Now is the time to start considering the revamping of fall crafts. Today, we are sharing a simple guide on how to chalk paint on pumpkins the sustainable choice and incorporate real stems.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic to purchase faux pumpkins and transform them into lifelike creations?

Let me guide you through the straightforward process of painting faux pumpkins.

Firstly, I make it a point to save the stems of the pumpkins each year. These stems, combined with the application of chalk paint, result in remarkably realistic-looking pumpkins.

As a general practice, I use chalk paint for various projects, including these pumpkin painting ideas I am sharing. I used chalk paint on this cabinet as well as several other pieces that I featured in a home tour.

Chalk paint proves to be an excellent choice for simple craft ideas. We love painting faux pumpkins not only for their ease but also for cost reasons.

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Why Not A Real Pumpkin

The Economical Choice

Since gourds and pumpkins can often come with a hefty price tag, I typically purchase them for outdoor decorations.

However, when it comes to indoor fall decor, expenses can quickly add up. That’s where this craft comes in handy, using chalk paint and real stems allows us to achieve a realistic look for our fall home decor and is more economical.

Chalking paint works well for easy craft ideas. I enjoy painting faux pumpkins for cost reasons too.

Because gourds/pumpkins can be quite pricey, I buy them for outdoor decorating.

But for inside it gets expensive so adding this craft using chalk paint and real stems adds a realistic look for autumn in our home decor.

Why Use Chalk Paint?

Easy To Use

• No priming before painting
• I always have an assortment of Annie Sloan chalk paint
• Adding Waxes and blending adds a realistic look to the faux pumpkins
• soft neutral colors

Can Acrylic Paint Be Used To Paint Fake Pumpkins?

Yes, you can use acrylic paint. Acrylic paint doesn’t have any problem sticking to shiny plastic faux pumpkins.

If you don’t have chalk paint, spray the faux pumpkins with a primer specifically made for plastic. When it’s dry use spray paint or acrylic paint in the paint colors of your choice to paint the fake pumpkins.

Can You Use Spray Paint?

Absolutely! Spray paint can be a convenient and efficient way to give your styrofoam pumpkins a fresh and colorful look.

How To Use Spray Paint Plastic Pumpkins:

1. Preparation: Start by laying down a protective drop cloth or newspaper in a well-ventilated area. This will prevent any accidental spray paint from getting on surfaces you don’t want to paint.
2. Clean the Pumpkins: Before applying spray paint, ensure that the faux pumpkins are clean and free from any dust. You can use a damp cloth to wipe them down.
3. Base Coat: Begin by spraying a base coat of your desired color. A light, neutral color like white or cream works well as a base to create a good foundation for the layers of paint added to faux pumpkins. Hold the spray can 6-8 inches away from the fake pumpkin and apply the paint in even, light strokes. Allow the paint to dry completely before moving on to the next step.
4. Build the Colors: Once the base coat is dry, use different shades of orange and brown spray paint to create depth and dimension on the faux pumpkins. Start with the lighter shades and gradually add darker paint tones to achieve a real pumpkin look. Remember to apply the paint in thin, even coats, allowing each layer to dry before adding another.
5. Add Details: If you want to enhance the realistic look, of your faux pumpkins use a bit of raw umber or other dark-colored spray paint to create shadows and contours around the faux pumpkins’ ridges and crevices. This will give the pumpkins a more natural appearance.

Supplies List:

• Faux pumpkins of your choice
• White, mint green, and orange paint or any chalk paint of your choice
• Chip Brush
• White wax
• Dark Brown wax or raw umber paint
• Paper plate
• Paint stick for mixing
• stencil brush
• wax brush

Painting Process

Step 1: Add Color Styrofoam Pumpkin

First, clean off the faux pumpkins with a damp cloth. It’s important, to begin with, a clean surface.

Here is a pumpkin I purchased during the summer for $3 at my local craft store. The shelves must have been recently stocked which makes these perfect for fall craft ideas.

Add a bit of raw umber pure pigment craft paint to the orange and mix it together. This will make a deeper orange color for this faux pumpkin craft project.

Paint half of the faux pumpkin at a time, drying in between coats. This is the base color that will help to achieve the real pumpkin look.

Chalk Paint Pumpkins Magically Matte

Step 2: Lighten the First Coat

For the next step, add white craft paint or white chalk paint. This makes a lighter color which will add to the look of a real pumpkin.

Add this over the orange, this will add another layer to give your painted pumpkin a real pumpkin look.

Paint half the pumpkin at a time. This keeps the paint damp enough for stippling which adds texture that can be found on a real pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.

A real pumpkin has texture and this is what we are trying to achieve and what makes these have the real pumpkin look.

Use a chip brush and stipple or pounce lightly. This gives the chalk painted pumpkin texture.

Pouncing and stippling are hard on brushes and this is why I suggest chip brushes because they are .89 and will take a bit of abuse.

Let your faux pumpkins dry. Once dry use the same process to cover the entire pumpkin.

When stippling, if the darker orange is visible, don’t worry. Seeing the different colors is what adds to the look of real pumpkins.

Adding White Wax A Softer Look

Step 3: Buffing

Add the white wax a bit at a time and rub it into the paint well with the brush. This is when your faux pumpkin begins to come to life.

This is going to give your fake pumpkin the look of the soft orange gourds that are costly.

After applying wax in sections lightly wipe the wax off the faux pumpkin with a lint free rag. The white wax will add to the Heirloom gourd pumpkin look. The transformation is amazing.

Real Stems Faux Pumpkins

Step 4: Dried Stems a Good Idea

Adding real stems to painted faux pumpkins makes them look like the real thing.

I save the stems from my fall pumpkins every year. I have quite a collection of real stems.

Real Stems Collection

Here’s my collection of real pumpkin stems. It’s well established as you can see, and I add to it every year. Real pumpkin stems don’t have to be used just to make pumpkins look real.

Add real pumpkin stems to a bowl, dish, or tray with acorns and pinecones, star anise, and dried orange slices for seasonal decor and will add a rustic fall look.

Store real pumpkin stems in a brown bag in a dry, dark place that is a well-ventilated area such as a basement, closet, or an empty cabinet.

I share an easy tutorial for dried orange slices and whole oranges which is great for the fall season through the winter.

Pumpkin Designs Fall Crafts

Step 5: Add The Real Thing

Heat your glue gun on the low setting. This is important because these faux pumpkins are usually Styrofoam and high-heat glue will make the Styrofoam from your faux pumpkins break down.

Lastly, glue your real stem on top of your pumpkin.

Since these are waxed, I recommend not using the pumpkins outside. However, if you spray them with several coats of matte polyurethane they should be fine.

SEE THE VIDEO HERE

Small Pumpkins

Step 1: Real Look Mini Pumpkins

These green faux pumpkins are from a local craft store Shopping early or at the end of the fall season is the best time to get a great selection of fake pumpkins for great prices.

What’s great about these painting techniques is they are easy and don’t take long.

This faux pumpkin has a great base color to make this look like the soft green gourds we find at the farmer’s market and they are expensive.

Use Folk Art mint green chalk paint and a chip brush. We are going to use a drybrush technique for the small pumpkin. Dip the very tip of your brush into the paint and wipe any excess paint on a paper towel, paper plate, or rag.

You want very little paint on your chip brush when dry brushing.

Dry brushing with paint is very hard on brushes so that’s why I recommend chip brushes. See step by step tutorial on a dry brush technique for planters.

Apply the chalk paint to the faux pumpkins to achieve the look of a real pumpkin.

Dry brushing is a fast process and works miracles on many easy craft ideas. Once you have the look you are happy with add a small real stem. The transformation of the fake pumpkin is amazing.

No real stems, no problem, dry brush the plastic stem with a bit of paint, or for a different look wrap them in twine.

If you purchase small white pumpkins for outdoors save the stems.

Small Pumpkins

Step 1: Real Look Mini Pumpkins

Lastly, paint these small white faux pumpkins I found from Amazon. craft stores like Hobby Lobby or the Dollar Store are great places to find small pumpkinstoo. 

For this chalk painted pumpkin, dry brush these with Annie Sloan chalk paint in Old White or white craft paint. 

Detail Work

Dark Wax

Adding a bit of dark wax randomly by the real stem and in the creases makes faux pumpkins look like real pumpkins in an instant. The real stem seals the deal when making cheap fake pumpkins look like the real thing.

Decorating The Dining Table for the Autumn Season

Adding these painted faux pumpkins to our fall dining room table with an assortment of walnuts, pinecones, and tea lights in bark candleholders looks pretty.

I add these to pedestals, bookshelves, centerpieces, crates, and baskets and anyone who visits our home during the fall season thinks they are a real pumpkin.

As an Amazon Associate and Black Dog Salvage Furniture Paint and other Affiliates, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases through affiliate links. There’s no extra charge to you. All opinions are my own.

I hope this has inspired you to consider using chalk paint on pumpkins as the sustainable choice for transforming your faux pumpkins into lifelike representations that beautifully adorn your dining table. With this eco-friendly approach, you can effortlessly make these faux pumpkins look remarkably real.

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