How to Paint a Gingham Pattern on a Pumpkin for Fall

If you’ve been around here for a minute, then you know I love gingham. Since the weather has been turning, I can’t wait to show you how to paint a gingham pattern on a pumpkin for fall.

Not gonna lie, I love gingham anywhere. My favorite place to paint gingham is on a wall, but you can literally paint anything gingham. Each year, when pumpkin time rolls around, I always think about painting my own gingham pumpkins for fall decor, so this year I thought I would share how I did it. Let’s go over some things to know before diving into pumpkin crafts.

How to Paint a Gingham Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

Why paint a gingham pattern on a pumpkin?

The short answer is it is fun and easy! But if you love gingham like I do, it is a great way to add some personal style to your home decor. I can’t wait to show you show to paint a gingham pattern on a pumpkin for fall. I think, once you know, you will be hooked!

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall pumpkins in the kitchen

What kind of paint do you use to paint pumpkins?

For me, of course I used our Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint, which is a chalk and clay based paint. It sticks to most surfaces, and dries very quickly. You may have seen my little DIY project of when I painted my slate floor. Not gingham of course, but the point of painting a variety of surfaces holds up here.

For painting my gingham pumpkins, I began with two paint colors, a white and a bright color, so I could mix the shades needed.

Can you paint fake pumpkins?

Whether you paint fake or real pumpkins is up to you. For this project, I decided to use faux pumpkins that I bought from Amazon. And since I was starting with a fake pumpkin that I could reuse for many years to come, I ordered white pumpkins to save a step.

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall faux pumpkins in white

If you want to use real pumpkins, then you will want to paint the overall body of the pumpkin with white paint first, before creating the gingham pattern.

How to prep pumpkin for painting?

With my faux pumpkins, I did nothing to prep the surface. Our furniture paint is pretty much a “grab and go” process.

If you are using a real pumpkin, simply make sure your surface is free of any dirt or oils. If you plan to use acrylic craft paints or white spray paint for the body, refer to the instructions on the product you are using. But starting with a clean, dry pumpkin is key.

What kind of brush is best for painting pumpkins?

For painting pumpkins you will need a few different sizes of a synthetic bristle brush. I use one that is straight so I can use that edge to get a square edge of color. Also, the sizes of the brush will depend upon the size of your pumpkin.

Obviously, the larger the pumpkin, the bigger scale of gingham can be painted.

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

How long do pumpkins last if painted?

If you are painting real pumpkins, without carving them, your pumpkins will last you through the season. For most of us, that may be from 2-3 months. In hotter climates, your pumpkin may last the 1-2 months that you need it during the peak of the season.

With faux pumpkins, these will last indefinitely and can be used over and over, year after year.

gingham pumpkins

Can you use paint pens to paint on a pumpkin?

I wouldn’t recommend using paint pends to paint your gingham design. However, paint pens would be great to outline more of a checkerboard pattern, create a buffalo plaid pumpkin pattern with plaid detailing, or writing a message on a painted pumpkin.

Once you get crafting pumpkins, your creativity can go a little crazy coming up with fun things to do.

How to paint a gingham pattern on a pumpkin

There are two ways you can paint a gingham pattern. One way, is a bit more authentic to how a gingham pattern looks and requires three colors. You can see this best on this project I did when painting on a wall. There are three shades of one main color.

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

The second way is to use only two colors. By simply painting the vertical stripes and horizontal stripes in the same color, you then would paint where they intersect with the darker color. Since that way is pretty easy and straightforward to figure out, I am going to show you the authentic way that uses three colors.

Surface prep

If you are starting with a white pumpkin, like I did, simply make sure your surface is clean and dry. If you need to prep your surface by painting it first with a white paint for the base layer, do that and allow it to fully dry. Once your surface is dry, you can use a pencil to mark your lines. This is a fun project that is meant to look handmade and not perfect. So all painting and drawing should be done freehand.

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

If you are using a real pumpkin, you can even use a box cutter knife to define your lines. This should be done very lightly on the surface, as to not cut into the pumpkin much. You would be only looking to skim the line on the skin.

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

I chose to follow the natural lines of the pumpkin for my gingham size. On my artificial pumpkins, the average measurement was about 1-1/4″ so that is the dimension I used. I simply marked my grid out vertically down from top of pumpkin to the bottom of the pumpkin, then continued around the entire perimeter. When I was done, I hand drew the horizontal lines. The natural lines of the pumpkin gave me my vertical guide.

Mix paint shades

I started with two colors. A 2 ounce size would give you plenty of paint to make a gingham on several small pumpkins. If you want to do a large, natural pumpkin, I would use an 8 ounce sample size. 

I used a white, our soft white called Subway Tile. Of course for my main color, I chose blue paint. This color called Paddleboat is my favorite, and the big cupboard I have in my living room that holds all my milk glass is painted in this shade.

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

With the white, I color-mixed all the shades needed. Using a paper plate, I started with a bit of white and added just a touch of blue to make the lightest shade. This will start the horizontal lines.

Painting the horizontal lines

Begin by painting the horizontal line, every other row. I chose not to paint through the entire row and only did the square, since I wanted to have lots of areas where I could hold the pumpkin. Recently I had shoulder surgery on my left side, so although I am right-handed, I would be holding the pumpkin with my left hand.

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

This just made it easier, and takes less paint, but you can do it either way. Starting at the top of the pumpkin, work your way down as you go. I painted several pumpkins at the same time, so work accordingly to use the shade of color you are working with. I did save a bit of each shade for touch-ups.

Painting the vertical lines

The vertical lines will be the second shade. So after saving some of the lightest color, I added a bit more blue to my paint pile to create the middle shade. This required just a little paint and is such an easy project.

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

Then painting with the vertical lines of the opposite row, I painted in the second shade of color. You can see from this example, you are kind of seeing a checkerboard pattern emerge, even though the ends look like a hot mess currently. Don’t worry, it all comes together at the end.

The final block

The defining block that will make your gingham pattern will be done with the darkest color. I added more blue paint to my last color, saving a bit for touch-ups, and came up with the darkest shade for my gingham pumpkin. You can really see the gingham emerge at this point.

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

Painting gingham is just too much fun. I ended up having extra paint of all three colors that I had mixed, so I decided to paint the mini pumpkins that came in the set I bought since they would be too small to do the pattern on. They will add a nice accent when I go to decorate with the pumpkins later.

Adjusting your lines

I used a small detail brush to clean up some lines, along with a toothpick here or there for some tight lines on my pumpkin. Remember, this is not meant to be perfect and is a fun seasonal craft project to add some gingham to your home decor, so don’t stress if your lines aren’t exact. Just enjoy the process as you go, it’s a fun alternative to the standard orange pumpkins!

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

When painting the bottom, I just merged the paint together in a triangle shape. No one will see the bottom, so don’t worry too much about it.

Paint Colors for Gingham

Start with a white (Subway Tile) and choose a darker color to help create your shades for the gingham..

Being creative with painting pumpkins

Painting pumpkins is such a fun and easy project. Try gingham, a polka dot, a stripe, or create your own plaid on a pumpkin. The point is to unleash your creativity and have a little fun!

How to Paint a Gingham  Pattern on a Pumpkin for fall

You can even check your local craft store or Dollar Tree to see if you can find cheap styrofoam pumpkins. Painting pumpkins in different colors is a fun way to add a bit of personal style to the season.

One of my favorite pumpkin painting stories is from my friend Brooklyn who lives in Texas. Every year she paints a ton of pumpkins in colorful paints and it always turns out so great! If you want to craft pumpkins, you can definitely go all out. 

Check out two of my favorite pumpkin painting ideas. One where we made cement pumpkins, and another project that started with plastic pumpkins. Tis the season! 

Gingham is fun and easy to paint. try on:

  • Pumpkins
  • Walls
  • Furniture fronts
  • Drawer sides
  • A floor

If you’d like to get inspired about more stuff for your home, let’s hang out more. Follow along on these platforms. Check back next week for more design tips and lifestyle hacks.

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3 Comments

  1. That’s what happens when you’re a gingham lover. No pumpkin is safe! Paint some.

  2. Those are the cutest pumpkins!!!!!

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