Monday, October 18, 2010

pretty painted pumpkins tutorial


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Living in Southern California it is a challenge for me to get into the spirit of traditional fall decor. Though it is raining today, typically this time of year is beautiful- like hang out at the beach beautiful! So when it comes to October/Halloween decor I like to create things that actually feel more summery and will go with the airy cottage feel of our home. I decided that this year I would create pretty little pumpkins in pastel colors full of detail and design.


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I started with a a few pumpkins in different shapes and sizes.


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I painted the pumpkins with white acrylic paint


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and let dry.

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I then added another coat of paint in very light pastel colors.


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FYI- One of my FAVORITE supplies these days is Tulip's dimensional paint. It can be used for a variety of projects and the tiny applicator tips are perfect for adding small details and pattern to all kinds of projects.


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Using the dimensional paint, I began to freehand simple designs around the surface of the pumpkin.


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I added contrast by scratching into the surface with a toothpick.


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I added more and more details, around and around the pumpkin


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until the entire surface was filled.



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I added dimensional designs to a white pumpkin that I decided not to paint.


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And added contrast with a darker color of dimensional paint.


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I filled every surface of all the pumpkins- even the tiny ones got little polk dots :)


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Now I have a variety of pretty painted pumpkins to use in my "california style" fall decorating.


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pumpkin
ilovetocreate-blog-header-alisa

89 comments:

Carla (Color Heals Me) said...

What a great idea! I just love the beachy feel and your unending creativity is an inspiration to me!

Jenny Stevning said...

Just amazing!

wandamarie.blogspot.com said...

Fantastically BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Claire Kiefer said...

These are decidedly the most amazing/gorgeous pumpkins I've ever seen. I LOVE them. You are so talented--both for thinking of this idea and for executing it so perfectly!

Alison said...

Stunning!

Joan Princing Art said...

WOW - absolutely beautiful!!! You are truly amazing.
Joan & Jane Austen-Eyre

Maria-Isabel @ Agape Love Designs said...

wow those are gorgeous.. and even tho its just paint.. they look like jewels! Love this sophisticated style of pumpkin decorating!!

Irēna said...

BEAUTIFUL job!!

Lynne said...

They are beautiful and really original!

Seedplanter Designs said...

Alisa, I bet you could turn a mousetrap into art! These pumpkins are so beautiful. I love how you can view an ordinary object in such an extraordinary way.

So glad I discovered your beautiful blog tonight. Insomnia has paid off!

Moois van mie said...

nice !

Saraccino said...

Normally I am not so into the autumn stuff... I love to eat pumkins, I really like the variety there is with different taste... but this ones I just adore! :)

Shirley said...

These are FABULOUS! How long will they keep?

Joei Lau said...

Incredible!!!! What an amazing idea!!!

Penny said...

Unique!

jgr said...

Stunning and sophisticated, I love the beachy "twist"

Kathy Peterson Inspired said...

Alisa! Your artwork is just delicious! I'd love to invite you to guest blog with us at www.CraftForHealth.com. We're all about combining creativity and feeling good about it!

Be in touch!
Kathy Peterson, founder

Courtney Breul said...

So cute! Looks like something fun to do with the kids.

Ruth said...

Your pumpkins are gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!
I love them!!!

Ruth

JillB said...

Wow! These are beautiful. They look almost lacey in the pictures. You are so creative! I love reading your blog - there's always with something new and wonderful in it.

...on the brink of something beautiful said...

i am in love with this design idea!!!! so wonderful
-kellie

Maya Kuzman said...

This is just gorgeous!!
I could sit all day staring at them!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE your pumpkins. Everyone here at iLoveToCreate is buzzing about them. They are just fabulous!

Marilyn said...

Thanks for the tutorial. Very clever idea. They are really unique and beautiful.

AlexM said...

love, love, love! beautiful:)

Pamela Jane said...

Oh my! Love these! Scarily beautiful!!

Cindy Lietz, Polymer Clay Tutor said...

How wonderful! I just love the intricate patterns and the soft pastel colors. So different from what we are used to seeing for Halloween!

Jenny said...

Wow! These pumpkins are so beautiful and artistic - just the kind of artistry we've come to expect from you. I love them! But I have to ask the obvious question - how long will they last? I could see doing these on the fake pumpkins you can purchase at the craft store, but on a perishable pumpkins that will eventually need to be tossed out? I'm saddened that they will eventually go to a landfill and their beauty will be lost.

Unknown said...

Your creativity is incredible, inspiring and a gift of talent to be treasure. You inspire me daily with your new ideas and unleashed creativity. Thanks for sharing, Many Blessings, Deborah

patty a. said...

The pumpkins are just wonderful! I will be shame to have to toss them out when they start to decompose. I think you could turn a sow's ear into a silk purse!

Anonymous said...

When I first looked at them, I thought they had crocheted covers! Gorgeous!

Lisa said...

gorgeous! we have the bright orange kind all around here! may have to spiffy them up a bit!

pigwidget said...

These are so pretty! I would want to keep them out all year :D Just found your blog via {Heart Handmade} and so glad I did. You have an instant fan!

Anonymous said...

ONE WORD - stunning!

Gabriela H. said...

Just lovely!! You are an artist!!

Sheila said...

Absolutely amazing and so original!

...on the brink of something beautiful said...

love this idea so much i had to share.
i blogged about it here: http://getthewordsout.blogspot.com/2010/10/pretty-pumpkins.html

-kellie

michelle ward said...

omg omg omg.
super fab.
oozes cleverness.
and talent.
thanks for the inspiration.

Hannah said...

How beautiful! I love these pumpkins!

Sue Simpson said...

These are fantastic!!

Pamela Holderman said...

exquisite -thanks!

Norma Soulet (AZArtist) said...

Your pumpkins turned out fabulous!
Great idea. :)

Shane Pollard said...

Oh so dreamy!!
I'm not a fan of the halloween colours of orange and black either, but I do love pumpkins and their quirky shapes.

For me you've brought pumpkins into the 21st century as a style piece for modern decor!

Thank you for sharing your great technique too!
Shane in New Zealand
(do come and visit me and I'll get out my prettiest teacups and make you very welcome)!!

Anonymous said...

perfect! gorgeous!

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

Wow, these are stunning Alisa! Thanks so much for this, I'll be linking.

Flying Whale said...

these are absolutely STUNNING!!!

Anonymous said...

WoW! those are the most beautiful pumpkins I've ever seen. I'm definitely going to give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration.

Christie - Fine Lines said...

WOW!! Terrific idea. Just think what you could do with a watermelon, butternut squash, gourds .......!!

I {heart} Nap Time said...

wow these are amazing! Great job! I'd love for you to link them up at iheartnaptime.blogspot.com

Nancilyn (Fiberdabbler) said...

How wonderful! Like decorating fanciful petit fours with lace icing. Oooh, but they won't last.
:-( Why not paint gourds or seashells in this beautiful style for more permanent display. Thank you for sharing such an original and delightful idea!

Unknown said...

ooooh these are wonderful! Thanks for sharing your amazing creativity. My had is swimming with ideas. Just found your blog and I am an instant worshipper!

lori said...

they are just beautiful!!! You could even keep them out through Christmas...they look like lovely, beachy ornaments!

katie said...

These are sooo cute! I featured them on my blog here: http://punkprojects.blogspot.com/2010/10/make-it-monday_25.html

xo, Katie

Alex said...

Do the pumpkins last very long, or do they start to go off quite quickly? (Either way they look amazing.)

Anonymous said...

Отличная статья! большое спасибо автору за интересный материал. Удачи в развитии!!! :)
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Meda said...

Simply wonderful! I wish I had place in our small appartment for decorations!

Carrie said...

LOVE THIS!

Unknown said...

Magnificent! Very Beautiful!

Chas @ A Woman's Haven
http://onewomenshaven.blogspot.com/

Sarah Anderson said...

these are gorgeous - a real celebration of autumn/harvest, and such wonderful pastel colours - perfect for the californian seaside :)

Diapers.Deadlines.DIY said...

Love your pumpkins!!! In fact, you've inspired both my husband and myself to make some over the weekend.

Diapers.Deadlines.DIY

Dara said...

I love how artistic you are. I would love to try this but it would day me months. LoL

julia Kulish/ Art Speaking said...

Just ran across your blog - wow, so unique - I love it!!!

Mapiurka said...

Graet work!

Anonymous said...

Растаможка Киев, Одесса
Консультации ВЭД
Дима Литейный
logisticskiev7@yandex.ru
+38 093 318 1567

CarlaSue said...

Oh. my. goodness. Those punkins are gawdjus. Your whole blog is gorgeous, actually.

manon 21 said...

MAgnifique!..
Merci beaucoup


Manon

Vee said...

Manuela sent me over and I am just flabbergasted by these beautiful pumpkins. What a fun thing to do! Thanks for the tutorial.

Lauren Haupt Estes said...

ooh, it's like mehndi for pumpkins, beautiful!

inspiredmontessori said...

Beyond amazing and beautiful! Wow!

ZoBe and Me said...

No way! (now imagine I am screaming and sing this next line with a comedic voice) I love it!!! Did you get that? Are you smiling? Good!

Tricia @ SweeterThanSweets said...

I featured these awesome pumpkins on my blog SweeterThanSweets today. Feel free to grab a Featured On button from my sidebar.

Carrie said...

Nothing less than impressive and stunning! Your newest follower,
Carrie

travelkate said...

These are fabulous!! The most beautiful pumpkins I've ever seen :) I am linking to these photos and your tutorial on my blog tomorrow!

Leotie Lovely said...

This is amazing! I am so glad I found your blog via a @ShopRouche tweet! It is pumpkin decorating day today, and I've got my heart set on making an owl...am going to use this as inspiration for sure! Thanks for sharing!

Punky Prep said...

Just lovely!!!!!

The Rebel Crafter
www.craftingrebellion.com

liniecat said...

what a cracking result! Great idea!

mel m. m. mccarthy said...

These are breathtakingly lovely. I'd love to do some ceramic ones, so I can stare at them all year. Your patterns are amazing!

Robyn said...

Love these, they have a delicate almost mosaic feeling to me

Byrdi said...

Hey. Lauren Conrad's blog has used a photo from this post...
http://www.laurenconrad.com/post/tuesday-ten-pretty-pretty-pumpkins
but didn't source the photo! Thought you may want to know!

Stephanie said...

You are so darn talented! No one but you could create such beautiful artwork on a plain pumpkin! I live in CA we never got rain! I am so ready for rain.

june olsen said...

these are just gorgeous...will try something similar this week...thanks for the inspiration

Sign artist said...

Wow, im really inspired by your art ...
as an artist, im always looking for inspiration and i like things that are 'out of the box' or rare. Some of ypur designs struck me as African art, but some really seem midevil anything - my favorite thing rght now is midevil so i'm really amped by your work. Thanx!!

Lory said...

This project is very nice and original! I cited it in my Web Site: http://lunadeicreativi.com/blog/20-zucche-di-halloween.
Thank you, Lory

Sandy said...

Beautiful work! But next year, just buy yourself a couple of white plastic pumpkins at Michaels so you can save all that beautiful detail work year to year! I'm in south FL and miss using fall colors too, but I do bring out the white pumpkins for the season, and maybe buy several real miniature pumpkins for the table.

Brig said...

These are stunning!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous

Sandra said...

Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Such inspiration...going to get some craft pumpkins on sale to try this!! Thank you so much.

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