I rarely venture into the garden section of any big box store. My green thumb is non-existent and yard work is 16,544th on my list of things to do. I just don’t love things that grow in dirt and require TLC to keep them alive (my two boys excluded, ha ha!). But, I figured I would browse the end of Summer clearance aisle and meandered out to the humid mini jungle of my local Walmart. And bought the cutest little metallic owl (I snapped a pic in this Google+ album) and a few random terra cotta pots and saucers. Which worked out pretty perfectly because now I can show you how I used a terra cotta pot and saucer to make the cutest painted pumpkin for Fall!!
I didn’t take any pictures of the process to paint this pumpkin. See, it was one of those rare occasions when I took a day off while Chris was at work and the boys were at school and I was just enjoying the murmur of Food Network, a little music from my iPhone and being creative. Sheer bliss. BUT, it is a very simple project, so I’ll walk you through it step by step!
- Use a cloth to wipe off any excess dust from your terra cotta pot and saucer and remove any pesky price stickers.
- Paint a 1 inch wooden dowel cap with brown acrylic paint for the pumpkin stem. I used Americana Multi-Surface Paint in Coffee Bean and I picked up a package of two dowel caps in the unfinished wood section of my local craft store for under $2.
- While the dowel cap dries, paint two quick coats of pumpkin orange acrylic paint on the terra cotta pot and saucer. For this project, since the saucer becomes the top of our pumpkin, you are actually painting the bottom of the saucer. I used Americana Multi-Surface Paint in Pumpkin Patch.
- The paint dries quickly, so I was able to use a thin paint brush and Americana Multi-Surface Paint in Orange Sherbet to add some stripes to the bottom of my ‘pumpkin’.
- Finally, once all of the paint was dry, I cut out a leaf from mossy green felt and glued it on the inverted saucer with the dowel cap.
Wouldn’t this cute little painted pumpkin be adorable with a bag of candy corn or mellocreme pumpkins tucked inside? Or a yummy Fall flavored munch mix? Since there is a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot and the lid is not air tight, you could also fill it with spicy cinnamon potpourri to add the subtle scent of Fall to your home!
How about a few more pumpkin projects?!
Jessi @ Practically Functional
Love it!!! What a cute idea! Pinning for sure 🙂
Keri
Thanks SO much, Jessi!!
Rachel @ BubblyNatureCreations.com
So adorable! I like that you can store things inside too! 🙂
Keri
Aww, thanks, Rachel! I do love that it’s cute and useful 🙂
Cindy Eikenberg
Keri, this is SO cute!! I absolutely have to make some of these for my front porch – LOVE! Thanks so much for sharing and pinning! Have a fabulous first week of Fall!
Keri
Thanks, Cindy!! If you put them outdoors, I would just make sure to seal them so the moisture won’t cause the paint to come off. Thanks so much for your visit!
Vanessa
This is adorable and so useful at the same time! Btw, I’m absolutely terrible with keeping living things alive, except for my kids too! 😀
Keri
I just WISH I had a green thumb but all of the empty pots on our back porch can attest to the fact that I just don’t have one 🙂
Heather
Adorable!!
Sarah
Love this idea, so cute. Hope you thoroughly enjoyed your alone time. I treasure mine 🙂
malia
Really cute Keri! The dowel is the perfect touch!
Laura @ The Experimental Home
What a cute and novel idea! It would be super cute to keep your candy in for trick-or-treaters!
Keri
Laura – You could definitely use a bigger pot and dowel cap to make a candy bowl for trick-or-treaters … great idea!!
Stacy @Stacy Makes Cents
I. Love. This.
Keri
And I love.this.comment. Totally made my day, Stacy!
Stacy @Stacy Makes Cents
We had so much fun making these! I just posted this tutorial on Facebook and Twitter.
Keri
Yours turned out great, Stacy! Thank you so much for sharing my tutorial – I appreciate the support 🙂
Diana Rambles
Very clever!!
Meegan
Keri,
How cute is this??? Thanks for linking up to Tickled Pink Times Two!! Featuring this on my FB page today 🙂
Penster47
This is really cute and am going to make one for my daughter for her new kitchen, although I will leave one thing off. Pumpkins do not have leaves at their stem. lol They grow off a long vine and what leaves they do have are about a foot across. just FYI. 🙂
Keri
Obviously this city girl has never grown pumpkins 🙂 I’ll make sure to leave it off next time!!
Linda
Awesome pumpkin. I’m looking for some pots right now. Thanks for the inspiration. Linda
Keri
I found mine at Walmart for right around $1 for both the pot & Saucer! Thanks for visiting, Linda!
Confessions of a Plate Addict
Love your terra cotta pumpkin…great upcycling! Just wanted to let you know that you were featured on my blog! Thanks so much for sharing at The Scoop! …hugs…Debbie
Deb @ Kneaded Creations
What a clever idea! I would never have thought of that! I I am going to have to try to make one. I popped over from the Whimsey Wednesday Linkey. Thanks for posting there! Come visit me sometime! Deb @ Kneaded Creations.
Keri
Well thanks so much for stopping by, Deb!
Judy H.
This is just darling… My 6 & 8 yr. old grandsons and I would enjoy making this together. Thanks for the great idea!
Keri
What a great way to spend time with them!!
Melissa
Your pumpkin pot is so adorable! I just love that you can make this out of a terracotta pot. I would love it if you’d share it at our link party this week!
Keri
Thanks for the sweet comment, Melissa! I’ll head over to check out the party 🙂
Gloria // Simply Gloria
You’re so creative. Love this craft for this season! Pinning.
Keri
Thanks so much, Gloria! It’s my favorite time of year, so that helps creating fun things to share!
Rachel @ I Love My Disorganized Life
Such a great idea, I always get sad when the pumpkins rot and have to be thrown away. Thanks for sharing at Wednesday Whatsits!
AnnMarie
Very clever and easy! Pinned! visiting from The Scoop and following Bloglovin!
Keri
So glad you stopped by, AnnMarie! And thanks for pinning!
Shannah @ Just Us Four
This pumpkin is so adorable! I love this idea.
Thanks for sharing at the Pinworthy Projects Party! You will be featured on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest this week.