How to Make a Lettered Pumpkin

Give a humble pumpkin sophisticated style by painting it to resemble an antique European grain sack.
Painted Pumpkin With Lettering

Ichabod Halloween Pumpkin

Give a humble pumpkin sophisticated style by painting it to resemble an antique European grain sack. Our step-by-step instructions show you how.

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Materials Needed:

  • Lumina pumpkin or artificial white pumpkin
  • navy blue acrylic paint
  • no. 2 liner brush
  • painter's tape
  • computer with Word processor
  • printer
  • printer paper
  • graphite transfer paper
  • mechanical pencil
  • scissors

Tape Stripes

Clean and dry pumpkin. Apply painter's tape horizontally around pumpkin's equator. It doesn't need to be perfectly level or centered.

Lettered Halloween Pumpkin With Yellow Band Design

Yellow Band Design On Lettered Halloween Pumpkin

A yellow painted band design is featured on a Halloween pumpkin being prepared for lettering.

Paint Stripes

Using a no. 2 liner brush, paint a thin stripe above and below taped line. Remove tape and allow paint to dry.

Lettered Halloween Pumpkin Features Painted Design

Painting Design On Lettered Halloween Pumpkin

A Halloween pumpkin features antique lettering and painted designs.

Design and Print Lettering

Design text using Word processor and print (Blackadder ITC was used in this project). Cut out text and cut piece of transfer paper to same size.

Lettered Halloween Pumpkin Will Feature Antique Lettering

Printout Of Lettering For Lettered Halloween Pumpkin

A lettering printout features an antique font for a lettered Halloween pumpkin.

Transfer and Paint Text

Position graphite paper between printed text and pumpkin, then tape into place over top stripe. Use leadless mechanical pencil to trace text, transferring lettering to pumpkin. Remove text, transfer paper and tape. Use acrylic paint and no. 2 liner brush to paint over transferred text. Allow to dry. Note: A fresh Lumina pumpkin will keep indoors for several weeks. Dispose when pumpkin flesh gives under light finger pressure.

Halloween Pumpkin With Transfer Paper Lettering

Placing Transfer Paper Lettering On Halloween Pumpkin

Transfer paper is placed on a Halloween pumpkin to create a lettered design.

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