Want to learn how to make your own hand painted pumpkin décor? This tutorial will show you how to paint a realistic pumpkin on wood.
The weather is HOT right now, but Fall will be here soon, so it’s time to start thinking about pumpkins! Today, I’m going to show you how to make some easy hand painted pumpkin décor. This project has lots of personalization options, so take my ideas and make them your own.
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Supplies you’ll need to make your own hand painted pumpkin décor:
- 7×7 Wood Block (Set of 4)
- Pistachio Terra Clay Paint
- Prairie Dawn Terra Clay Paint
- Marigold Terra Clay Paint
- Tobacco Road Gel Stain
- Chocolate Dixie Belle Chalk Paint
- Farmhouse Tile Chalk Couture Transfer
- Bright White Chalkology Paste
- Dune Chalkology Paste
- Sander Tool
- Palette Knife
- Acrylic Paint Brush Set
To begin, I added a layer of Gel Stain in the color Tobacco Road to two blocks of wood using a clean cloth and let dry.
Once the stain was dry, I used a palette knife to add a rough layer of the color Prairie Dawn to one of the surfaces.
Then, I added a bit of the color Chocolate to the Prairie Dawn and used the same palate knife technique to add that mixed color to the surface of the second piece of wood.
Once the paint was dry, I applied the Farmhouse Tile transfer and randomly added Bright White Paste the block with the mixed color paint. For this one I wanted a semi distressed old look.
You can see my application of the white paste below.
Then I added Dune Paste to the second block using a little heavier hand. It’s fun to play with different looks and y’all know how much I love adding texture! What could go wrong?
Let the paste dry completely then lightly sand both. I sanded the white one a bit more in order to achieve the distressed look I was going for.
On the Dune paste background one I just lightly touched it and decided to use the raised texture and see if I could highlight it a bit more with my pallet knife.
I mixed a tiny bit of Chocolate with Prairie Dawn and hit the high spots…I think I love it!
Below you can see the final look for both pieces.
Now it’s time to paint the pumpkin!
First, let’s just loosely “draw” the pumpkin outlines. I watered down Chocolate and used a liner brush for this, but you can also use a fine tip brush.
Keep in mind this is just an outline and you will adjust and cover up as you go. So just jump in and play. It’s just paint and you can always sand it down or paint over it. Let your creativity guide you!
Now let’s fill it in!
Once it is filled in I like to highlight and lowlight (lol old hairdresser here…lowlight is probably not the proper term I’m sure 
). Highlight with Prairie Dawn and lowlight with Chocolate.
Once I got the look I like, I did take my liner brush and lightly outline the pumpkin again. Then I let it dry and lightly sand. Not to the point of sanding off just to soften the paint. This paint sands down like a dream.
Next, draw in your stem and layer it as you go, until you like the look. I did take my liner brush again, watered it down with Chocolate and added the vine. Keep in mind, pumpkin stems are all shapes and sizes.
Let all that dry and then move on to the leaves along the bottom.
To create the leaves, load your green and tap, push, lightly pull and lift to create a leaf look.
Once that is dry, use the liner brush again and loosely outline a leaf shape. We are not looking for the perfect leaf. The outline helps create the shape, then we will lightly sand again to soften. You got this!
This is the finished product with the Dune paste.
This is the finished product with the White paste.
You can also do this project without the transfer detail and still get a nice look like the one below.
Want more fun and easy DIY home decor ideas?? Find me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest! Also – be sure to share your finished projects with me by tagging @rusticorchardhome on Facebook and @rustic_orchard_home on Instagram!
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