How to Make a Silhouette Pumpkin

Bring sophistication to your Halloween decor by embellishing a pumpkin with a trendy black-and-white silhouette.

Silhouette Pumpkin

Take a different approach to pumpkin decorating by applying a silhouette. This pumpkin was first painted white to highlight the black silhouette, making it an interesting fall statement piece.

By: Layla Palmer

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Materials Needed:

medium to large pumpkin
white copy paper
computer and printer
stick pins
black acrylic paint

small flat-edge craft paintbrush
small-tipped detail paintbrush
spool of black lace, beads or other textural fabric trim
hot glue gun and glue sticks
scissors

Find the Flat Side

Rotate the pumpkin until you find the flattest side. It will be easier to paint the silhouette on a smooth flat side than a bumpy one.

Pumpkin for Silhouette Project

Rotate the pumpkin until you find the flattest side. It will be easier to paint the silhouette on a smooth flat side than a bumpy one.

Print Silhouette

Use a computer and printer to print out a solid black silhouette of someone's face. You can use a family member's profile or simply search for silhouettes online. Tip: Make sure to measure the flat side of the pumpkin before you print so you'll know how large to print the silhouette.

Printed Silhouette

Use a computer and printer to print out a solid black silhouette of someone's face. You can use a family member's profile or simply search for silhouettes online. Tip: Make sure to measure the flat side of the pumpkin before you print so you'll know how large to print the silhouette.

Cut Out Silhouette

Use scissors to cut out the silhouette (Image 1), then temporarily attach it to the pumpkin with stick pins (Image 2).

Temporarily attach the silhouette to the pumpkin with stick pins.

Cutting Out the Silhouette

Use scissors to cut out the silhouette.

Pinning the Silhouette

Temporarily attach the silhouette to the pumpkin with stick pins.

Trace Silhouette

Use a pencil to trace around the entire silhouette.

Tracing the Silhouette onto Pumpkin

With a pencil, trace the outline of the silhouette onto your pumpkin.

Paint Silhouette

Remove the paper silhouette and stick pins, then use a flat-edged paintbrush to fill in the outline with black acrylic paint (Image 1). Use a small-tipped detail brush around the edges of the silhouette to clean up the design (Image 2).