October on the blog has been all about guiding you with your Halloween decorating! Piggy backing on last week’s post that showed you beautiful no carve pumpkin ideas, today I’m sharing my favorite colorful painted pumpkin ideas!
Carving requires a certain amount of patience and skill, of which I have neither. I kid, I kid. But as a creative and a pseudo-artist (when I don’t let my fear get in the way, heyooo), painted pumpkins are much more my speed and way less intimidating, in my opinion.
In fact, my neighbor and I are going to have a pumpkin decorating picnic in Central Park soon where we will take some of my blog ideas and recreate them. Colorful painted pumpkins are at the top of the list. You can do the same with people of all ages!
18 Colorful Painted Pumpkin Ideas
Colorful painted pumpkins are so fun; they are a blank canvas allowing you to create art that matches your home design! I’ve even seen artists selling painted pumpkins–much like they do with hand painted Christmas ornaments during the holidays.
Feel free to take what resonates from this list and even explore other ideas that would make your heart sing. I’m starting the list with the vintage Pyrex inspired painted pumpkin idea on purpose in hopes it will spark joy in you to recreate something in your home that you love, but in pumpkin form!
Give it a try, yes?
And don’t forget to sign up for my email list at the bottom of this page in the footer. I send monthly design advice, favorite products, affordable decor, etc!
1. Vintage Pyrex inspired
Tutorial here.
2. Pastel swirling watercolor
To make: Choose a light color to paint the entire pumpkin. Then use a watercolor paint brush to swirl paint in any pattern you want on top of the pumpkin. You can try mixing the paint with water in some parts for more opacity!
4. Watercolor florals
To make: paint pumpkin a lighter color, then dilute some acrylic paint with a little water to paint semi-opaque flowers.
5. Paint pen botanical outlines
This is an affiliate link. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
To make: grab some paint pens and go to town!
8. Chinoiserie florals
To make: pick a reference image and recreate it on a light colored painted pumpkin.
9. Woodland themed
To make: pick a reference image and recreate it on a light colored painted pumpkin.
11. Soft neutrals
To make: paint pumpkin a champagne gold or taupe and paint coordinating florals on top.
12. Floral and leaf stencil
This is an affiliate link. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
To make: paint your pumpkin whatever color you want all over and follow with floral and leaf stencils with another color for the flowers.
14. Block print inspired
To make: just grab a paint pen or some opaque acrylic paint and leave negative space for the parts of the leaf to remain orange. To simulate a block print, make the inner details looked carved by creating less curved edges and more angular ones (as if you used a tool to carve a wood block).
15. Traditional
To make: just grab a paint pen or some opaque acrylic paint and leave negative space for the parts of the leaf to remain orange. To simulate a block print, make the inner details looked carved by creating less curved edges and more angular ones (as if you used a tool to carve a wood block).
16. Gilded neon
To make: just grab a paint pen or some opaque acrylic paint and leave negative space for the parts of the leaf to remain orange. To simulate a block print, make the inner details looked carved by creating less curved edges and more angular ones (as if you used a tool to carve a wood block).
17. Swirly peach
To make: just grab a paint pen or some opaque acrylic paint and leave negative space for the parts of the leaf to remain orange. To simulate a block print, make the inner details looked carved by creating less curved edges and more angular ones (as if you used a tool to carve a wood block).
18. Mosaic
To make: use a reference image and draw that first. Then make geometric shapes in the background resembling mosaic pieces. You could do the same with your reference image. Use tonal colors copying how a mosaic would look.
Which of these colorful painted pumpkin ideas will you be trying? I’m leaning towards all the florals (obviously) and might attempt the mosaic if I’m feeling good and confident:-)
Remember: don’t judge the outcome. The outcome will be rotting by next month. What we want to do is just enjoy the fun of the experience and use this as a nice way to celebrate Halloween and so something creative either solo or with pals.
PS: if you’re also wanting a nice Halloween/fall front porch, read this post!
Want more inspiration? Here ya go!
Halloween:
