With Hallowe'en just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start crafting your own autumnal decorations! Air dry clay pumpkins are a fun and simple way to bring a cozy, festive touch to your home this season. Whether you display them on your mantelpiece or use them as table centrepieces, these charming little pumpkins will add a handmade warmth to your Halloween décor. Follow along as I guide you through the steps to create your own!
Note: These pumpkins will take a few days to dry once you have sculpted them from clay, please make sure your pumpkin is set before painting!
What you will need:
- Primo Self-Hardening Clay- Glossy Acrylic Paints
- Clay Modelling Tools
- Paint brushes (free paint brush when you purchase a pack of our Glossy Acrylic Paints!)
- Pot of water
- Work surface (we recommend anything you don't mind getting paint on!)
Part 1- Modelling the pumpkin using air-dry clay and modelling tools
Step 1: Take the desired amount of clay you want to use for your pumpkin. You can make yours larger or smaller than mine, just remember, the larger the pumpkin, the longer it will take to dry before you can paint it!
Step 2: Start by kneading the clay to flatten it out, then begin to fold it and start rolling it between the palms of your hands (this will help prevent cracks in the clay). Dip your fingers into the water and add to the clay to apply moisture, this helps rolling the clay into a ball. Remember! Water is your friend, it will be helpful for smoothing out the clay and adhering pieces together, use it when needed.
Step 3: Use the flat end of the modelling tool to add lines down each side of the pumpkin, then use your finger and some water to smooth out the edges.
Step 4: Take a small piece of clay and roll it into a ball. Then, gently roll the ball between your finger and palm to shape it into a pumpkin stalk.
Step 5: Use the rounded end of the modelling tool to create texture into the area where the stalk will go, by making several indents. Repeat this step with the base of the stalk.
Step 6: Add some water to these two areas and then begin to attach the stalk to the pumpkin. Use the flat end of the modelling tool to blend the stalk into the top of the pumpkin, making sure it adheres properly. Use water to smooth out the stalk, then gently bend the end to create a curve.
Step 7: Finally, go back in with the modelling tool to refine the lines previously made. Use water to smooth out the clay and make any final touches to your pumpkin. Leave to set completely in a cool, dry place for a few days.
Part 2 - Painting the pumpkin and adding any final touches using Acrylic Paint and Decoupage
Step 8: Mix red, yellow and a small amount of white paint together and start painting the pumpkin. Sit to dry fully and apply a second coat if needed. Then, use the same paint to cover the base of the pumpkin and let dry.
Step 9: Add some red paint to the mixed orange paint that you already have, this will make a darker orange shade. Use a thin brush to apply this in between the groves of the pumpkin. You can also add some of this to the pumpkin body for more depth. Once you have done this, mix some white paint and a tiny bit of orange paint together and apply this in small strokes to the body to add detail, then let dry.
Step 10: Apply the green paint to the stalk of the pumpkin. You can also add in details using the green paint, as shown below, then allow this to dry.
Step 11: Next, use some white paint to add highlights and let dry.
Optional extra: use a permanent pen to add any small details to the pumpkin.
Step 12: Apply decoupage to the entire pumpkin, following the same painting process as before (pumpkin body, base and then stalk). Once this has fully dried, your pumpkin is complete!
Post your pumpkins in the Craft Your Way To Happiness Facebook group - we can't wait to see the results!
Happy Crafting!
Lian x