• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • DIY Projects
    • Homemade Bath and Body
    • Sewing - Fabric Crafts
    • Flower Crafts/Decor
    • Thrift Store/Vintage
  • Gardening
    • Flower Gardens
    • Container Gardening
    • Houseplants
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Landscaping
    • DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • Spring Decor
    • Summer Decor
    • Fall Decor
    • Winter Decor
    • Home Decor Projects
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert
    • Salad Recipes
    • Soups and Stews
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
Hearth and Vine
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • DIY
    • ...Flower/Gardening Crafts
    • ... Bath and Body
    • ...Sewing/Fabric Crafts
    • ...Thrift Store/Upcycle
  • Gardening
    • ...Flower Gardens
    • ...Container Gardening
    • ...Indoor Gardening
    • ...DIY Garden Art
  • Decorate
    • ...Home Decor Projects
    • ...Spring Decor
    • ...Summer Decor
    • ...Fall Decor
    • ...Winter Decor
    • ...Room Makeovers
  • Recipes
    • ...Appetizers and Snacks
    • ...Dinner Recipes
    • ...Side Dish Recipes
    • ...Salad Recipes
    • ...Dessert
    • ...Drinks
  • Holidays
    • ...Valentine's Day
    • ...Easter
    • ...Mother's Day
    • ...Halloween
    • ...Thanksgiving
    • ...Christmas
  • Subscribe
  • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • DIY
      • ...Flower/Gardening Crafts
      • ... Bath and Body
      • ...Sewing/Fabric Crafts
      • ...Thrift Store/Upcycle
    • Gardening
      • ...Flower Gardens
      • ...Container Gardening
      • ...Indoor Gardening
      • ...DIY Garden Art
    • Decorate
      • ...Home Decor Projects
      • ...Spring Decor
      • ...Summer Decor
      • ...Fall Decor
      • ...Winter Decor
      • ...Room Makeovers
    • Recipes
      • ...Appetizers and Snacks
      • ...Dinner Recipes
      • ...Side Dish Recipes
      • ...Salad Recipes
      • ...Dessert
      • ...Drinks
    • Holidays
      • ...Valentine's Day
      • ...Easter
      • ...Mother's Day
      • ...Halloween
      • ...Thanksgiving
      • ...Christmas
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » DIY Projects

    Decorating Pumpkins with Leaves

    by Patti Estep · Sep 22, 2024

    Jump to How-to Card
    Partial view of a white pumpkin decoupaged with dark leaves around the stem and base of the pumpkin.
    The top of a white pumpkin decorated with a ring of dark purple leaves over the side view of the same with leaves also on the bottom.

    Decorating pumpkins with leaves from the garden is easy and creates a beautiful accent for your fall decor that will last several weeks.

    White pumpkin decorated with leaves in a dark color.

    It's that time of year well before Halloween when there are so many beautiful pumpkins on the market just about everywhere you go. This year I thought I'd try decorating a pumpkin with leaves for a no-carve look.

    Carving pumpkins can be gorgeous but it can be difficult and the result doesn't last long as the pumpkin will rot fairly quickly. No carve decorated pumpkins should last for several weeks.

    Plain white pumpkin with blemish at the bottom.

    This pretty creamy white pumpkin I picked up had a big blemish area. I'm sure it's from the way the pumpkin sat in the garden patch. The unsightly area is what brought me to the idea of decoupaging some leaves on the pumpkin to hide the area and make the pumpkin look fun and festive.

    This post contains some affiliate links (that means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, there's no additional cost to you, but I will earn a very small commission. ) i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

    How to Decorate a Pumpkin with Leaves

    I used leaves from my Ninebark 'Diablo' and Weigela 'Wine and Roses' shrubs. They both have beautiful dark leaves and give the pumpkin a pretty contrasting neutral look. However, you can use any leaves you want. In fact, I think fall colored leaves or pressed flowers would be gorgeous.

    White pumpkin on a cookie sheet and tray.

    Step 1. Start by pressing your leaves to flatten them. Use some wax paper to protect the leaves and add some weight to the top of a sheet pan, books, or whatever you have on hand. I used the pumpkin for weight but food cans or anything heavy would work.

    Newsletter Signup
    Join Our Newsletter List!

    Be the first to receive new posts and get access to our Subscribers Only Page.

    Dark leaves on a tray that have been pressed.

    This will make the leaves easier to work with.

    Back of leaf painted with mod podge.

    Step 2. Next coat the back of a leaf with Mod Podge using a sponge brush.

    Dark leaves covering blemish on pumpkin with mod podge.

    Step 3. Place the leaf on the pumpkin. Start with some of the larger leaves and overlap them as you cover the area.

    Side of pumpkin being covered with dark leaves.

    Step 4. Continue around the bottom of the pumpkin covering as much as you like.

    Smaller dark leaves covering the top of a pumpkin around the stem.

    Step 5. Add some leaves to the top of the pumpkin too if you like in the same manner.

    Layer of mod podge on top of leaves on the pumpkin to seal.

    Step 6. Once you have your leaves in place let them dry a little (about 20-30 minutes.) Then completely coat the top of the leaves with more Mod Podge.

    White pumpkin decorated with leaves on a buffet next to a candle.

    Step 7. Once the glue dries completely set it anywhere you'd like. Don't you think it would make a beautiful fall centerpiece?

    White pumpkin decorated with leaves on a buffet flanked with two candles on each side.

    For now, I have it on my dining buffet with some candles.

    This easy DIY project is one that you could do with kids but is interesting enough for adults. So invite some family and/or friends over and make it an afternoon of fall crafting fun and great conversation.

    Patti signature

    More Fun Pumpkin Crafts

    • Alcohol Ink Pumpkins
    • Floral Pumpkin Wreath
    • Felted Pumpkins
    • Large Paper Heirloom Pumpkins
    Mod podge pumpkin with black garden leaves.
    Print

    Decorating Pumpkins with Leaves

    Use leaves from the garden or collected in the fall to create a beautiful decorated pumpkin with mod podge for a unique fall look.
    Prep Time1 hour hr
    Active Time1 hour hr
    Total Time2 hours hrs
    Course: DIY Projects
    Yield: 1
    Author: Patti Estep
    Cost: $10

    Equipment

    • Sponge brush

    Materials

    • 1 white pumpkin
    • leaves from the garden or collected fall leaves
    • mod podge
    • wax paper

    Instructions

    • Clean your pumpkin
    • Press leaves on a hard surface covered with wax paper. Place a flat object or pan on top and weigh it down with cans or anything heavy.
    • Start covering the pumpkin by spreading mod podge on the backs of the leaves and placing them along the bottom of the pumpkin all around.
    • Make a ring of additional leaves around the stem.
    • Allow the leaves to set up for a little while maybe 20-30 minutes.
    • Then coat the entire leaf area with additional mod podge to seal and protect.

    Notes

    The leaves used here are from Ninebark 'Diablo', Weigela 'Wine and Roses' shrubs. However, you can use any leaves you like including colorful fall leaves you've collected.
    Tried this project?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram
    Pretty white pumpkin decorated with dark purple almost black leaves at the top and bottom.
    « Easy Cream of Crab Soup
    DIY Fabric Owls Pattern »

    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Partial view of a white pumpkin decoupaged with dark leaves around the stem and base of the pumpkin.
    The top of a white pumpkin decorated with a ring of dark purple leaves over the side view of the same with leaves also on the bottom.
    Patti Estep Profile Picture

    Hi!

    I'm Patti

    Join me to create lots of fun DIY projects, including crafts, gardening, home decor, and tasty recipes

    More about me

    Popular Posts

    • Baked zucchini bite on a slated tray with a bowl of horseradish sauce.
      Make Tasty Zucchini Bites in Under an Hour
    • Three tin cans in descending sizes hanging from twine.
      DIY Wind Chimes with Tin Cans
    • Blue jean crossover bag
      DIY Crossbody Bag from Jeans
    • Ham barbecue sandwich on plate
      Chipped Ham Barbecue Sandwiches - A Pittsburgh Favorite
    • Echievera planter
      What to do With a Stretched Succulent
    • Make a Mason Jar Oil Candle Lamp with botanicals and essential oils. ~ gardenmatter.com
      DIY Oil Candle - Gifts for the Holidays

    Footer

    Partial view of a white pumpkin decoupaged with dark leaves around the stem and base of the pumpkin.
    The top of a white pumpkin decorated with a ring of dark purple leaves over the side view of the same with leaves also on the bottom.

    ^ back to top

    About
    Contact
    Privacy Policy
    Disclosure Policy

    Sign Up Here!
    for our
    newsletter &
    special offers

    Follow Me

    facebook
    Pinterest
    instagram

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. i.e. as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Hearth and Vine

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required