DIY textured fall pumpkins

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Hey y’all! 

It’s been a little while since I shared a new project on the blog, so I’m excited to get back into the swing of things, especially with the upcoming holiday months!

Today, I wanted to jump right back in with a DIY for the fall. I’ve seen so many gorgeous textured vases, lamps and art pieces trending lately and have been dying to try it out for myself.

I thought this project would be perfect for some ceramic pumpkins I thrifted a couple of years ago. I snagged these babies for $0.50 each since the stems were damaged. It was a great find, but up until now, I have barely used them besides holding food on Thanksgiving day — don’t worry, they’re food safe stoneware ;).

I was so happy to try this textured DIY out, and I think they came out so well! 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

PUMPKINS | SPACKLING | GLOVES | WATER | PAINT | PRIMER | PAINTBRUSH | SANDPAPER

HOW TO MAKE YOUR TEXTURED PUMPKINS

1. Find some pumpkins! Re-use old decor pieces you don’t love anymore or try the thrift store.
   
   
2. Wipe down the surface and apply a primer to ensure a good starting point. I used Rust-Oleum white primer and just sprayed all over.
   
   
3. To create the textured look, I actually ended up using a spackling compound — it was something I already had on-hand, so I figured I’d give it a try and it did not let me down!
   
   I really liked working with spackling for this project for a couple of reasons. It didn’t dry out as fast as products I’ve seen others use, which gave me plenty of time to get everything covered and make any adjustments. Also, the brand I used, DAP DryDex, has a color indicator, so — as the color changed from pink to white — I could see when the spackling was dry and ready to move on to the next step.
   
   As I applied the compound, I found it easiest to scoop some out and apply with my hands, (wearing gloves) directly onto the pumpkin. You could also use a putty knife, if you prefer!
   
   
4. The next part is up to you. Make your pumpkins as thick and as bumpy as you want! I wanted a slightly textured look, so I added a little water to the spackling to really smooth it out.
   
   
5. Wait for everything to completely dry. Mine took a couple of hours, but it will ultimately depend on how thick the compound is.
   
   
6. Sand any spots you wish to smooth out.
   
   
7. Now it’s time to paint! Again, you can do this however you like — add a design, layer colors or even try a little bit of distressing. I used basic acrylic craft paint in fall colors and love the moodiness it brings to my home.
   
   

This DIY was super easy to create and would make for a great afternoon activity with kids or friends. Try using old decor you were thinking of getting rid of or finding a new-to-you piece at the thrift store! Happy DIY-ing!