DIY Scrap Wood Pumpkins
Fall is one of my favorite seasons to decorate for. I love the colors, the textures and the variety of ways you can incorporate pumpkins into decorating. Today I am sharing not only how to make scrap wood pumpkins, I have joined together with several of my blogging friends for a Pumpkin Bash! We will be sharing lots of ideas all about pumpkins. My friend, Cindy from Clotches & Lavender is the hostess of this blog hop. You will find all the links to my friends’ posts at the bottom of this post. Once you have completed the hop, you’ll have a bushel full of creative ideas.
I love to create and make things and found that wood pumpkins are a lot of fun to make, but also look super cute. I’ll share two of my favorite ways to make wood pumpkins just in time for the fall season.
Let’s get started! First we’ll want to decide what style of pumpkins we want to make. In this article you’ll find the list of materials with each style. This was the best way for me to keep my thoughts organized. I like to incorporate different colors and textures. You may like to keep everything uniform or maybe more ornate. This is what I love about a project where you get to use your creativity. So keep reading and find the pumpkins you like best and then add your own unique touches to the pumpkins.
Triple 2×4 Pumpkin
We’ll start with the “triple 2×4.”
Materials I used:
• 2×4 (you can use scraps you have laying around or a new board. I used 1 new board)
• acrylic or chalk paint (in the colors you choose)
• scrapbook paper- buffalo plaid or fall themed
• ribbon, ric rac or twine/jute
• wood glue
• mod podge
• tree branches
• circular or table saw
• sand paper – 220 grit
When using a circular saw, I use the ruler on the side for my measurements. Then cut the pieces I need for each project. The board pictured below is a 1X2. This saw will also cut through 2X3’s and 2×4’s. **Remember before using any power tool to read the instructions and know how to safely operate the tool/machine, and wear the proper safety gear. You can read more of our disclosure statements here: http://therefininghome.com/disclaimer/
Choosing sizes
First: decide how tall you want your pumpkin. I set some on their sides (cut end is facing out) like this picture here. And some I leave standing up (cut ends are on the bottom and top) like the orange one above. The orange pumpkin I cut 3 pieces at 4 1/2” each. The buffalo plaid pumpkin I cut 3 pieces at 3” each. You can play around with different heights to give depth and different levels to your decorating. I used a circular saw to cut my wood and then sanded the edges and surfaces smooth. (Some people like to use an electric sander which speeds up the process but isn’t necessary. You can hand sand the pieces and it only takes a few minutes.)
Once all the pieces are sanded, I paint all sides of each piece. I take note of any dents or knots in the wood and place them according to if I want them seen and part of the design or hidden (glued side in). If I’m using scrapbook paper I then apply it to the ends that will be facing out, using a layer of mod podge, then the scrap piece of paper and let dry- only takes a few minutes. Then with the sand paper, rub around the edges to get rid of any excess or extra paper that may be over lapping the edge. I like to put a “top coat” of mod podge on at this point.
**tip** I use a scrap piece of paper big enough to cover the area And use the sand paper to clean up the edges. I don’t measure and cut my paper. **
Now I’m ready to glue the 3 pieces together, add ribbon and a stem. I live in a valley full of orchards. I often times can find orchards who have trimmed their trees and will give me some branches to cut down and use as my stems. Or you can cut a small piece of a 1×2 for your stem.
**tip** you can use bar clamps to hold your glued pieces together while they dry or place a book (or something heavy) on top of them while they dry.
The Tall Ones
“The Tall Ones”:
Using either a 2×4 or a 2×3 cut your pieces to your desired lengths. For my 2×4’s I cut one at 6”, one at 8” and one at 10”.
**Note- you can make yours taller or shorter per your preference. Start with the 6” and place it in your space. Then you can decide if you want two lager ones, a larger and a smaller or even two smaller ones. ***
For my 2×3’s (they are skinnier so I cut them shorter) one at 4”, one at 6” and one at 8”.
Use the same process as the triple 2×4. I like some covered with scrapbook paper and others I like just painted. The ribbon adds a finishing touch once I’ve glued on my stems. I like to rotate between ribbon/jute/twine/ric rac on the stems and around the wood. Again this is where you get to be creative.
Dress Up Your Pumpkins
Choose colors that will match your home, holiday displays and the vibe you are going for. The sky is the limit when creating. Maybe you’ll add some glitter, a few trinkets or pops of pizazz, distress the edges or any dents/imperfections in the wood. Anything that adds character.
I use my wood pumpkins both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors I only place them on my covered porches and covered deck. My pumpkins aren’t water or weather proof, which is something to take into consideration if you plan on using them outdoors and exposed to the elements.
For more pumpkin inspiration, The Hop continues on…..
Click the links below to go straight to my friends’ posts. We hope these ideas will inspire you to create and get ready for the upcoming Fall season!
Kimberly https://fromfarmhousetoflorida.com/pumpkin-perfection-decorating-with-faux-pumpkins/
Cindy https://clochesandlavender.com/oatmeal-pumpkin-spice-browned-butter-pudding-cookies/
Marie https://thisdearcasa.com/how-to-style-velvet-pumpkins/
Mary Ann https://houseofmar.com/?p=1994
