blush pink pumpkins DIY

September 13, 2020










I purchased a dozen white plastic pumpkins online and they arrived ghostly white, just as I'd ordered. I planned to warm them up with a little blush of color and I was so happy with the results. It was easy to do so I thought I'd share this project with you. Here's what I did:

I ordered these pumpkins from Amazon although any faux or real white pumpkins will do. If you have orange pumpkins, real or faux, you can still do this, just paint them white first. My goal was to create a hint of an aged pinkish/orangish stain of color that would let the white shine through.

For the blush of color, I pulled out what I had on hand: 

acrylic paints (watered down mixes of brown, pink and orange)
brown shoe polish
liquid furniture scratch fixer

I was a bit of a mad scientist and mixed the above products together, then with a soft rag I rubbed a light coat of color onto the pumpkin making sure I put color inside each ridge. It dried quickly so I immediately buffed away most of the color as I wanted my white pumpkins to have just a hint of color. I wish I could give you a better recipe, but it was all just hit and miss, each one was different, and I ended up loving all of them. If you do decide to give this a go I don't think you can make a mistake. In the third picture below I have three stained on the left so you can see the warm contrast compared with the white pumpkins on the right.

The little stems that came with the pumpkins were cute, but I have a collection of real dried pumpkin stems that I wanted to use. The faux stems popped off with no problem and I easily hot glued my dried stems in their place. My husband couldn't believe that I had a collection of dried pumpkin stems and I couldn't believe that he couldn't believe it. (How long have you know me, hon?) When I have a pumpkin with a gorgeous long and curly stem, I save it. Of course. They pop off easily and dry with no trouble at all. I was planning to use my stem collection for velvet pumpkins but every year I wonder if velvet pumpkins are really my style so I never get around to making them. But THIS is my style and I'm so happy with them. I cannot wait to use them to create my Thanksgiving table, but in the meantime they are resting on the living room mantel. 




 


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8 Comments

  1. You are too cool for school! Fabulous results with your clever science. I cracked up when you wrote, “ My husband couldn't believe that I had a collection of dried pumpkin stems and I couldn't believe that he couldn't believe it.” - dying. We could be twins! You are gifted, making and sharing your beautiful projects, prolific in the production and you are so articulate. And you have a great sense of humor. That comment warmed me with internal laughter. Thanks. I’m a neighbor to your south in Carmel. I hope you haven’t been traumatized by the fires everywhere! God bless you.

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    1. Thank you friend from Carmel! We are still dealing with a daily dusting of dirty ash and an AQ that hovers around 150-200 daily. Not good. It’s been 500 plus in Oregon and Washington so I guess I can’t complain. I’ve lived in CA my entire life and I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I’m so grateful that everyone in my family is safe and hope yours is too.

      As for the project, I just had a bee in my bonnet to have light pinkish pumpkins and could not find them. I wish I had made a proper recipe for the color, but it was just a crazy mix of this and that. I looked at them again this morning and I love them even more!

      Thank you for commenting and have a good week in your beautiful part of the world.

      Kristen

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  2. I have a ton of pumpkin stems also, each year all of my friends bring me there's. I usually make the velvet ones but this is a great idea. Thank you, I always love everything you do.

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    Replies
    1. Now that’s a good idea—ask your friends to donate theirs! Thank you for that. Kristen

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  3. I LOVE these!!!!!!
    Carole

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  4. Everything Carmel friend said plus what a difference those real stems make! chloe

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Chloe. It's always nice to hear from you. Kristen

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