This Halloween I have been loving black and white or cream color schemes. I was inspired many Pinterest images of black and white decorations Luckily, I had already decided to make a black Williams-Sonoma Inspired Crow Wreath, a cream Happy Halloween banner, a Pottery Barn Kids Inspired Bat Chandelier, and a black Pottery Barn Inspired Trick or Treat Banner. I wanted a black pumpkin to add to the décor and found an incredible Halloween pumpkin luminary at Pottery Barn. It is painted black and a little rough looking…. just my style. Unfortunately the $89 price was not my style at all!
I read the description and saw that it was made from paper-mache! I’d love an excuse to get out the newsprint, flour and water… but I knew there was a much neater and quicker way to get the same look. Many craft stores carry carvable fake pumpkins at this time of year. They even come in black! Add some vinyl stickers or paint on a design with acrylic paint and you have a great knock off!
I’ve made a printable pattern you can use to make your very own “BOO” letter shapes. I’m also including a cut file, in case you own a Silhouette cutter. As a bonus, I’m also including instructions and patterns for a mini “Eek” and “Hiss” pumpkin.
Halloween Pumpkin Luminary Instructions
- Decide if you are making vinyl stickers or painting the pumpkin.
- If you are using vinyl stickers make them by printing the pattern and cutting them from contact paper or adhesive craft vinyl. There are several ways to accomplish this:
- You can trace your stencils onto contact paper by hand and then cut them out by hand.
- You can use a Silhouette machine to cut the vinyl using this file.
- You can run contact paper through your printer (here’s an easy tutorial).
- If you are painting, print the PDF pattern and cut stencils. There are several ways to accomplish this:
- You can trace your stencils onto contact paper by hand and then cut them out by hand.
- You can use a Silhouette machine to cut the vinyl using this file.
- You can run contact paper through your printer (here’s an easy tutorial).
- Place your stencils securely on the pumpkin (press down well, you can see my centers were a bit messy), paint your design using cream acrylic paint and a small brush to stencil your design. Work from the edge of the stencil inward to prevent the paint from being forced under your stencil. Again, this is a bit messy since the surface is not flat, work carefully. Let the paint dry for a few minutes and remove your stencils. I use a toothpick and a q-tip to clean up any smudges on the outside of the letters. Allow the paint to dry for several hours or overnight.
- Use a sharp kitchen knife to carve the insides of the letters. Start with a small cut and slowly enlarge the opening.
- Paint the inside of the opening (inside edge of the letters) with cream paint, if desired. You can also cut a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin to add an LED light or fake candle. I did not and have been using a glow stick or battery-operated tea light that fits through the “O”. You can not use a real candle!
- Enjoy your pumpkin! It is very light so secure it if you are going to display it outside or it will blow away.
Mini Pumpkin Instructions
- Spray paint the pumpkins black and allow to dry overnight.
- Proceed with step 2 of the luminary instructions above. Do not carve the mini pumpkin.
Pumpkin Luminary Cost
This pumpkin luminary added the perfect touch to my Halloween mantle. The best part? I didn’t have to part with $89.00 to add it to my Halloween collection!
Here’s the BrenDid cost breakdown:
Supplies
- Carvable 14 inch black pumpkin – $19.99 (they are on sale for even less at Michael’s this week!)
- And/or 5” orange foam pumpkin – Dollar Tree- $1.00 each
- Contact paper (if used as stencil, any color; if used to make stickers, use white or cream) – $1.00 – ?
- Cream Acrylic Paint $0.69 (used ½) – $0.35
Total price= $21.34
That’s a $67.66 savings (76% off). You can make a whole bunch of pumpkins at that price!
I LOVE the savings even more than my new pumpkin patch!
More Knock Off Halloween Crafts
I hope you try making a Pottery Barn Inspired Black BOO Pumpkin Luminary or one of my other knock-off decorations this Halloween!
- Pottery Barn Kids Inspired Orange Trick or Treat Banner
- Pottery Barn Kids Inspired Bat Chandelier
- Pottery Barn Inspired Happy Halloween Banner
- Williams-Sonoma Inspired Halloween Crow Wreath
- Pottery Barn Inspired Trick or Treat Banner Black ( and Harry Potter Décor ideas)
- Pottery Barn Inspired Boo Banner
- Pottery Barn Kids Inspired Light Up Glitter Pumpkin
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