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How to Make a Painted Peephole Pumpkin

by on Oct 6, 2015

This year, a group of Curbly contributors and editors got together to create a series of DIY decor and entertaining projects using that iconic symbol of the season: the pumpkin. We’ll be sharing our creations for the Curbly Pumpkin Challenge each day this week. Happy Fall.   

I love the idea of of using a drill to create a design on a pumpkin, and I’ve been wanting to try it for ages. But I felt that my pumpkin needed another element, so I decided to paint it first to create a beautiful contrast between the white exterior and the orange pumpkin flesh that would be visible inside the drilled holes. 

Curbly Pumpkin Challenge: DIY Painted Peephole Pumpkin

Pretty, right? It reminds me a bit of raindrops. Here’s a closeup…

Curbly Pumpkin Challenge: DIY Painted Peephole Pumpkin

Now, onto the tutorial. Here’s what you’ll need for your painted peephole pumpkin:

– A pumpkin
– An electric drill with assorted drill bits
– White spray paint
– White acrylic paint
– A small paint brush
– Blue painter’s tape
– A sharp knife
– A spoon
 

Curbly Pumpkin Challenge: DIY Painted Peephole Pumpkin

1. Tape off the pumpkin stem.

2. Make sure your pumpkin is clean and dry. Spray paint the pumpkin. It will probably need two coats. Let it dry thoroughly.

3. Cut the top off the pumpkin.

4. Scoop out all of the seeds and pumpkin guts.

Curbly Pumpkin Challenge: DIY Painted Peephole Pumpkin

5. Now, begin with your largest drill bit and drill holes at even intervals around the top of the pumpkin.

6. These are the drill bits that I used. Use the next largest drill bit and drill holes an inch below the first set of holes that you just created. Then continue until you’ve used all of your drill bits.

7. Gently wipe off the surface of the pumpkin with a slightly damp paper towel.

8. Let it dry. Then touch up any edges where the paint may have peeled off using acrylic paint. 

Curbly Pumpkin Challenge: DIY Painted Peephole Pumpkin

And that’s it! Let your pumpkin dry and then put a flameless candle inside. I’ve found that brighter candles work better for this type of pumpkin.

Curbly Pumpkin Challenge: DIY Painted Peephole Pumpkin

So, do you like it? I think of it as a glamorous version of the traditional jack-o-lantern. And you could customize it to your liking… use a different paint color (metallic would be cool) and you could also vary the placement of the peepholes.

Curbly Pumpkin Challenge: DIY Painted Peephole Pumpkin
This post originally posted in October 2014. We’re bringing it back because it’s a classic!

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4 Comments

  1. So clever! Love that you used different sized drill bits too, it makes it really pop!