Can I share a little secret? I’m not that into Halloween. Where I grew up, Halloween wasn’t a “thing”. There was no dressing up. No parading around the neighbourhood knocking door-to-door for candy. So when Halloween rolled around, I started thinking how to be creative without the ghoul and gore typically associated with the holiday.
I love the idea of decorating with pumpkins, but wanted something more feminine than your typical Jack-o-lantern. Something I could display inside my home and have it fit in with the rest of the decor. I thought to myself why not paint the pumpkin and use it like a vase? And there is where this painted pumpkin centerpiece came to mind.
In this post, I’m showing you how to transform a plain pumpkin into a beautiful centerpiece. This can also double as a wonderful showpiece for the Thanksgiving dinner table.
Materials for Painted Pumpkin Centerpiece
- Pumpkin
- Acrylic Sealer or modge podge
- Liquitex Acrylic Paint
- Knife or Pumpkin Carving Tools
- Vase
- Flowers (fresh cut or silk)
STEP 1: Clean Pumpkin
Start with a firm pumpkin. Choose a pumpkin that is deep enough to accommodate your vase. It doesn’t matter if it has small imperfections. Wash the outside of the pumpkin with mild soap and allow to dry completely. Once dry, trace the outline of the vase onto the top your pumpkin.
STEP 2: Cut an Opening for the Vase
Cut along the trace line and remove the stem. This opening should be large enough to fit your vase without being too big. You will want to test that the vase can fit through the opening before proceeding. If it doesn’t fit, trim a bit more and check again. Repeat until your vase can slide into the cavity with little force.
STEP 3: Clean Inside Pumpkin
Remove the brains of the pumpkin so you have an empty cavity. You’ll need to give it a good scrape to get everything out. I used a paddle tool from an inexpensive pumpkin carving kit hubbie got on Amazon. It worked surprisingly well due to the serated edges. You can use a knife/spoon if needed but having the right tool here will make your life a heck of a lot easier.
STEP 4: Seal Pumpkin
Apply a thin coat of acrylic sealer or modge podge and allow to dry completely. Make sure all the creases and crevices are coated. This provides a smoother surface for the paint and helps prevent the paint from peeling.
STEP 5: Paint Pumpkin
Apply a thin coat of paint and allow to dry completely. Flip the pumpkin and paint the underside making sure the entire surface is covered. Repeat this step until you have the coverage you desire.
It’s worth using a professional rated paint such as Liquitex. It provides better coverage in less coats. I opted for a cheaper version and had to apply way too many coats to get the coverage I needed.
STEP 6: Insert Vase and Arrange Flowers
Insert the vase into the pumpkin cavity, add water and your flowers of choice. Arrange the flowers to ensure there are no spaces, and they look nice from all angles.
How Long Will the Painted Pumpkin Centerpiece Last?
This painted pumpkin centerpiece has a shelf life of about one week indoors. If using outdoors, in cool weather it can last a bit longer but don’t make it too far ahead of when you actually need it.
Did You Make This Painted Pumpkin Centerpiece?
I’d love to hear and see how it turned out. Leave a comment below or tag @craftyourbeautiful on Instagram and include hashtag #craftyourbeautiful.
Be sure to check our other fall projects: Fall-inspired Placecards and Turkey Placecards.
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