ModPodged Faux Pumpkins: Autumn Around the South Blog Hop

Today is a momentous occasion…we’re participating in our very first blog hop! And you, dear readers, are the lucky ones – below our post, you’ll find links to several of our good bloggy friends’ latest autumn inspired projects. So stick with us all the way through and you’ll be rewarded with a fun fall walk through the South – there are recipes and a home tour and some craft projects – and you’re gonna love them all! =) Go ahead and follow our friends, too! They’ve got some more good stuff up their sleeves. 😉

Y’all, these modpodged faux pumpkins are my new favorite fall craft! I made the first one several years ago – and I get so excited when I pull it out of my storage tote and nestle it into my mantel display…before the fall equinox is even here, because let’s be real. 😉 I’m definitely that girl. I kinda want to go buy ALL the fall fabrics and go crazy with design ideas. You just take a really easy concept – and keep it as simple as you wish…or make it as elaborate as you have the time and inclination for. And it’s a faux pumpkin, which means that, unlike carving a fantastic design into a real pumpkin, taking a few snapshots to post on Facebook and then watching it wither away into oblivion, you actually get to reap the benefits of your craftiness from year to year. Also, these make great gifts! AND depending on the age(s)/abilities of your kid(s), they can make one, too! Or at least help you. There are lots of wins here.

Last week I got together with Ashley and her girls and her mom, Judy, to make these pumpkins. Ashley’s mom is a serious crafter – she can make pottery, people. POTTERY. See the proof here. But we brought her back to High School level with this project. 😉 But you can definitely doll them up as much as you’d like! 

Let’s get started. =)

Supplies: (Affiliate links below)
*table covering (i.e. old plastic tablecloth) – something non-stick
*craftable faux pumpkin(s)
*sharp knife or box cutter
*modpodge (I prefer the glossy version, but matte is fine, too)
*paintbrush (3/4 inch or slightly smaller is a good size – it can take forever with a tiny brush)
*desired fabric or mix of fabrics – cut into about 16-18 1.5 inch-strips, about 26-27 inches long (depending on the size on your pumpkin)
*mix of preserved leaves or faux fall leaves, berries, and small fall flowers
*brown twine
*accent color twine – optional
*glue gun
*acrylic paint – optional, to paint the faux stem to be a little more realistic-looking 
*small sponge – optional, for painting stem
*wax paper, for drying finished project

Step 1: The only thing you need to carve on this pumpkin is the stem. With a sharp knife, carefully cut out the stem, trying to trim any bits of orange off as you go, and set aside. (You’ll hot glue the stem back on in the last step.) This should go without saying, but you know, have the adults do the cutting off of the stem. 😉

Step 2: Cut your fabric into strips. For the size of my pumpkins that I bought at Target several years ago, I used about 15-18 strips cut 1.5 inches wide and about 26.5 inches long. You’ll just need to make sure your strip is long enough to go all the way around your pumpkin, starting with a little extra fabric in the empty stem area and then wrapping it around the bottom and up the other side (and leaving some overhang on that side, too). Of course the smaller pumpkins will take shorter strips of fabric, but again, it’s super easy to measure for the right fit. 

Step 3: Cover your entire pumpkin with a semi-thick coat of modpodge. 

Step 4: Starting with one long strip, apply it (leaving a small overlap) at the top of the stem area and winding it underneath the bottom and up the other side of the pumpkin, tucking in the “overhang” on the other side. The next strip will slightly overlap the first strip, but start to criss-cross underneath the bottom of the pumpkin. Cover these newly placed strips with modpodge. Continue applying the fabric strips, always stopping to modpodge the fabric layers down after no more than 3 strips are applied. 

Step 5: If you are using more than one fabric, you can decide on a pattern and proceed from there. 

For a little more control with your pattern, you can cut your strips in half and just apply them side by side (instead of crisscrossing the strips underneath the pumpkin). See below – this is Ms. Judy’s pumpkin. I loved her pattern with three coordinating fabrics!

Step 6: While you’re letting your pumpkin(s) dry (I suggest on waxed paper), you can mix up a little paint to make your stem look a little more realistic. I used a mix of van dyke brown with a little yellow ochre and a little white; then mixed a little more yellow with the brown mixture to add a little more depth with that second color. 

Step 7: It may take several hours or overnight for your modpodged pumpkin to completely dry (depending on how thick you layer on the modpodge) In the meantime, though, you can gather your materials to make the little bouquet of fall goodness to glue on the top. =) I suggest three different items – for the big pumpkins, I used a burlap leaf (from Walmart), a colorful preserved leaf or two, and a sprig of berries. Cut them at a common desired length, wind brown twine around, applying hot glue at 2 or 3 appropriate places. 

Step 8: After the modpodge is dry, you may choose to hot glue a coordinating color of twine to better define the sections of the pumpkin. This is Ellery’s pumpkin and I think it turned out super cute!

Step 9: Step back, be impressed with the new colorful addition to your autumn home decor, and drink a pumpkin spice latte to celebrate!

And now, let me punch your ticket – you’re headed on a little fall getaway in our Autumn Around the South Blog Hop! 😉

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Finding Your Joy in the Journey: Fall Home Tour Post | Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter

 

Diane and Dean DIY: No Carve Pumpkin DecorationsPost | Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter

 
The Life of Jennifer Dawn: Glazed Pumpkin Cookies
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Linking up this post in the Your Inspired Design Link Party. =)

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