CREATE: Mosaic Sponge Painted Pumpkins

What can you CREATE when you PIECE together SPONGE wedges, craft PAINT and a PUMPKIN? A MOSAIC masterpiece for FALL of course!!! I must admit that originally I was planning on going a slightly different direction and this idea was actually plan B. My first idea when I started planning this pumpkin, was to make a modern geometric triangle design but then when I examined the wedge sponges up closer, I realized the triangles were kind of horizontally stretched out which was not exactly what I wanted. So, then I started to come up with a plan B... I wondered what they would look like if I cut the sponge wedges into random trapezoids, triangles, etc.? At that moment the shapes reminded me of a mosaic pattern so that's when I decided it would become a Mosaic Sponge Painted Pumpkin! After seeing the finished results, I am so happy with it and I think that the other design wouldn't have had as much of a design impact that this one does. Yay for HAPPY ACCIDENTS!!!  Have you also been busy Decorating Pumpkins this FALL? Be sure to add #createfall to share your designs! I hope you enjoy making these MOSAIC pumpkins as much as I did, below is the DIY Tutorial...

DIY TUTORIAL:  Watercolor Painted Pumpkins

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

1 Large Pumpkin/Funkin 

1 Can "Satin" Finish Spray Paint (White)

1 Pack (8-16 Count) Sponge Wedges (Located in Make-up Department)
Scissors 

Craft Paint(s) (Your Choice of Amount of Colors)

1 Plate or Paint Palette (Plastic or Heavyweight Paper)

1 Can "Matte" Finish Spray Protector

DIY DIRECTIONS:

STEP #1:  SPRAY the entire Pumpkin/Funkin with White "Satin" Finish Spray Paint. Let paint DRYcompletely!

STEP #2:  SQUEEZE a small amount of craft paint onto a plate or palette.

STEP #3:  Gently PRESS a sponge into the craft paint, then double check that one side is entirely lightly covered in a thin coat of craft paint.

STEP #4:  Carefully PRESS the wet paint sponge onto the Pumpkin/Funkin in your desired location, then slowly release. Let paint DRY. VIEW PHOTO EXAMPLES. 

STEP #5:  REPEAT Steps #2, #3 and #4 until the entire Pumpkin/Funkin is covered completely with the mosaic design. It's your Choice to use multiple COLORS. 

STEP #6:  To give a protective finish, lightly SPRAY a coat of CLEAR "Matte" Finish Spray Protector. Let DRY completely! Now your are DONE and ready to DECORATE with your NEW MOSAIC Sponge Painted Pumpkin!!!

Want to know about all of my 
DIY PROJECTS ahead of time? 
Follow the Creative Orchard on 
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CREATE: Watercolor Painted Pumpkins

What could possibly be a better way to PAINT PUMPKINS then to start off with BLANK CANVAS ones?  It must have been the artist in me that felt I needed to start with a BLANK CANVAS before I could imagine how I should paint my fake PUMPKINS - a.k.a "Funkins". So in my opinion, I think the most effective way to achieve any paint techniques would be to give your Pumpkins/Funkins a fresh coat of WHITE "Satin" Finish Spray Paint. Unfortunately, I could only find black or orange pumpkins because all the WHITE ones were sold out! All these techniques should also work on those brand NEW "HALF" Pumpkins/Funkins that are now available this year too but were also… sold out! Bummer.  Maybe everyone else will have better luck finding the Pumpkin/Funkin colors they need. This is ONLY one paint technique of many that I will be sharing this fall season for my new series #createfall, so please follow along or join in the DIY FALL fun by adding the hashtag #createfall to your photos or posts. Abstract Watercolor was the first paint technique that popped into my head because its what I am most comfortable with. I took some Watercolor classes back in college and have been in looooove with anything Watercolor ever since. Here are the DIY INSTRUCTIONS on how to CREATE your own Watercolor Painted Pumpkins...

DIY TUTORIAL:  Watercolor Painted Pumpkins

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

1 Large Pumpkin/Funkin 

1 Can "Satin" Finish Spray Paint (White)

1 Large Round Tip Watercolor Brush

Watercolor Paint (Your Choice of Colors)

Small Jar/Cup Clean Water

1 Can "Matte" Finish Spray Protector

DIY DIRECTIONS:

STEP #1:  SPRAY the entire Pumpkin/Funkin with White "Satin" Finish Spray Paint. Let paint DRY completely!

STEP #2:  Lightly SPRINKLE/SPRITZ the Watercolor Paint palette with clean water. 

STEP #3:  Barely COAT the dry Large Round Tip Watercolor Brush with clean water. 

STEP #4:  APPLY a very small amount of Watercolor Paint onto the paint brush. 

STEP #5:  Gently and slowly PUSH the Watercolor Paint around in a small area. It will end up looking like an abstract blob. VIEW PHOTO EXAMPLES. (NOTE: TOO much water will cause the paint to separate around the edges, LESS is best!) Then let paint DRY.

STEP #6:  REPEAT Steps #3, #4 and #5. It's your Choice to use multiple COLORS. 

STEP #7:  To give a protective finish, lightly SPRAY a coat of CLEAR "Matte" Finish Spray Protector. Let DRY completely! Now your are DONE and ready to DECORATE with your NEW Watercolor Painted Pumpkins!!!

Want to know about all of my 
DIY PROJECTS ahead of time? 
Follow the Creative Orchard on 
SOCIAL MEDIA to get 
SNEAK PEEKS!