DIY Milk Paint Pumpkins
I love decorating with pumpkins for Fall. I am not great at carving pumpkins, and so I love embellishing them.
My Fall front porch is full of pink and purple flowers, with light green and light orange pumpkins thanks to this wreath. I wanted to add some purple pumpkins to the mix this year. Since I loved how my last project , Thrifted Windsor Chair Makeover, turned out with Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint I was inspired to use the beautiful light purple again. This time with my pumpkins!
Today I want to show you the very simple way I achieved this farmhouse look for my Fall decor with a little milk paint and white wax. The beauty in this DIY is that it is fully customizable. You can turn your pumpkins into any color that you want to. You can also use faux pumpkins, if you want them to last for more than one Fall season.
Watch My Live Demo!
Click below to watch the recording of my live stream demo on Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint Facebook page to see how I made these painted pumpkins. I take you through every step of the process.
Now, enjoy the video below to learn how to use Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint to transform your pumpkins this Fall. Then follow along for the simple, step-by-step picture tutorial for milk paint pumpkins.
Continue below to see how I transformed my pumpkins to create the prettiest Fall vignette.
*This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosure page here.
To make your own milk paint pumpkins, you will need:
Step 1: Mix the paint. Mix 1 part paint powder to 1 part water.
I always recommend starting with less than more so you don’t waste your product. You can always make more paint later.
Whisk the paint together with the water until the paint is fully integrated into the water.
I have found that a miniature whisk is the best mixing tool to ensure the milk powder stays fully integrated into the water.
Your paint mixture should look like a thin pancake batter once it is mixed.
Step 2: Add 1 part bonding agent to 1 part of the mixed milk paint.
Step 3: Mix thoroughly.
Step 4: Protect your work surface. I used wax paper.
Clean your pumpkin by placing it in a bleach bath. I applied 1 capful of bleach to a bath tub full of water. I let the pumpkins sit in the bleach bath for about 30 minutes, then I set them aside to dry completely.
Step 5: Apply 1 thin, even coat of the milk paint mixture to the pumpkin. Allow the paint to dry fully before you add another coat. My first coat took about 1 hour to dry.
A little bit goes a long way with milk paint.
If the milk paint starts to settle, you may need to whisk it some more.
Step 6: After your first coat of paint dries, add another coat of milk paint. Allow the second coat to dry completely.
Step 7: Apply a third coat of milk paint. Let it dry completely.
Step 8: Apply a fourth coat of milk paint.
Then, let it dry overnight.
Step 9: Once completely dry, apply white wax to the entire pumpkin with a wax brush.
Step 10: Buff off the excess wax with a clean, dry cloth.
(Optional) Step 11: Add gold craft paint to stems for added interest.
Step 12: Enjoy!
I absolutely loved how my pumpkins turned out. I think they add such a pretty and whimsical flair to my Fall decor.
I was so inspired by them that I decided to create a cute Fall vignette in my kitchen. I even turned one of the pumpkins into a pumpkin floral centerpiece.
Thank you so much for following along today. I hope you enjoy experimenting with Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint as I do!
I believe crafting is more fun when we share our projects. Please email me at elizabeth@countrypeony.com, or please tag me @thecountrypeony or #countrypeony to show me your beautiful, custom creation!
