ByYvonne Pratt
Chinoiserie pumpkins are a beautiful addition to fall decor and they are sooooo easy to make! You really don’t need to be crafty to make these blue and white pumpkins! All you need are three things to create these stunning little pumpkins!
This post contains affiliate links.
Yup… three! Small faux white pumpkins, Mod Podge and co*cktail napkins! In no time you can have a pumpkin patch of the most stunning chinoiserie pumpkins!
I made the instructions for these really beautiful blue and white pumpkins very detailed. I am holding your hand and cheering for you! I’m so excited for you to make these pretties!
These pumpkins came out even better than I thought they would. Here are a few things to help make your chinoiserie pumpkins amazing!
- use matte Mod Podge
- remember to remove the pumpkin stem before you begin and put it somewhere you can find it
- this diy is not rocket science so don’t get stressed!
- if the tissue tears don’t worry just paste it back on
- I used one napkin per these pumpkins. The size of the pumpkin will determine how any napkins you will use.
- the tissue can get sticky and lift so don’t handle Mod Podged tissue
- Don’t drench the pumpkin or napkin with Mod Podge. Make sure you have a nice even layer.
- I put mypumpkins in progress on a piece of wax paper so they would not stick to my working surface
- make multiple pumpkins at a time so you are not handling wet Mod Podged pumpkins
- put your paintbrush in a glass of water during Mod Podge drying times
- if the chinoiserie paper seems a little bit wrinkled after applying Mod Podge, don’t worry. Those wrinkles will be barely noticeable when dry
- have fun!!!!!
MATERIALS
- use white pumpkins (I got mine HERE and HERE)
- matte Mod Podge (HERE)
- co*cktail napkins (HERE, HERE and HERE)
- paintbrush
- scissors
LET’S MAKE BLUE AND WHITE PUMPKINS
First, cut the co*cktail napkin to make a circle as shown below. Make the circle about 2/3 the height of the pumpkin.
The napkin I used was 3 ply. Separate each ply and only use the top layer printed with the chinoiserie pattern.
Remove the pumpkin stem. Just pull and it will pop right out! This will make it easy to lay the napkin over the top of the pumpkin preserving the chinoiserie design.
Paint Mod Podge over the top 1/3 of the pumpkin. Again, don’t worry if the tissue tears, just position it again.
Lay the chinoiserie tissue over the top of the pumpkin with the middle of the circle over the hole where the stem was.
Paint Mod Podge over the top of the tissue and gently press down. Only paint over the tissue as far down as it has adhered to the pumpkin.
Here’s another big hint. I use a little bit of Mod Podge on my finder and smooth out any wrinkles. The tissue is delicate so don’t rub it too hard. If it tears no problem, put a patch of chinoiserie paper over it.
Using scissors cut the tissue that is not glued down into strips.
One by one, paste each strip down to the pumpkin. Add a little bit of Mod Podge to the pumpkin and then smooth the tissue down on the pumpkin using your brush and finger with more Mod Podge.
The strips will overlap a little and you can cut any excess off as you go along. What makes these pumpkins so beautiful is that most of the pattern is intact and not patchworked together.
Once all the side strips adhere to the pumpkin and it is dry, turn it over.
Cut and rip the tissue into a shape that will fit 1/2 of the bottom of the pumpkin and adhere using the same process above. Finish the final piece of tissue the same way.
I first cut a piece of tissue a little larger than I needed and then tore the edges to fit.
Let the chinoiserie pumpkin completely dry. I poked through the hole through the chinoiserie paper in the top of the pumpkin with the back of a small paintbrush and then put the stem back in.
Notice how beautiful the top of the blue and white pumpkin looks! The chinoiserie design is totally intact! This diy is so easy-peasy!
In in a fall arrangement, they steal the show!
Think about using these blue and white pumpkins…
- as a hostess gift with a couple other fall elements
- in a tablescape topping each place setting
- hiding in a white teacup
- lined up on a shelf
- in a white bowl with green moss
- resting on top of a silver candlestick
- grouped with bittersweet (my fav)
- arranged with dried artichokes and white pumpkins
- the top cut off and a real or faux succulent added
- with a hot pink ribbon tied around the stem of the pumpkin
The possibilities are endless. If blue and white is not your style you can use any co*cktail napkin! Think of all the delicious patterns and colors your pumpkins could be!
I hope you make these gorgeous blue and white pumpkins for your home this fall!
