Now that fall is finally here, it's the perfect time for mother/daughter crafting activities, and faux pumpkins are the way to go. Fall decor isn't complete without pumpkins and with a little guidance, you'll see how versatile these can truly be. Fake pumpkins are a very versatile decoration and can be readily displayed inside or outside the home. Real pumpkins have to be seeded and emptied which isn't pretty, and they will likely rot before it's time to get out the Christmas decorations.
Faux pumpkins eliminate all that mess and can be used year after year. Depending on the age of your daughter, the two of you can make some very professional-looking crafts very simply, but no matter what, the time spent together creating decor is priceless. Faux pumpkins can be found just about everywhere this time of year, but the dollar store is the best place to go.
You can get a ton of them for cheap and have a lot of fun transforming them into the ultimate fall decor. Here are 10 simple but cute faux pumpkin decor activities perfect for mother and daughter.
10 Chalkboard Pumpkin
Paint your faux foam pumpkins with black chalkboard paint, and once it dries, your daughter can draw and write on it to her heart's desire. Chalkboard paint is found at every craft store and Pint Sized Treasures has a great tutorial to help you along. They use spray paint and after drying, the pumpkin needs to be primed with chalk, wiped off, and then it's ready to go.
9 Metallic Pumpkins
Painting faux pumpkins is an easy way to make a cheap pumpkin look chic. Dollar store foam pumpkins can be spray-painted with metallic paint. Use masking tape to create designs on your pumpkins such as stripes. Just the Bees Knees demonstrates three ways to make a classy-looking metallic pumpkin that you can make with your daughter.
8 Glam Pumpkins
If your daughter is a little older, this faux pumpkin design is a must-try. From Jay Munee DIY, these pumpkins are also from the dollar store and are decorated with modeling clay stems, painted, and designed with glitter, floral paper, or beads. The results are stunning and a perfect display for any mantle or shelf.
7 Confetti Mod Podge Pumpkin
This craft calls for white pumpkins and mod podge. If your daughter is old enough to use a paintbrush, she's old enough for this activity. You can use real pumpkins, but faux pumpkins can be used as decor for years to come. Cut out circles of tissue paper and assemble them on a pumpkin in the chosen design. Lightly brush mod podge on the pumpkin first and arrange tissue paper randomly. Cover with more mod podge, and spread over the entire pumpkin to finish.
6 Pumpkin Topiary
Outdoor designs that represent fall are great and a pumpkin topiary is a wonderful mother/daughter activity. All you need for one topiary is three different-sized pumpkins, a plastic planter, a glue gun, and some fake leaves, hay, or any other plant-like decor you'd like to accompany your pumpkins. The Magnolia Housewife has the tutorial, and she does spray paint her pumpkins for a sleek, realistic look.
5 Pumpkins With Leaves
This faux pumpkin activity is cute and oh so simple. Start with a mom-and-daughter walk outside as the leaves begin to fall from the trees. Each of you can choose your favorites but make sure you have enough to cover however many faux pumpkins you have. Glue them on your pumpkins in any design you wish. An example can be found here.
4 Mercury Glass Pumpkins
Again, all you need here are dollar-store foam pumpkins, the right kind of paint, and some patience. This is perfect for moms with older daughters who love shiny things. The first step is to prime your pumpkin with white using two layers. The pumpkins are then painted gray, followed by clear spray paint (optional), and finally sprayed with a half water/half vinegar solution followed by metallic spray paint. Vanessa Vendetti explains how to dab off the pumpkin with a paper towel to get the right effect.
3 Batty Pumpkins
Using large faux pumpkins, you and your daughter can either use black construction paper to cut out bats using stencils or a Cricut to make precise cuts. These are then attached to your pumpkin. Use a variety of sizes of bats and apply them with mod podge or hot glue gun bats. It All Started with Paint has this simple Halloween-themed activity perfect for kids of all ages that will be spooky and fun.
2 Pumpkin Lanterns
Real House Moms drills holes in faux pumpkins of a variety of sizes and strings small lights through to make pumpkin lanterns. The results make subtle light either inside or outside the home for fall. This one does involve using a drill, but it's still simple enough for a mom-and-daughter pumpkin decor activity.
1 Faux Pumpkin Succulent Planter
This pumpkin decor will look great on your front steps welcoming all of your guests. You can use a real pumpkin, but a large faux one will also do the trick. The pumpkin needs to be hollowed out, and then you simply fill it with dirt and whatever succulents or fall plants of your choice. Simply Handmade has a simple tutorial for this magnificent decor.
Source: Pint Sized Treasures, Just the Bees Knees, YouTube: Jay Munee DIY, YouTube: The Magnolia Housewife, Mod Podge Rocks, YouTube, Vanessa Vendetti, Midwest Living, YouTube, Simply Handmade, It All Started with Paint