How to Make Cute Hand Painted Pumpkin Pillows for Fall

Have you seen those cute heirloom painted pumpkin pillows and wanted to make one? To be honest there are several ways and this one is how I hand painted mine. I wanted to create that soft, cute, vintage look. I didn’t have all the supplies on hand to do an iron on transfer or to use a fancy machine.

Now keep in mind that I was expecting this to fail on my first attempt. Come to find our it was so easy and cute even on the first try!

So here’s what I did. I looked at heirloom pumpkin pictures online and then I did a pencil sketch of one. You could print a photo our and trace over it but I didn’t think of that until now!

Fall DIY Crafts

Once it was traced and the inner lines drawn in, I cut it out and placed in on my pillow cover. I then used my pencil to trace the pumpkin. There are actual tracing pencils for this, but like I said I didn’t have all the supplies. I also didn’t feel like running back to my craft room.

How to Make Cute Hand Painted Pumpkin Pillows for Fall

The tricky part is painting. To do this I used graphite chalk paint by Amy Howard to set my lines and then Linen color for the base. I applied the base color a bit more heavily at the bottom of the pumpkin. Then lightened my pressure as I went up, to give it a look like light was hitting the pumpkin. On accident I dipped my cream brush into the gray. So I ended up adding some shadowing and I loved how it turned out. The stem was painted dark gray with some cream added to the top to give dimension.

The last step was using the dark gray to fill in the lines that may have gotten covered up. You want to go lightly on this so that the lines have different thickness, otherwise your pumpkin won’t look real. Be sure to have fun with this. Don’t go for perfection! When you look at pumpkins you will see they vary quite a bit. Check out our pumpkin floral centerpiece, a fun twist for fall.

I didn’t seal the pillow as I don’t feel it is needed. You can also create this as an iron on transfer, but that tutorial will be for another day. Click the link if you are interested in purchasing my hand painted pumpkin pillows.

How to Make Cute Hand Painted Pumpkin Pillows for Fall

Today I’m excited to be joining a group of 25 other talented bloggers who are also sharing a Fall DIY or Craft project! Hop over to see what my friends are sharing…

Sweater Pumpkins at The Happy Housie // Chinoiserie Pumpkins at Shabbyfufu // Wire Basket Bundt Pan Pumpkins at Bless’er House // Plastic Fall Fruit Makeover at Craftberry Bush // Pumpkin Topiary at Inspiration for Moms

Forest Pine Candle at Setting for Four // Wooden Trough at Deeply Southern Home // Thrifty Magnolia Wreath at Home Made Lovely // Pumpkin Vase at Amber Tysl // Autumn Watercolour Place Cards at Finding Silver Pennies

Wooden Pumpkin at The Turquoise Home // Cotton Wreath at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia // No-Sew Burlap Table Runner at Jenna Kate at Home // Cute Pumpkin Plants at House by Hoff // Fall Flannel Quilted Pillow at TIDBITS

Hoop Wreath at Lolly Jane // Tiled Coffee Table Tray at In My Own Style // Pom Pom Garland at Modern Glam // Acorn Garland at Jen Woodhouse // Hello Fall Pillow at Love Create Celebrate

Silk Fall Floral Arrangement at Town and Country Living // Simple Fabric Pumpkins at Confessions of a Serial Do It Yourselfer // Soy Candles at The DIY Mommy // Lighted Pumpkin Bucket at Clean and Scentsible

Handprinted Pumpkin Pillow at Hallstrom Home // Corn Husk Pumpkins at Paint Me Pink // Fall Glam Candle Wreaths at Summer Adams