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How To Transform Foam Pumpkins Into Pretty Fall Decor

Hi!  I was looking for some faux pumpkins the other day and was shocked at the prices of the nice, off white one.  It was almost $30 and it was not very big.  It stood about 8 inches tall.  Anyway, the ugly ones seem to be a lot cheaper but….they are ugly.  Well, I am here to show you how to transform foam pumpkins into pretty fall decor for your home.

You can also see my faux mercury glass pumpkin in this photo.  It was super fun to make as well.

How-To-Transform-Foam-Pumpkins-Into-Pretty-Fall-Decor - www.michellejdesigns.com - I used paint to transform some hideous, bright orange pumpkins into pretty fall decor.

I had gotten these foam pumpkins at a thrift store last year for .50 each.  They truly were quite hideous.  They were so bright.

How-To-Transform-Foam-Pumpkins-Into-Pretty-Fall-Decor - www.michellejdesigns.com - I used paint to transform some hideous, bright orange pumpkins into pretty fall decor.

But with a little paint these foam pumpkins were totally transformed into some thing I am proud to display.

I wanted to spray them but spray paint and foam don’t mix well.  I have tried it and the paint eats away the foam in different spots.  So I decided to paint a latex paint on them first.  Then I was planning to spray them.

How-To-Transform-Foam-Pumpkins-Into-Pretty-Fall-Decor - www.michellejdesigns.com - I used paint to transform some hideous, bright orange pumpkins into pretty fall decor.

I have included some affiliate links for your convenience.  You can read my full disclosure here.

After the paint was dry I took them inside to use the chalk paint on them. I decided the colors I already had in the chalk paint were better than the spray colors I had.

I brushed each one in a different color.  I used my Americana Decor Vintage, White, and Green paints.

How-To-Transform-Foam-Pumpkins-Into-Pretty-Fall-Decor - www.michellejdesigns.com - I used paint to transform some hideous, bright orange pumpkins into pretty fall decor.

This was just one coat.  And I decided to leave the stems brown.  I wanted to sand them a little bit but it didn’t seem to make a difference so I just left them as is.

They needed some depth though so I used Burnt Umber in an acrylic craft paint and and old technique I learned a long time ago when I took some toll painting classes.

It is called floating and it creates sort of a gradient look with a dark to light “float”.

Use a smaller, wide brush and load it with water from a cup.  Then you add a little bit of paint to just one corner of the brush and brush it a few times onto a plastic lid or something to blend it in.

When you paint you place the loaded corner of the brush along the area you want to be darkest and glide the brush along.  It is fun and creates a nice, almost shadow look.

This is what I did to create a shadow look for the lines on the pumpkins.  I think I may have gotten some of them a little too dark.  You can wipe it off with a cloth since there is some much water and you can also go back and blend a lot with the brush.

How-To-Transform-Foam-Pumpkins-Into-Pretty-Fall-Decor - www.michellejdesigns.com - I used paint to transform some hideous, bright orange pumpkins into pretty fall decor.

After this part dried I added the creme wax and buffed them out a little for some sheen.




I really like the way they turned out.

How-To-Transform-Foam-Pumpkins-Into-Pretty-Fall-Decor - www.michellejdesigns.com - I used paint to transform some hideous, bright orange pumpkins into pretty fall decor.

What do you think?

How-To-Transform-Foam-Pumpkins-Into-Pretty-Fall-Decor - www.michellejdesigns.com - I used paint to transform some hideous, bright orange pumpkins into pretty fall decor.
How-To-Transform-Foam-Pumpkins-Into-Pretty-Fall-Decor - www.michellejdesigns.com - I used paint to transform some hideous, bright orange pumpkins into pretty fall decor.

These ugly foam pumpkins now match perfectly with my decor and I am so glad I did it.  It only took me a day and this was a lot of waiting for paint to dry.  You can do it too.

If you like it please pin it!  I love to see my pins on Pinterest.  LOL

How-To-Transform-Foam-Pumpkins-Into-Pretty-Fall-Decor - www.michellejdesigns.com - I used paint to transform some hideous, bright orange pumpkins into pretty fall decor.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Michelle

If you like this you may also like these fun posts!

Wire Basket Makeover - www.michellejdesigns.com - this garage sale ugly duckling gets turned into something beautiful with just some paint!

A Transformed Wire Basket

Time for Fall Printable - www.michellejdesigns.com - print this out on a fun card stock to add to your fall decor.

Time For Fall Free Printable

Barbara

Friday 7th of October 2016

I just finished doing some of my old orange pumpkins this way. I didn't use the same technique you did but they looklook the same. Love them and a lot cheaoer than the new stylish ones for sale this year.. Thanjs much for all of your ideas.

Michelle

Sunday 9th of October 2016

Hi Barbara. The new ones this year seemed so expensive to me. I am glad we can find some cheapos and do them ourselves! Thanks for stopping by!

Sue

Wednesday 21st of September 2016

I am so impressed and you do make it look easy to do the shadowing on the pumpkins. I pinned and the grouping on your table looks so pretty.

Michelle

Wednesday 21st of September 2016

Thank you Sue. The Farm Fresh box with the fall arrangement will be on the blog in a day or two. I love that thing and it was pretty ugly when it started out as well. I always appreciate your kind words. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sherian Ferguson

Wednesday 21st of September 2016

Love your pumpkins!! I think I will try this. Have everything even some ugly pumpkins. Glad I found you. Look forward to seeing what you do next.

Michelle

Wednesday 21st of September 2016

Yay! Sherian I am so glad you found me as well. I am excited that you already have ugly pumpkins. I think that is a hoot! Thanks for stopping by.

Susie from The Chelsea Project

Wednesday 21st of September 2016

Absolutely some of my fav fall pumpkins. They look naturally these colors... Beautifullay done. Pinning...of course. Susie from Chelsea Project

Michelle

Wednesday 21st of September 2016

Hi Susie! Thanks so much for the pin. I really appreciate it and I am so glad you like them.

Susie from The Chelsea Project

Wednesday 21st of September 2016

....oh my..... I mean beautifully done....

Toni | Small Home Soul

Wednesday 21st of September 2016

Wow I love how much cuter they are now! They will fit into so many shapes note that they aren't bright orange.

Michelle

Wednesday 21st of September 2016

I agree Toni. Thanks so much. They were pretty bad before. LOL!

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