How-to-faux-paint-a-fake-pumpkinHow to Fake a Fake Pumpkin

Have you seen those neon orange fake pumpkins and nearly vomited because you wouldn’t dream of decorating with them. I mean—get real—everyone would know they were fake. Ah ha, but have you seen the price tags? $1 – $6? For that price you might just be willing to take a leap of faith with me, wouldn’t you? Awesome, because I’m going to show you how to faux paint a fake pumpkin so you can decorate with them year after year and fool your friends.

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

materials

Instructions:

Start by painting all the pumpkins with Chalk Paint (use gray, white, green and blue paint.) Allow the pumpkins to dry.

paint-pumpkins-french-linen

 

Painting Realistic White Pumpkins:

It helps to look up some pictures of real pumpkins to refer to.

pure-white-country-grey

Using the stencil brush, paint a mixture of grey and white on one of the pumpkins.

paint-white-mixture

Before the paint dries, dab some of it off with the sea sponge. (Keep your sea sponge dry, not wet during the process.)

sponge-off-white

Dip the stencil brush into the white paint and add paint on the outer most bumps on the pumpkins. This is adding highlights.

highlights_on-white-pumpkin

Dab the highlights gently with the sea sponge to blend.

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Use the fan brush dipped in a small amount of green paint inside the pumpkin ridges. Dab the ridges with the sea sponge to blend.

white-gourd-pumpkin

Have you ever seen a truly unblemished pumpkin? I think not. It’s time to add some spots or marks on the pumpkin to truly fool your friends. Dip the end of the paint brush into brown paint and dot it onto the pumpkin. Blot the spot with a sea sponge and maybe even transfer a few new spots with the sponge.

add-blemishes

Paint grey around the base of the stem and into the grooves with the round paint brush.

add-dark-depth-around-stem

Paint brown and green paint onto the pumpkin stem. Blend slightly with the sea sponge.

paint-sponge-stem

Can you spot my fake white pumpkin? Well, of course you can because I just showed you how to paint it. But, it will definitely fool your friends!

grouping_left_pumpkins

Painting Realistic Blue Pumpkins:

Painting blue pumpkins uses the same technique as painting the white pumpkins, only using a few different colors.

Use the stencil brush to paint blue onto another pumpkin. Dab the blue paint while it’s still wet with the sea sponge.

add-duck-egg-blue-sponge

Use the fan brush dipped in gray and brown craft paint to fill in the ridges.

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Dab the paint with the dry sea sponge to blend.

sponge-crevices

Add some highlights with a mixture of grey and white. This serves two purposes. 1) It adds dimension. 2) It tones down the excess blue on the pumpkin.

add-highlights

Paint the stem the same way you learned above.

To truly fool people, set up your fake pumpkins with some real pumpkins and real gourds. Sooo, can you spot the fakes?

guess-the-fakes

How many did you get right? The metallic gourd is simply spray-painted with copper spray paint. But, I did try my hand at faking a green and yellow gourd using the same technique as the pumpkins, but adding green to the top and yellow to the bottom.

the_fakes

Okay, I’ll give you a second shot. Guess the fakes:

vertical-fall-vignette

How did you do this time? Ha, you can now apply for a job as an art forgery detective ;-).

truth_fake_gourds
Now seriously, how many people will be viewing your pumpkins that close? Umm, next to no one. Normally they’ll view them from afar.

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Get your paints and palette out and go fake some fakes! It will be our little secret.

fall-vignette-grouping

PHGFancySignDid you like this painting post? Ahhh, then I know you’ll like this Ballard Pear painting tutorial:

Or if you’re feeling like taking on a larger scale project…how about Faux painted bricks!

Or perhaps you’d like to perform some faux zinc painting magic:

You can do it! I know you can.

Cotton Fall Wreath and Décor for the Entryway

Cotton Fall Wreath

Every morning for the past few weeks I woke up and looked out the window. A few leaves have turned color, but as soon as I look at the weather report — the heat and humidity has yet to leave North Carolina. Will fall ever arrive? I want to wear flannel shirts and boots. I want cooler temperatures so I can stop sweating the minute I step outside. To usher fall into our area, I decided to make a super simple Cotton Fall Wreath. You won’t believe how easy this wreath was to make!

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Materials for Cotton Fall Wreath

Instructions:

This wreath was so simple to create, I didn’t take step-by-step photos. Gasp!

Really, it’s so simple, all you have to do is tuck preserved leaves into the cotton wreath. Yup, just tucked, no glue or anything!

Cotton Fall Wreath and Décor for the Entryway

Then loop a strip of burlap (or ribbon of your choice) through the top and pin it to the top of your door using a flat thumbtack.

Cotton Fall Wreath and Décor for the Entryway

See, wasn’t that super simple?

Cotton Fall Wreath and Décor for the Entryway

A red ribbon would also look beautiful with this wreath.

Pretty Handy Girl's Colorful Fall Home Tour

To give my entry a little extra decor, I added a few colorful items.

Fall Décor for the Entryway

A little step ladder with a pumpkin and some silk flowers.

Fall Décor for Home Entrance | Pretty Handy Girl

The chalkboard painted pail from my fall mantle a few years ago.

Fall Décor for Home Entrance

A faked blue gourd sits on the bottom step, tempting people to touch it to see if it’s real.

Fall Décor for Home Entrance

My favorite décor item is this light up grapevine sphere. It adds a beautiful warm glow after dark.

Fall Décor for Home Entrance | Pretty Handy Girl

Have you decorated for fall yet? Have cooler temperatures arrived where you are? If so, please mail me some of your fall weather!

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Want more Fall Wreath inspiration? Enjoy these 24 more Fall wreath ideas:

24 Creative Fall Wreaths

Autumn Mantle Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Fall is here! Hip Hip Hooray! I’m not exactly a summer gal (although I was born in June.) I prefer the cooler temperatures, the colorful landscape and jean weather! When the first cool day rolled into North Carolina, I was ready and waiting! But, my living room was still stuck on 4th of July (you know I’m a procrastinating decorator, right?!) I trudged up to the attic to pull down some fall décor. But, frankly, I wasn’t excited about putting the same stuff out again. I wanted a new look, something with bright colors and BLING!

Come on inside to view my Fall mantel and living room vignettes and cozy up near the hearth.

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

I knew upfront that I wanted to use an aqua and vermillion color scheme. I really love the bold contrast of colors.

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

I ordered a lantern and some faux leaves, for decorating. While I waited for them to arrive, I spent an hour building a giant canvas with scrap 2″ x 2″ pieces of lumber and cheap fabric.

blank_canvas

The next day I created a giant abstract water painting. You’ll be thrilled to know that I’ll indulge you with a video tutorial so you can create your own!

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

When my order arrived, I integrated the Pottery Barn items (see if you can spot them) with several other objects that I already had. The two leaf branches I ordered weren’t enough on their own, so I grabbed a few bunches of dried leaves at the grocery store (check in the floral department.)

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

The brass medallions are vintage British horse bridal medallions. They are actually a gift from a friend upon her return from England. (The perks of dog sitting!)

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

On the hearth, I added more faux leaves and candles to further decorate the fireplace.

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

I also popped some gourds and pumpkins onto the hearth.

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Can you spot the fakes? (If you’re having trouble, good because I have a tutorial on how to fake a fake pumpkin.)

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

The fabric was a last minute purchase that I made at Pier 1 Imports. It’s actually a curtain panel. The color coordinated perfectly with my painting on the mantel.

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

The Pottery Barn lantern fit in nicely on the other side of the hearth and added some needed height to the arrangement (it is tall despite being the small-sized lantern!) I added in my DIY PB inspired lantern for a collected look.

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Do you have a drafty fireplace? If so, you’ll want to learn how to make this rustic fireplace insert to stop drafts!

No more drafty winter evenings and the insert is a beautiful backdrop instead of a big black hole.

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

This tray was literally a quickie makeover using an old tray I had on hand. I’ll be sure to show you this transformation in the coming weeks.

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl
Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Recognize these log pillar candles from the tutorial I gave you last Christmas?

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl
Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

This was one of my souvenirs I brought back from our vacation in England. A printing block. I thought it was for sari printing, but I was told it was for making an impression on furniture that would then be relief carved. It was dark black until I rubbed some gold Rub n’ Buff over the raised areas.

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

The black bucket was a yard sale find that I spray painted with chalkboard paint and added a fun message that I designed.

Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Finally, I want to leave you with this little gift.  Feel free to download this Autumn inspired printable to use in your own home:

Chalkboard Autumn Free Printable - Autumn Mantel Décor and Vignettes | Pretty Handy Girl

Which was your favorite item or vignette? Are you on pins and needles waiting for a specific tutorial? Do tell.

PHGFancySign

I thought I’d sneak one more fun craft in before Halloween. Don’t fret, this craft takes about 5-10 minutes. You’ll spend more time gathering the supplies than you will creating it.

My sitter came over to make these pumpkins with my boys. I was a little skeptical when she asked for three rolls of toilet paper, but the results were so stinkin’ cute!

Materials: 

Toilet Paper Rolls
Fat Quarter of Fabric
Sticks for stems
Ribbons
Tissue Paper
Scissors
optional: acorn, sweet gum tree ball or other natural elements

Step 1: Lay out your fabric, and set your roll of toilet paper in the middle.

Wrap 1-2 sheets of tissue paper around the sides.

Step 2: Tuck one corner into the center of the toilet paper.

Step 3: Continue tucking in the fabric, folding any fabric under that won’t quite meet the center of the toilet paper.

 

Step 4: Fluff your pumpkin sides and work with the fabric until you have a nice round pumpkin shape.

Step 5: Add your stick to the center. You can glue an acorn to the top, or tie your natural elements on using your ribbon.
 Add ribbons or other embellishments if you wish.
Step 7: Enjoy! But don’t tell your prim and proper friend that you have toilet paper on your dining room table! It will be our little secret.

Don’t forget! Tomorrow’s the night that we’ll be drawing one lucky follower who will win a CD/DVD car visor wallet and a $25 gift certificate for Amazon.com. If you are a follower via Google Friend Connect or Feedburner (see my side bar), your name has been entered! Be sure to check back for the lucky winner.