Tutorial for how to white wash a faux pumpkin, for a vintage and coastal vibe.
Sometimes, the color orange gives me a bit of anxiety.
I am more of a blue and white person – if you haven’t figured that out by now 😉
But it is Fall, and you can’t have Fall without embracing a bit of orange – or so it would seem.
So, I made a small discovery for myself – that if I just lathered some glorious white paint on that bright bold orange pumpkin – orange becomes the new blue.
And just like that, I have fallen in love with orange. All it needed was to be muted down a bit.
The white washed pumpkin made me feel like it wanted to be more of a coastal pumpkin, so I removed the top and added some driftwood pieces I found at Hobby Lobby and on the shores of Hawaii (sigh).
The pale orange paired so beautifully with my collection of vintage blue jars, I decided to make a centerpiece for our re-purposed butcher block table my husband saved from the dump.
This table is one of my favorite pieces of furniture in our home. It really was used for butchering meat, and then used as a work table in a furniture shop where my husband worked during college. When they were going to toss it, the hubs brought it home instead and cleaned it up good for me – because he loves FREE more than I do. Then I added some paint and gave it a good distressing.
It sits in our LIVING ROOM and houses our storage baskets and is usually my work surface of choice.
I’ve found the light from this very spot to be perfect for my blog photography, and I utilize it often.
But when it is not full of ongoing projects, I love to spruce it up with Holiday decor.
This vignette of pumpkins and vintage jars is one of my all time favorites, and it may last on there until Christmas bells start ringing.
These gorgeous leaf clippings I found on a bush on my way to taking my daughter to preschool. The owners of the home thought I was crazy for wanting clippings from their bush – but they obliged.
I wish I could preserve these colors forever.
I used the yellow pumpkin in our entry way.
Now for your instructions.
How-to White Wash a Pumpkin + Add a Driftwood Stem
Supplies:
- Styrofoam craft pumpkin
- I found mine at a variety of places. Home Depot has some, Hobby Lobby, and Michael’s.
- Chalk Paint
- Any white chalk paint will work, but I am loving this Rust-oleum brand in “Linen White”. I found this paint on Amazon.
- Rag
- I find it easier to spread on and dab as desired, more so than a brush.
- Paper plate
- Brush to stir
- Water
- Something to cover your work surface.
- I like to use garbage bags.
- Driftwood pieces
- I used a couple I found on the beach in Hawaii, and then used a bag of them I found at Hobby Lobby.
First, give your stem a good tug to remove the manufactured stem.
Prepare your white wash by pouring a small amount of chalk paint on a paper plate and mixing a tablespoon or so of water into the paint with your brush.
Dip a corner of your rag into the watered down paint. Proceed to wipe the paint onto the surface of the pumpkin. Watered down paint dries quickly, so work out any streaking by making circular movements before it dries. If you like the streaked look – go with it!
Feel free to play around with the process. I found I liked the effect if I dabbed rather than rubbed on for some pumpkins.
For others, I saturated the paint into the crevasses with the brush and then wiped off. Others I did less paint in the crevasses and that gave a nice dimension. The process is really up to you!
Finally, use a hot glue gun to glue on the driftwood piece in place of the stem.
And you really have a one-of-a-kind pumpkin, that can work well for a coastal look or even a shabby chic twist – or whatever you can imagine, because creativity has no limits!
Now I would love to hear what Fall colors you prefer to work into your decor! Are you afraid of bold orange as well or have you found a way to rock it?! I would love to hear your thoughts.
Here are some pinterest friendly images for you!
I would like to invite you to view our Pumpkin Palooza event. It has been going on all week long, and 14 of my favorite blogging buddies have been sharing their pumpkin projects as we have collaborated with Country Living Magazine and each other. I am sharing my post on the last day, so all of them are up and ready for you to click through and enjoy – and be inspired!
Monday
Cherished Bliss | Live Laugh Rowe | Paint Me Pink
Tuesday
Blesser House | House By Hoff | Craftberry Bush
Wednesday
Setting For Four | Little Glass Jar | Anderson + Grant
Thursday
Meadow Lake Road| At The Picket Fence | Thistlewood Farms
Friday
Tidbits | Dandelion Patina | Rustic and Woven
Big thanks goes to Country Living for supporting our Pumpkin Palooza Event, and big hugs go to Michelle and Ashley for organizing it!
*This post contains affiliate links. Rest assured, I only recommend products I use and love!
So much better than bright orange! They look so pretty with your vintage jars and I LOVE the addition of the driftwood stem – so cute!
Tonya | Rustic & Woven recently posted…Simple and Neutral Pumpkin Mantel – Pumpkin Palooza
Thanks you so much Tonya! Your mantel was absolutely beautiful. Those neutral colors steal my heart every time.
These are awesome Cami. I love your blog, your photos are beautiful and your ideas are super! You inspire this seasoned blogger!
So glad to offer some inspiration. That is why we blog, right?! Thank you!
You’ve got me loving orange now 🙂 Why have I not ever thought of using white paint to tone down the bright colors?!?! Love the idea for the driftwood stems and I LOVE LOVE LOVE the work table!
Jame recently posted…Friday Favorites
You haven’t thought of it because you have too many other brilliant ideas brewing in that head of yours 😉 Thanks Jamie! I absolutely adored your dry brushed pumpkins as well. Sigh.
I love this idea, Cami! Thank you for sharing such a great tutorial! I had no idea that Rust-Oleum was making chalk paint…how exciting!
Thank you April! You are one talented girl! The more chalk paint the better, no?!
I, too, have bright orange anxiety!!!! The idea of toning it down with white chalk paint is “brilliant”! Love the look and I really enjoy your blog and your tutorials. Thank you!
Glad to know I’m not the only one! What a sweet comment and thank you so much!
What a great idea for using orange in your decor with it being so in-your-face bright! Thanks for the tip that Rustoleum has chalk paint now – who knew?! Well done, girl! xoxo
Erin | Meadow Lake Road recently posted…Succulent Topped Pumpkin | Pumpkin Palooza
Thank you so much Erin! I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to comment on your post yesterday – but I’ll have you know – I was dying over it! So very pretty!
Great Idea Cami! I too struggle with the color orange, so I’m loving the white-wash look. And how clever to use driftwood for the handle. A lot of times the handles are broken off anyway, so using driftwood is a great replacement. Your pictures are absolutely beautiful!
-Emily
So sweet of you Emily! I can imagine these pumpkins would look lovely in your home, too. Thanks for all your support!
What a beautiful tutorial, Cami!! You pumpkins look stunning in your home! It was such a pleasure being in this wonderful blog hop with all you talented gals! XOXO
Norma recently posted…Halloween Marshmallows
What a beautiful tutorial, Cami!! You pumpkins look stunning in your home! It was such a pleasure being in this wonderful blog hop with all you talented gals! XOXO
Norma recently posted…Halloween Marshmallows
Thank you so very much! This blog hop was a lot of fun, and so much talent! Everything you do leaves my mouth wide open every time!
I love the change, this is much prettier with the “whitewash” on it! The arrangement of the whitewashed pumpkins with the blue bottles is just the perfect blend of coastal beachy feel with Fall. I am pinning this and scheduling to share over FB and Twitter. I would LOVE it if you would stop by and share this with my readers at Celebrate it Sunday! The party has started!
Chloe Crabtree recently posted…Celebrate It Sunday! Link Party #17
Up until a few years ago, fall was my least favorite season. I, too, am a white-and-pastel-type person. Oranges, yellows, browns, etc. just seemed so dry and drab. That was, until, I met a florist who created thee most amazing autumn arrangements. He used all of the usual fall flowers and colors that we usually see at this time of year. But he added a BLUE HYDRANGEA to each arrangement…….I was in awe! That one pop of pale blue completely softened his creations. Now, I look forward to making anything w/fall colors. When I place that one element of soft blue into the project, it seems like all the dimensions come together!
karen recently posted…How-to White Wash a Pumpkin + Add a Driftwood Stem
Blue make everything better, doesn’t it! Thanks for your wonderful comment!
Thank you so much for your sweet words and shares! I’ll have to head over to see your link party!
I noticed you removed the stem before you started applying the chalk paint. It is much easier if you leave the stem in place until the pumpkin is completed then remove the stem. Just a tip. Love your ideas!!!
Thank you for sharing.
I love your soft, classy pumpkins. I’m not one to shy away from bright colours but sometimes soft is just beautiful. Your table is just gorgeous, it’s had so many lives – the stories it could tell!
Julie recently posted…Tray Desk Tidy Tutorial
So pretty…. Pinning!
Thank you! P.S. I adore you!
These are the prettiest orange pumpkins I’ve ever seen Cami. They look stunning with the blues and on that repurposed table! Thanks for sharing at The Creative Circle. Hope to see you this weekend.
Kathy recently posted…The Creative Circle No. 38
Thank you Kathy! I appreciate your compliments and enjoy your link party! I’ve started one as well, if you link up now days. Thursdays at 8:00pm EST. Take care!
I love this idea for white washing them. I did some sprucing up to mine with chalk paint this year too, but my home is very coastal decorated so I LOVE your driftwood stem ideas! I came over through the link party “hit me with your best shot”! So glad I found your blog 🙂 I’m signing up for your newsletter right now! 🙂
Anna Harris recently posted…Start Your Own Blog!
Glad you like the pumpkins! The do look great as little coastal Fall decor. Thanks so much for stopping by and flattered to have you join me along!