Decorating A Pumpkin with Flowers That Won't Fade

Today we are decorating a pumpkin with flowers! Not a real pumpkin or real flowers; we are decorating a metal pumpkin with floral transfer images.

Fall is here, and it’s just pumpkins everywhere – big ones, little ones, real ones, fake ones, plain ones, decorated ones, all shapes and sizes.

Do you also sometimes unpack your seasonal decor and find something that makes you think: how did I ever think this would be cute in my home? Maybe my taste changes too often, but that’s okay because I love giving anything and everything a new look!

I love decorating for fall, and I also enjoy a good craft project now and again. Dixie Belle Paint has just released the most gorgeous new transfer designs, and that made me think: what could be more fun than decorating pumpkins with transfers?!

Have you ever decorated a pumpkin with transfers? Me neither, but I think you are going to love how this fun craft project turned out!

You know what I’m going to say next, right? Let’s paint!

Supplies I Used Decorating a Pumpkin with Flowers

All the products I used are from Dixie Belle but you can use any brand, color or design you prefer.

A faux pumpkin – mine is made from metal, but any material would work.
Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint – Yankee Blue, Buttercream, Palmetto
Dixie Belle Silk Mineral Paint – Cactus
Belles and Whistles Transfer – Embroidered Lotus (discontinued)
Gilding Wax Gold
Cleat Coat Sealer Flat

7 Simple Steps for Decorating a Pumpkin with Flowers

Step 1 – Paint the Pumpkin

I painted my pumpkin with Chalk Mineral Paint in the color Yankee Blue.

Step 2 – Paint the Leaves (if present)

For the leaves, I used Silk Mineral Paint in the color Cactus.

Step 3 – Paint a Second Coat

I painted the pumpkin with a second coat of Yankee Blue, working in small sections and shading with a bit of Buttercream to create more dimension while the blue was still wet.

Since this pumpkin is really bumpy, the shading looks a bit rough. (In retrospect, this step could have been skipped since you can barely see it with all the transfer flowers added.)

Step 4 – Add a Bit of Shading

I mixed a tiny bit of Cactus and Buttercream in equal parts and lightly brushed it over the leaves. The vines of the leaves are now showing more prominently.

Drybrushing the pumpkin leaves with light green paint

Step 5 – Gild the Stems with Gold Wax

With gold Gilding Wax, I lightly brushed the stem and edges of all the leaves.

Brushing gilding was on the pumpkin stem and leaves

Step 6 – Apply the Floral Transfers

It is suggested that you let the paint cure for 24 hours before applying any transfer images.

I did not wait that long and everything turned out fine, but don’t trust me on that. Better safe than sorry.

Dixie belle paint's belles &whistles transfers.

This lotus flower transfer design includes four bigger floral images (two of each), smaller versions of those images, and lots of tiny add-ons like leaves, berries, tiny flowers, and twirly vines. These extra bits and bobs are fun to add. Like the bugs and butterflies in the design, I used to make a centerpiece.