It’s Fall Y’all

Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than any other season. — Jim Bishop

Happy Fall!! Fall by far is my favorite season. I am not suffering from spring allergies and my bones are not cold from winter yet. I love the crisp air, colder mornings that end in warm afternoons, boots and fall fashions. I love everything that fall has to offer, except pumpkin spice. Pumpkin spice is the MOST OVERRATED thing about fall. This fall I decided to do some porch rehab with decorated pumpkins. Pumpkin decorating is a great alternative to carving. You can decorate fresh or faux pumpkins depending if you want to reuse it the next season.

Things You Need:

• Pumpkin
• Acrylic Paint
• Mod Podge
• Foam Paint Brush
• Glitter
• Stencils or Lettering

I picked up a faux pumpkin from my local craft store for $12 bucks. This Frugal Fran  find was 60% off the original price. For parents with younger aged children, Dollar Tree has faux pumpkins perfectly sized for decorating. Make sure your pumpkin is not too waxy to the touch.

Step One: Prep Your Work Area

I keep disposable tablecloths for project because of the easy clean up. Lay down the disposable tablecloth to protect your work area.

Step Two: Prep Your Pumpkin

To prepare your pumpkin for painting make sure it is free of any dirt of debris. A white base is easier to paint over and allows colors to pop.

If painting a real pumpkin, apply a layer of Mod Podge to serve a primer.

Step Three: Let’s Paint

For this pumpkin, I wanted simple and chic. Essentially, a pumpkin that could be mixed with most fall decor. Dip the circle foam brush in the paint and apply to the pumpkin. You want just enough to create a base for the glitter but not so much that it becomes runny. Paint a circle then immediately add  glitter to the circle. This will help keep your glitter mess to a minimum.

Step Four: Apply Top Sealer

Add Mod Podge to the glitter and letters to seal it. Make sure the glitter is completely dry before adding the Mod Podge or you will have a complete mess on your hands (literally).

 

Let your creativity flow. If you mess up, just paint over it. Your pumpkin is what you make it.

Step Four: Stage Your Porch

Add season plants for additional pops of color.  Please say a little prayer that I don’t kill them off in a week.

 

Frugal Fran Tip: Wait until the end of the season to purchase fall decor for the following year. Try to buy things that will be used season after season and is a good neutral. You can never go wrong with classic fall decor, such as a scarecrow.