Halloween No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating DIY
So you don’t want to carve pumpkins or flood your home with the overzealous purples, greens, and oranges that traditionally flank the stores during the Halloween season? Looking for a way to make your Halloween decorations match your classy adulthood? (I’m laughing at myself because I watched Twitches while making these beauties). This Halloween No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating DIY will give you tips to create your own painted pumpkins that will be as grown up as you. Or just really cute! This is a project for all styles and ages.
Supplies:
- pumpkins (real or fake)
- acrylic paints
- paint brushes & foam brushes
- painters tape (I used washi tape)
- exacto knife
- tablecloth/ drop cloth
- water
- towel
- natural cleaning solution (I used witch hazel)
- patience
Directions:
- Purchase & clean your pumpkins of dirt by wiping them with the towel and with the cleaning solution.
- Choose a theme to decorate your pumpkins. My theme is black, gold, classy and geometric.
- After choosing your theme, decide on a few ways this can be interpreted on the pumpkins. To play up the geometry, on a pumpkin with an even number of ridges I alternated painting them and leaving them blank, resulting in a black and orange pumpkin. I also did a simple design of triangles on one pumpkin. These were free-handed.
- For designs that required more accuracy, use tape to mark off the areas that need to be painted from the areas that are to remain unpainted. After painting, allow paint to dry, and apply as many more coats as necessary to cover the pumpkin.
- When the paint is to your liking and completely dry, you’ll find that trying to peel the paint directly off tears the paint. Therefore, with an exact-o knife, lightly etch a line beneath the tape to help you remove it from the pumpkin.
- Clean up any areas with too much paint by lightly scraping it off, and fix any areas that need more paint or a clean line with small paint brushes.
Painting pumpkins is a fun way to get in the Halloween spirit and have a lasting, fun design to decorate your home with. I hope this tutorial is helpful – don’t hesitate to ask questions in the comments below!
What is your favorite way to decorate for Halloween? Will you be painting pumpkins this year?
originally published September 2015
The Comments
Karen
LOVE this post because I am ALL about the Fall! I painted pumpkins once (and stacked them together) to create a black kitty! Turned out great and I really loved doing it… but you’re right when you say you need patience in the materials! omg.
xx, Karen
Glam Karen
Addie
KarenThat sounds too cute, Karen! Patience is like the #1 necessary “supply item” lol! It yields great results!!
Rocky
How cute! What a great idea!
Addie
RockyThanks, Rocky! 🙂
Janae Smith
I absolutely love these pumpkins! They are super cute! I like that you incorporated gold. Thank you for sharing and I hope you have a happy fall!
Janae
http://www.hiyallblog.blogspot.com
Addie
Janae SmithA happy fall to you, too, Janae! And thank you 🙂
Jasmine
Love this. I can’t wait to go to a pumpkin patch and pick our pumpkins so we can decorate them.
Addie
JasmineI haven’t been to a pumpkin patch since I was little, I want to go to one, soon! Thanks, Jasmine! 🙂
Christine
I’m loving Fall. Now I just need to get my hands on some pumpkins and paint. 🙂
Emily Augustine
Such a cute idea! I love Fall! It is my favorite time to decorate!
Elle Spann
I love the metallic gold! this year i just bought a fairytale pumpkin instead of painting any, but if I had, they would have looked something like this!
elle
Southern Elle Style
Anna
I LOVE these cute DIY pumpkins! For the last few years I have wanted to tackle this project and you’re giving me just the inspiration I need! Love them! XO
Anna
alilyloveaffair.com
Bianca
These are all so cute! I would love to use these ideas to paint pumpkins with my little toddler, although her pumpkins wouldn’t look as neat, I still think it would be a fun idea! Thanks!
Caroline @ In Due Time
How cute! These turned out great!
brittany
SO precious! I have a ton of washi tape so this would be easy for me! Cute girl!~
Stacey @ Stacey Homemaker
What a cute craft! This would be perfect for my hay bale setup that I put by the front door! I love painting pumpkins =)
Audrey White
Oh my word, I love these! They’re just adorable! Now to find some mini pumpkins……
Amy at Mom's Magical Miles
So pretty! Every year I aspire to this and… every year I leave it to the kids. 3 boys. It doesn’t end well.
Addie
Amy at Mom’s Magical MilesBahahaha, but I bet they’ll cherish these moments forever 🙂
laci
Yes yes yes definitely doing something like this asap !! You did amazing !
Darcy
Ooo I love this! I think painted pumpkins are so fun!
http://www.amemoryofus.com
Ramona
I love the color combination. You did a great job. Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I would add a few jewels and ribbons. Thanks for sharing this project.
Sonya
Last year was our first year craving pumpkins and it was a lot if fun. We painted pumpkins a few years ago and we might do it again this. Halloween is such a fun holiday 🙂
Ashleigh
I love painting pumpkins way more than carving! And yours turned out great! Thank you for sharing!
Kaylah Burton
How adorable! I was never good at carving pumpkins, but I think I can take a stab at this adorable DIY!
Thanks for sharing!
xx
Kaylah
Rebekah
I love these! What a modern yet festive way to decorate…I’ll definitely have to try something similar for our front porch. Thanks so much for sharing!
Terumi
We usually carve our pumpkins but painting looks fun too!
Becki S
I like painting our pumpkins because it means we can do it in early October and they will still be around for actual Halloween! Love the colors you did.
Addie
Becki SI love that aspect, too, Becky! Get a head start on the decor and have it last longer! Now if only I could leave them outside lol… This Texas heat would just wilt the poor things during the day lol
Donni
I bought some very cute sparkly pumpkins because I failed at carving last year! But I love your painted pumpkins idea! I might have to buy a few minis and try it myself.
Mary
What a great post! I love this and am definitely going to try it!!! Thanks for sharing!
Sportsanista
Chelsea
I always wanted to learn now to do this!! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Addie
ChelseaAwesome, Chelsea! I hope it works for you! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Brooke
This would be such a fun activity to do with our children, thanks for the “how to”…love it!
xo,
Brooke | KBStyled
Addie
BrookeAwww that will turn out so cute with your children’s help, Brooke! Glad you love it 🙂
Adaleta Avdic
What an awesome post! I love decorating pumpkins so much and it’s probably one of my favorite things to do during the fall because it really sets the mood for the autumn time. Love this DIY! xx, adaatude.com
Samantha
How fun are these?! I’m so excited for fall and Halloween!
Amanda Miller
OK so I signed up to do this with a group of girls next week and I am so excited! This is amazing! I am not crafty at all… so we will see how it turns out haha!
xoxo Amanda
The Miller Affect
Addie
Amanda MillerLol good luck, Amanda! Crafty or not, you will have a blast and be so proud of yourself when it’s all over!! ☺️
Cameron Proffitt
I love this idea! You’re so creative. I wish I was more crafty. I also LOVE the all-white pumpkins. Painting pumpkins. Who woulda thunk!
Cameron Proffitt
Addie
Cameron ProffittThe all white pumpkins are so classy, too! Thank you Cameron 🙂
Brooke Ellen
I love that painting pumpkins have become more and more popular because one I was not a fan of the mess carving created, I can deal with a paint mess. The pumpkins also last longer!
xoxo
Brooke
Adriana
These are soo cute! I’ll have to try some of these designs! I also love the way fake pumpkins look painted for in-home decor!
xo Adriana – Daily Dose of Design
Addie
AdrianaDefinitely try that, Adriana! I just saw Target has some VERY similar ones.. and I thought I was being original! Haha =)
Molly Moon
How cute! I love classy Halloween crafts, fall is such a fun season for decor!
Molly | Hey There Sunshine
Amanda
This is such a fun fall craft! If I had the time, I would definitely decorate some pumpkins!
xx,
Amanda || http://www.fortheloveofglitter.com
chelsea
Love this DIY! Trying this for halloween! Cant wait!
Eileen
What a great project! I am totally doing this with my youngest daughter and my neice!
Addie
EileenThat’s awesome, Eileen, I bet they will create the cutest pumpkin designs, ever!
Anna-Maria
I seriously LOVE this. You’re so creative. I will try to do this for Halloween.
Thank you for sharing your ideas with us.
xxx
Valery Brennan
You already know how much I love these cute pumpkins! Can’t wait to decorate a few for my house!
Simply Sabrina
I can actually say that I have NEVER painted a pumpkin, but this looks like so much fun! I need to get myself a white and gold pumpkin!
x. Sabrina // Simply Sabrina
Addie
Simply SabrinaThat sounds like it will turn out so beautiful, Sabrina! This was my first time painting pumpkins – it was a great experience and I love the outcome!
Megan @ Wit & Wander
Those look gorgeous! I love the trendy stripes!
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Elena Michelle
these pumpkins are so darling!! makes me want to be a kid again! well apparently, i don’t even have to be!! who says adults can’t decorate pumpkins too!! i love the black and gold – so chic.
xoxo, Elena Michelle
http://www.anewyorkloveaffair.com
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Erica B.
Very cute! Question though…does painting them with acrylic paints mean they aren’t safe to compost at the end of their life? I wonder if there are some eco-friendly paints that could be substituted instead?!
Addie
Erica B.That is correct – it won’t be compostable. I’m not sure what type of paint would work best to be compostable and actually stick/look like it’s painted. I’d have to experiment with that to figure it out. I’m open to any suggestions!