When it comes to fall decor, I seem to stick to the basics.
And by the basics, I mean pumpkins.
I guess you could call me a traditionalist, but that’s just what makes me smile.
Yes, yes, I have branched out a very few times to create ghost lanterns from old ceiling fan parts or adorable spooks from air dry clay.
I’ve whipped up a black cat and, most recently, a creepy little spider sign.
However, on the whole, I’m all about those pumpkins.
Real, faux, large or small. I’ve made them out of puzzle pieces, painted them, stenciled them and stickered them, stuffed them and thrifted them.
Just about the only thing I haven’t done is baked them. Definitely not my jam.
Anyway…I have so many of these crafty DIYs that I compiled a list.
I share all 21 of my pumpkin creations right here, if you’d like to take a peek.
Of course, today’s pumpkin isn’t on that list. Yet.
So I’ll share the skinny now.
And it’s all about this fabulously unique, metal filigree pumpkin I found at a thrift store a few weeks ago.
Summer was still in full swing, so this little charmer had a 50% off yellow sticker on it, which made it about five bucks.
A total steal.
Yes, it was a little beaten up.
A little dirty and very rusty, but I loved its romantic old world vibe and dainty details.
The fact that it was a votive holder was a just a bonus, since I’m all about light once the sun starts to set early.
Now, when I purchased this particular pumpkin, I had no plans to make it over. I loved its original patina.
That was not good.
So I had to put my thinking cap on. I immediately considered spray painting it a traditional pumpkin or gourd color.
Orange, green, white…the usual suspects.
But something kept pulling me back to that brass tone. It’s my latest obsession.
It was so rich and I didn’t own any gold pumpkins.
So I decided rather than giving it a complete makeover, I would simply refresh it, with a bit of this metallic acrylic paint.
It took a little time, since there was so much detail work to cover. Plus I didn’t want to rush it and end up with drips or globs on some of the tiny scrolls.
Especially since the inside of the pumpkin was visible. Messy painting was not an option.
I found that stamping it with a round, foam stencil pouncer like this one provided the best coverage.
I used a long, thin brush to get to some very obvious areas on the votive cup. Overall, though, the inside was in decent shape, so I left it alone.
Once the paint, inside and out, was totally dry, I used a brush and applied a coat of this satin sealer over the entire piece.
I did have to clean up some of the drips on the inside with a paper towel, but it wasn’t a big deal.
When all was said and done, it was time to consider my display.
I thought about placing a battery operated votive candle inside the pumpkin, but the removable cup was only large enough to hold a tealight.
I was looking to make a bigger a statement, so I put the candle cup in a drawer for safe keeping, placed this votive with a timer on a brass candle stand and popped my new gold treasure on top.
And it was stunning.
Honestly, the photos don’t do it justice. In person it’s breathtaking.
It sort of glows with a regal elegance.
It’s so lovely, in fact, I wish I had more, because it looks great no matter where I set it down.
A fabulous, filigree, five dollar – unexpected – addition to my very fall pumpkin patch.
Hmm…turns out, maybe I’m not that traditional after all.
😉
What is your go to decor for fall?
Happy Fall, Y’all!
