DIY Studded Metallic Pumpkin

I, like most people, love carving pumpkins. Two years ago I didn’t carve one and I felt so weird about it, I vowed to never let another Fall season go by without carving a masterpiece (OK I do the same classic pumpkin face every year). It’s been so hot outside (#heatwave2014) that I haven’t felt like picking up a pumpkin to carve, since it doesn’t quite feel like Autumn yet. But I thought I might as well get started on some Fall decorations for my house, since I’m basically stuck here until it cools off outside (thank God for air conditioning). I’ve purchased quite a few Pumpkin shaped nic-nacs over the past couple of years, but I wanted to make something different, that I couldn’t find in a store. I’ve been really into metallic paint lately. “Into” as in I don’t even remember that last time I painted something that WASN’T metallic. Oh well. I also loved studded things, so I thought I should combine my two obsessions and make a DIY decorative pumpkin! Here’s how you do it…

Supplies:

• Styrofoam pumpkin-I purchased a medium sized one from Michael’s (Originally $8.99, but mine was 50% off). They sell pumpkins that are meant to be decorated, but they are not made of styrofoam, FYI. You’ll find the styrofoam ones by the Autumn themed decor.
• Any color/brand metallic paint– I mixed Martha Stewart Crafts Metallic Acrylic Paint, Yellow Gold & DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Acrylic Paint, Copper to make an orange color, since I didn’t see any orange metallic paint. Martha Stewart Crafts is my favorite brand for metallic paint. I used Gold for the stem.
• Sponge brush to apply the paint
• Any size/color studs– I used medium studs, in gold and rose gold. I purchase all my studs on Ebay. Find some inexpensive ones here.

Directions: 

1. Paint the stem of your pumpkin gold. You want to paint the stem first so if any paint drips onto the pumpkin, you can cover it up.
2. Paint two coats of paint on your pumpkin. Allow about 30 minutes in between coats.
3. Press the studs into your pumpkin, in whatever pattern you would like. I alternated between gold and rose gold. Some lines were made with squares, and others I made with diamonds (turn the stud 90 degrees to make a diamond shape instead of a square).

It’s a super simple craft you can make with your roommates, significant other, or family to decorate your home!