Terracotta pumpkins are one of those timeless shapes that are so great for fall! They have a unique look of soft, peachy orange clay with a white, hazy layer over the top. Terracotta is actually porous clay, and can be expensive to buy at places like Pottery Barn and other decor stores. Did you know that this easy DIY project can transform any faux pumpkin into a faux painted antique terracotta pumpkin with just a few steps and a little paint! Using this technique, you can paint a terracotta pumpkin pink, or a black concrete version with a gray-looking layer using this tutorial. Both are beautiful options! I purchased large and medium pumpkins from the craft store, but you can paint smaller versions from the Dollar General Store.
Gather your supplies to make your own clay pumpkins. You will need:
Artificial foam pumpkins in different sizes, I chose a larger pumpkin and a smaller pumpkin.
Craft Acrylic Paint Color in Heritage Brick and Jet Black
Snow White Multi Surface Paint
Paper towels
wet cloth
matte sealant
A piece of cloth to cover your work area.
palette or plastic plate
Paint a base coat on the pumpkin.
Using a paintbrush, paint the pumpkin with Heritage Brick or Jet Black paint and let dry. After the first coat is completely dry, apply a second coat of paint. It will likely take 2-4 coats to completely cover the pumpkin, be sure to cover the stem if it doesn’t come off! Let it dry between coats of paint. I didn’t want it to have a texture, I wanted it smooth but you can add baking soda to the paint to add a rougher, clay-like texture. Check out this post on making concrete clay pumpkins here.
Prepare your white paint.
Spray a little white paint on a plate or palette. Dip a paper towel into the paint and rub it over the pumpkin in a top-to-bottom pattern, following the ribs of the pumpkin, making sure to get the paint into all the crevices.
Once all the white paint is on the pumpkin, use a damp cloth to remove some of the white paint so that it gives a dusty looking paint layer. Use the same technique on either the terracotta painted pumpkin or the black painted pumpkin.
Hand painted antique clay gourd stamp
Use a matte sealer to seal the paint and prevent it from chipping. The matte sealer will help keep that dull, chalky paint on your pumpkin from becoming too shiny.
Decorate with faux clay pumpkins!
Let your creativity flow! These pumpkins are so much fun to use as a tabletop display or for fall decor! They’re super friendly to your seasonal decor budget! Paint the pumpkins in different sizes and group them together for impact or paint a bunch of mini pumpkins to arrange on your mantel. I decided to create a fun outdoor display in two versions by collecting some goldenrods from around my yard and some pretty colored candles in brass candle holders. If you have the type of pumpkins where the stems are removable, you can glue on a real pumpkin stem for added texture and interest.
Looking for your next DIY project? Check out this step-by-step tutorial on how to make your faux pumpkins look more realistic.
