray with
water and heat dry.
**To create ICE Resin® paper, mix the resin according to
package directions. Laying vintage paper
on a nonstick craft mat, spread the resin with a sponge gently across the paper
in one direction. Coat one side and turn
over and coat the back. Let dry on the
craft mat for 8 hours. Now it is ready
to use!!
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| Here are a few more finished. I actually think the ones my mother did!!! |
Until next time, I hope in addition to painting and
decorating with pumpkins that you will enjoy a little pumpkin pie and enjoy not
only the décor of the season but the deliciousness too!!
