Turn those leftover fall or Halloween pumpkins into an enchanting centerpiece for your Thanksgiving holiday table.
With a little bit of paint and your favorite glue gun, you can create something extraordinary to decorate your home this season.
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| This post is sponsored by The Dixie Belle Paint Company |
After Halloween, I always have a ton of large pumpkins left over.
Some, I just pile outside by the front door, next to the mums.
Others, are scattered around the kitchen.
Peppered among the faux versions I fill with flowers.
However, this year, inspired by some new crafting supplies, I decided to take it up a notch and turn one of those leftovers into a statement piece for Thanksgiving.
Unlike the pumpkins I carve up in the garden, they have staying power and last for months.
And I have to say, I'm in love the result.
It all started a few weeks ago, when I stained my mantel.
I was so taken with the results, I began dreaming up ways I could use the supplies on other items.
Like pumpkins.
I'd always seen those pretty painted holiday pumpkins with either menus or words of gratitude displayed and I thought, I bet I could do the same with my new paints.
So I got to work.
Hot Glue Painted Pumpkin
*Keep in mind that this technique could be used on a faux pumpkin, as well. Then you'd have it ready to decorate every year.Here's what I used:
Dixie Belle Silk Mineral Paint in Whitecap
Dixie Belle Clear Coat in Satin
Dixie Belle Voodoo Gel Stain in Tobacco
Dixie Belle Clear Coat in Satin
Dixie Belle Voodoo Gel Stain in Tobacco
Foam brush
Then, rather than stencil my words on, since that's not my strong suit, I thought they'd be more interesting if they were raised.
To achieve that look, I grabbed a pencil and drew the words GIVE THANKS on to the smoothest face of the pumpkin.
Then, very carefully and very slowly, I went over them with my new glue gun and let them dry thoroughly.
That took just a few minutes.
I have to say the glue gun is my all time favorite crafting tool. I've used it on everything from snowflake wreaths to upholstery.
The mineral paint was wonderful and covered the pumpkin and the glue in one coat, but I gave it two for good measure.
Just an aside...if you still have pumpkins after Thanksgiving, you could use this technique to make a stacked snowman for your front porch.
I knew its simple elegance would look stunning surrounded by my mother's gold and cream Lenox china and my grandmother's gold rimmed champagne flutes.
What if I used the mantel stain to highlight the letters?
Add a little bit of rustic elegance to the table instead?
So I grabbed a paintbrush and went over the letters with the gel stain and then quickly wiped off any excess.
Perched between all that gilt and my red buffalo check curtains and farmhouse bench.
With a few new crafty supplies.
And a little imagination.
How fabulous.
What did you do with your Halloween pumpkins?
Yield: 1 centerpiece
Hot Glue Gun Painted Pumpkin
prep time: 5 Mperform time: 30 Mtotal time: 35 M
Use a glue gun and some paint to decorate your leftover Halloween pumpkins for your Thanksgiving table centerpiece.
materials:
- Pumpkin
- Paint
- Stain
- Clear Coat
- Ribbon - optional
tools:
- Glue Gun
- Glue Sticks
- Brushes
steps:
- Wash pumpkin
- Write words on pumpkin with pencil
- Trace over pencil lines with hot glue and let it dry
- Paint pumpkin
- Once dry, clear coat it or add stain over the letters for a little more dimension and then clear coat it.
- Optional: Hot glue a ribbon on top
NOTES:
Go slow with the glue gun to get clean lines and straight letters, and use caution since the glue gets very, very hot.
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This is beyond awesome Kim. You are so creative. Love this. Happy New Week. xoxo Kris
ReplyDeleteThanks SO much, Kris! I had fun making this one and love the way it turned out. xo
DeleteGood job. I do something similar for Christmas with leftover pumpkins. I spray the bodies red, paint the stems gold, and voila! giant Christmas ornaments.
ReplyDeleteLove that, Pat!! I was just thinking I could turn those little white boo pumpkins into tiny snowmen.
DeleteThat’s a cute idea for using up the pumpkins Kim. The pumpkin looks so pretty with the bow and next to the little pumpkins.
ReplyDeleteThanks Julie! I just couldn't toss and now it's my centerpiece for the Thanksgiving feast!
DeleteHow clever! Sadly, my Halloween pumpkins usually rot...but I DO save the stems! That counts for something, right? lol
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does, Ann! They come in super handy, don't they? And thanks!!
DeleteAren't you a clever girl? What a great idea. I love all the projects you come up with. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diana! You just made my day. ❤️
DeleteWhat a wonderful idea to transform a pumpkin into a beautiful a Thanksgiving one.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Paula! And thank you sharing my reel yesterday on Instagram. What a sweet surprise as I was scrolling!! ♥️
DeleteLOVE this so much! Beyond cool!
ReplyDeletePinned
Thanks Cindy!! This one was a fun experiment.
DeleteSuch a fun idea!!! Love it and thank you for sending out your email. :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your pumpkins,
Hugs,
Barb :)
Oh thanks so much for the sweet comment and for reading the email!! That just made my day.
DeleteOh, she has done it again!!!! Kim, you never cease to amaze. I love it and it looks wonderful on your table. What a great idea. I didn't buy one real pumpkin this year and I'm not bragging!..Happy Week to you my friend..xxoJudy
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judy!! What a nice comment. Big smiles over here and I shouldn't have purchased so many pumpkins! I have a hard time picking just one. Haha. Enjoy the week!!
DeleteYou are so stinkin' creative! I would have never thought of this. The glue letters are genius and that little bit of stain on them, just makes them pop.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mari! I like playing around with craft and art supplies, thinking outside the box. I'm glad you see it as creative instead of crazy!! ☺️
DeleteLOVE IT!!! You are amazing my dear friend.
ReplyDeletePinning!
Thank you, Carla. You’re making me blush over here…xxoo
DeleteWhat a fun way to upcycle your pumpkins from Halloween. This turned out so great!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stacey! I felt bad he didn't get a face during the carving days! Hahaa. Poor little guy just staring at me all season. He needed something special. Hoping you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
DeleteOh my gosh, I love this. Using hot glue to write the words was genius. It looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I wasn't sure about this one when I started, but I'm so happy with the way it turned out and that everyone else loves it, too!
DeleteIt is fabulous! I don't know how you think of these things, but I love seeing them!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy! I think it's a little bit of design OCD mixed with creative insanity. That and I'm not good at sitting still and this is more fun than housework! Haha!
DeleteAwesome idea Kim! Such a great way to repurpose those pumpkins (or seek out new ones for those that don't already have them for Halloween)!
ReplyDeleteSounds great, Sara! I know a lot of people that don't have pumpkins for Halloween, but display them for fall.
DeleteWho would have though that a glue gun and some pretty paint could transform a pumpkin into something so lovely. It's gorgeous, Kim. I wonder if the paint will make the pumpkin last even lomger?
ReplyDeletePerhaps! I'll keep you posted. If it does, maybe I'll write Merry Christmas on the other side. Hahaha!
DeleteI didn't buy a real pumpkin for the front door this year, but seeing this idea, maybe I will next year! Very creative and fun. This is my favorite time of year!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gina! I usually just toss them to the animals to snack on when the winter sets in. I guess this year they'll just have one less. 😉
Deletelove the lettering gives it a vintage vibe. very pretty for a centerpiece.
ReplyDeleteThanks Maria! The stain made all the difference I think.
DeleteVery clever idea to keep those real pumpkins on display right through to Thanksgiving. I love it!
ReplyDeleteThanks Marie!! I can't stand to toss them when they're in such good condition.
DeleteI love this! I love finding fun ways to use up supplies.
ReplyDeletei usually give my pumpkins to friends who have chickens for chicken feed.
Now I want chickens, Jenny!! How fun…and thanks!!
DeleteWe only had one real one, and we ate it!!!!
ReplyDeleteThey make wonderful pies and pumpkin bread!
Yours is beautiful though.....
Blessings, J
J, that’s the best upcycle of all!! Yum!! xxoo
DeleteWhat an adorable craft! I like the ribbon on top, too. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was Dollar Tree special…two for a buck!
DeleteI just love it, pumpkin looks awesome and you amazed me with your creativity, really beautiful, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit and the kind compliment!
DeleteLove this and I may try it. I still have a couple pumpkins setting out. Usually they get thrown out in the woods for the animals.
ReplyDeleteWe do the same thing, Rosemary. This year, however, the squirrels will be feasting on one less!
DeleteWhat a great project! Now I am debating on trying this or setting them out for the deer like I usually do.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! I love feeding the animals, too. Around here, it gets very, very cold after Thanksgiving, so it's nice to put out something for them. They get one less this year!
Delete