How to Make a Vintage Looking Paper Mache Pumpkin
It’s that time of year where we all want to be crafting for the holidays, even if we aren’t actually doing it yet. I can’t wait to share how to make a vintage looking paper mache pumpkin.
Before we jump in and start talking about how to make this fall decor, let’s answer some questions about the originals. This way, we can understand how to create that old look and amp up our vintage for our halloween display.
How were vintage paper mache pumpkins made?
Way back in the day, these halloween decorations were made by blowing up a balloon, tearing strips of newspaper, dipping it in a glue like mixture, and covering the balloon with layers of newspaper while tweaking the shape. Sometimes the newspaper was ground into a pulp to make shaping easier.
I remember doing this type of thing in elementary school, way back in the stone ages. I think we made the paste mixture out of water, flour, and white glue, and had excess paste all over the place! But, truth be told, it’s been a hot minute since I did actual paper mache. This method will give you the look without all the flour pastes messes and the painting process requires no real artistic talent!
How old are paper mache pumpkins?
The original ones that I see around, in the antique shop where I sell vintage, are mostly from the 30’s. I don’t know if they were ever made before that, but the creepy ones with the scary jack-o-lantern face, can get pretty expensive.
This hack will have you making a vintage looking paper mache pumpkin in no time and without the big budget. But let’s make them cute and a little less creepy.
What to use instead of balloons for paper mache?
In this method I am going to show you a cheap hack. We will not be using an actual paper mache mixture. Starting with a plastic pumpkin shape from the dollar store will keep this craft on budget. And using some easy painting techniques will keep it smelling better than that old time paper mache. Let’s get started!
Another similar Halloween project we did with plastic pumpkins
How to make a vintage looking paper mache pumpkin from a plastic one
Head to the local dollar store or supermarket and purchase a couple of plastic pumpkins for this fun craft. We got two pumpkins, one orange and one black, hoping the inside of the pumpkin color would add to the mystery.
Using a plastic pumpkin is a quick, budget friendly way to make DIY projects in the Halloween season. But this plastic thing is going to need some work before it can look like a vintage knock-off.
We will be transforming the entire pumpkin, so let’s take this slow. A step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to transform this plastic pumpkin into looking somewhat old and vintage. I will share with you two ways the faces can be done.
Step one: cut the face out of the plastic pumpkin
We made two pumpkins with different faces. One was left intact, and one was cut out so you could place a fake candle inside for the glow. If you were able to find a black plastic pumpkin, use this one to cut. Using a sharp knife like a utility knife, cut out the jack-o-lantern face of the pumpkin. Be careful because sometimes the utility knife will quickly slip through plastic. If that makes you nervous, just use some utility scissors.
Step two: prep for the pumpkin
Sometimes there is an oily residue on the pumpkin surface from manufacturing. You will need to get the entire pumpkin squeaky clean before painting, since oil and water-based products don’t mix. You can clean with a degreaser, or use a soap like Dawn dish soap that is known to remove grease. Then dry completely with a dry towel.
Next, we applied a coat of Bungalow 47 Clear Primer to the plastic. To get that thick newspaper strips paper mache look, we will be adding pretty thick layers of paint on it and want it to really stick to the plastic and not chip. The primer helps with adhesion. Make sure you cover your work surface with paper or drop cloths.
Step three: prepare the paint for the pumpkin
The next step is where you will be creating layers with paint to mimic that paper mache look. We will be mixing the paint into our Vintage Texture product that will make it thick and paste like. Our Vintage Texture is a dry powder additive that goes with our paint to make it super thick. The vintage texture product is a key ingredient to achieving our vintage look.
We used the color Pebblebrook for the first layer, which is a gray that has a khaki color undertone. Other colors in the Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint line that would work great for this project are: Wheat, Marble Island, River Rock Hearth, and Weathered Deck.
Step four: paint the pumpkin
We pounced the thick paint on top of the pumpkin using a sponge brush, creating peaks and valleys. Repeat this all around the body of the pumpkin, covering the entire surface. Then allow this first layer to dry. The length of the drying process will depend upon your climate and how humid it might be. But our paint dries pretty quick. If you want, you can help it along with a blow dryer.
Before it is completely dried, we took another foam brush and knocked down the textured paint a bit. This gave it more of a crusty looking finish that would be a bit a more authentic to the original real pumpkins.
After that layer dries, you will be adding a second layer of paint. This is where you can get a bit crafty and experiment with some shading. We used our orange color called Terracotta Tile, on top of the dry textured gray paint.
Mixing a bit of green in, Front Lawn or Topiary works great, we shaded down near the base of the pumpkin. Ease your shading in by pouncing the colors together for a more authentic look.
Step five: details of making it look like a real paper mache pumpkin
Once it was completely dry, we used a sanding block and sanded the surface. This allowed the gray texture underneath to really pop and give that time worn look. Other paint details can be added to the face as desired.
Step six: finishing for the real paper mache pumpkin look
To give an old aged look, we finished off our pumpkin with some dark wax to highlight the grooves of the pumpkin. If you don’t have wax, you can even do this aging process with a wash using a brown paint, like our color Wood Beam, and water.
Shop for Products Needed
Shop for items we used to create these vintage looking faux paper mache pumpkins.
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Front Lawn$4.95 – $21.95 -
Terracotta Tile$4.95 – $21.95 -
Pebblebrook$4.95 – $21.95 -
Bungalow 47™ Vintage Texture$7.95 – $19.95 -
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Bungalow 47™ Clear Primer$28.95 – $48.95
Enjoying Halloween or fall decor
Fall is such a fun time to enjoy the colors of the season. Whether you like to make fun Halloween projects with jack-o-lantern faces or merely enjoy natures bounty from this time of year, creating a home full of personal style is always a priority.
If you’d like to get inspired about more stuff for your home, let’s hang out more. Follow along on these platforms. Check out my Pinterest boards for lots of holiday decorating ideas. Shop my Amazon shop for other tools you might need.
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