I simply love this pumpkin project and it looks like a lot of you do too! Thank you all for the pumpkin love on Instagram! And the best part is that they’re so easy!! This tutorial is part two of the pumpkin DIY I posted for decoupage pumpkins (check out my other DIY pumpkin ideas here and here). These no carve thumbtack pumpkins are high impact! I made these for Halloween initially but they’re begging to hang out on my Thanksgiving table. They’re pretty and sophisticated.
The pretty little pumpkin family:
And the thumbtack pumpkin in all of its glory:
Materials
- Pumpkin, real or fake (I used fake ones found at Michaels AND–they’re on sale right now for 60% off!)
- Thumbtacks
- Printer and paper to print design (I used this ampersand design)
- Transfer paper
- Washi tape or similar
- Gold acrylic paint to paint the pumpkin stems (optional)
Basic Idea
Think about what kind of design you can use that fits your style. The key here is to find a pattern, font, or design online that’s not super detailed. Think about initials or a short word in a script font. Other ideas that could work well would be stripes, polka dots, chevron, triangles, or squares. Or use different colors of thumbtacks!
If using a design, increase or decrease the size using your computer software or a copier to fit the size of your pumpkin. The ampersand I chose was pretty small, so I used Photoshop to enlarge it.
Place a sheet of transfer paper on the pumpkin. Make sure the waxy side is face down against the pumpkin. Place the design on top of it and secure both layers with wash tape. Trace the design with a pencil, being careful to use pressure but not enough to damage the pumpkin. I used the tip of a mechanical pencil with the lead pushed in.
Remove the design and transfer paper. You should have a clear outline of the design. My transfer paper left blue lines–can you see them? It looks a little light in the photo, but it was really pretty bright.
Push the thumbtacks directly into the pumpkin following the outline to create the design. The good news about the transfer paper is that any lines can be washed away with a damp cloth!! It came in handy for me because my ampersand had too much detail, so I went for a simplified look and was able to remove any extra blue lines.
Paint the pumpkin stems if desired. I like the rustic-looking stems for now, but might change my mind if I use them for my Thanksgiving table.
Easy, fun, and pretty, right? Don’t forget to check out the decoupage part of this DIY here, and these fall projects: Copper Pumpkin Place Cards, Wrapping Tips with Fall Metallics, Tattoo Pumpkins, and Thumbtack Pumpkins.
