How to Make Pressed Flower Pumpkins | A DIY Pumpkin Craft

Pressed Flower Pumpkin DIY

Today is October 1st so Fall is definitely in full swing! If you’re looking for a fun pumpkin craft that will stay relevant throughout all the Fall months – plus fit perfectly into your Halloween decor – then this post is for you! I’ll be showing you how to make this pressed flower pumpkin DIY craft – so keep reading for the easy, step by step directions.

Each year I try to come up with a unique pumpkin craft. One year I did a constellation pumpkin, and one year I did an ottoman pouf pumpkin, both of which have been super popular! This year I was inspired by the boho trend and wanted to incorporate some beautiful pressed flowers.

I had originally wanted to press my own flowers from my Mom’s gardens (which are stunning btw!). I picked and pressed a few dozen flowers, ferns, and leaves, and set them in between some book pages with a weight on top. A few weeks later when they looked flat, I gathered them all and stored them in a plastic ziploc bag for a few more weeks until I was ready to use them.

However, I think I rushed the process and didn’t let them dry long enough (even though they were completely flat). Because when I went to take them out of the plastic bag, I discovered they had all gone moldy! There was apparently still a lot of water left in the leaves and petals.

So, lesson learned for next time – do NOT rush the process and let them fully cure! I’ve also heard great things about this device which does all the hard work for you!

I was so bummed I couldn’t use these beautiful flowers, but luckily I was able to order some off Amazon, which actually looked way better.

I did use a real white pumpkin for this project that I purchased at Trader Joe’s. However, you could also paint an orange pumpkin white, OR better yet, use a plastic pumpkin that can be used year after year.

I purchased the rest of the necessary materials on Amazon, which makes this craft very accessible for all.

How to Make a Pressed Flower Pumpkin for Fall

What You’ll Need:

• A pumpkin, either real or plastic like this one
• Mod Podge – in matte finish
• A paintbrush or sponge brush
• Small curved tweezers – this style works best
• Pressed Flowers, Leaves, or Herbs
• You can also press your own by using this device!

Instructions:

• If you’re using a real pumpkin you’ll want to fully clean your pumpkin with soap and water to remove any dirt and bacteria. Make sure the pumpkin is fully dry before you begin.
• Carefully separate and lay out all of the pressed flowers, either on waxed paper, paper towels, or newspaper. If any of the leaves have long or stiff stems, trim them with some small scissors. You want to ensure everything will lay as flat as possible along the contours of the pumpkin once you start gluing.
• Try to design and lay out a pattern of flowers you’d like to put on the pumpkin. You can either do one large design/collage on the front of the pumpkin, or do an overall design by scattering the flowers around the entire pumpkin. I tried both and both ways look great!
• Once you have a rough idea of your design plan, brush some Mod Podge on a small spot on the pumpkin. Take your first flower and place it on the glue with your tweezers.
• You’ll want to work in small sections so the Mod Podge doesn’t dry before you can place the next flower or leaf.
• Once you have about 2-4 flowers laid out on the pumpkin, paint one more layer of Mod Podge over the top of them. Be generous with this layer and don’t skimp on product! It will look white & cloudy when you first paint it, but it will dry clear.
• Keep working your way around the pumpkin, staying in small sections.
• Once you’re finished with the design and things start to dry, you can do an extra layer of Mod Podge if you feel things are popping off the pumpkin.
• Allow the finished product to fully dry for at least 24 hours.

If you’re a visual learner, just watch this video where I filmed the entire process!

 

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A post shared by ✧ Marissa ✧ (@quartzandleisure)

I hope you found this pressed flower pumpkin DIY helpful. If you end up making these pumpkins, make sure to tag me on Instagram – I can be found @quartzandleisure!

Happy Fall!

Xx