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    Home » DIY Projects

    Pumpkin Topiary - Large Heirloom Pumpkins Made Easy with Paper Mache

    by Patti Estep · Sep 12, 2018

    Jump to How-to Card

    Learn how to make a large heirloom pumpkin topiary with simple inexpensive materials, to create a festive fall look.

    Decorated pumpkin topiary

    I'm so excited to be part of the Fall Ideas Tour hosted by Angie of Postcards From The Ridge. She has organized 26 talented bloggers for this entire week to share their fall decor, projects, and recipes. You can find the entire list at the bottom of this post.

    If you're stopping over from one of the other fallalicious posts, Welcome! I'm glad you are here.

    Fall ideas blog hop

    I love the look of heirloom pumpkins or Cinderella pumpkins with their squatty shapes and muted colors. I thought a stack on both sides of my front door would look really great, but they are so pricey and much too heavy to achieve the look I wanted.

    So I decided to create some using old-fashioned paper mache.

    Beach ball taped into pumpkin shape

    How to Make a Pumpkin Topiary

    The largest pumpkins were made with beach balls I picked up at Target for $1 each. 

    Just blow them up a little and then use some masking tape to help create the shape you want.

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    Balloon with rubber bands

    You can use a balloon for the top pumpkin and place rubber bands around it to create folds and ridges.

    Paper mache on beach ball

    Cover the base pumpkins with strips of newspaper ala paper mache. I used white glue and water instead of the traditional flour and water paper mache method. Why? Well, the pumpkin topiary will be sitting on my front porch, so I thought there would be less likelihood of mold issues. Also, I think they will hold up better with white glue.

    Three paper mache pumpkin topiary

    Once the newspaper dried I painted the paper mache pumpkins with chalk-like and craft paints in heirloom pumpkin colors. 

    I thought about spraying them with polyurethane to protect them from rain, but since that area is covered I decided against it.

    Top pumpkin on topiary with stem

    Oh yeah, the stem on the little pumpkin is simply made with some newspaper rolled up and taped on top before painting. You can also add a little tendril by wrapping a green grapevine wire around a pencil and pinching it onto the stem.

    Pumpkin topiary on dowel rod

    Use a dowel rod through the middle of each pumpkin to hold them all together.

    Pumpkin topiary on left side of porch

    DIY Pumpkin Topiary

    The dowel rods were placed into the same pots that my flower pot trellises were in all summer. If you don't already have a pot filled with soil you could use styrofoam to hold the dowel rod in place.

    But first I placed a grapevine wreath with some dried hydrangea for a little texture and height. 

    The whole look was complete with a little faux vine and some pots of pretty fall plants at the base.

    Front porch fall decor with pumpkin topiary

    My front entrance is almost ready for fall. The fabric flower wreath from a few weeks ago looks great with the pumpkin topiary and fall Mums. However, I really feel like the door frame needs a garland. Maybe I can go out and forage some bittersweet vine. What do you think?

    Patti signature

    P.S. You may also like this similar Cinderella Fabric Pumpkin Topiary craft or these fun felted Dryer Ball Pumpkins. You can find them and much more on my DIY Projects page.

    Click Here to Save to Pinterest!

    Heirloom Pumpkin Topiary

    Fall Ideas Tour

    Monday - Fall Mantel Decor Ideas

    fall mantel decorating ideas
     Postcards from the Ridge / Worthing Court / 2 Bees in a Pod / Virginia Sweet Pea / Domestically Speaking

    Tuesday - Fall Tablescape Ideas

    fall table decorating ideas
     DIY Beautify / Hunt & Host / Chatfield Court / Far Above Rubies / I Should be Mopping the Floor

    Wednesday - Fall DIY Projects

    fall diy decor projects
    Daily Dose of Style / Atta Girl Says / Hearth & Vine / Stone Gable / Anderson + Grant

    Thursday - Fall Recipes

    fall recipes
     Petticoat Junktion / Mom 4 Real / Nourish & Nestle / Foodie Chicks Rule / The How to Home
     

    Friday - Fall Porch Decor Ideas

    Saw Nail & Paint / Dukes & Duchesses / Sand Dollar Lane / Cottage at the Crossroads / Vin'Yet Etc
    Three paper mache pumpkin topiary
    Print

    Pumpkin Topiary - Large Heirloom Pumpkins Made Easy with Paper Mache

    Create the look of heirloom pumpkins or Cinderella pumpkins for a fraction of the cost with paper mache. It's a fun and simple project and they look so real!
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Active Time30 minutes mins
    Additional Time20 minutes mins
    Total Time1 hour hr 20 minutes mins
    Course: Fall Decor
    Yield: 1 Pumpkin Topiary
    Author: Patti Estep
    Cost: $10-$15

    Equipment

    • Elmer's Liquid School Glue, White, Washable, 32 Ounces - Great for Making Slime

    Materials

    • Beach Balls
    • Balloons
    • Masking Tape
    • Rubber Bands
    • Newspaper
    • White Glue
    • Water

    Instructions

    • Use beach balls for the large pumpkins.
    • Blow them up a little and use masking tape to help create the shape you want.
    • Use a balloon for the top pumpkin and place rubber bands around it to create folds and ridges.
    • Cover the base pumpkins with strips of newspaper.
    • Cover with a mixture of white glue and water. Let dry.
    • Paint the paper mache pumpkins with chalk-like and craft paints in heirloom pumpkin colors. 
    • Use a dowel rod through the middle of each pumpkin to hold them all together.
    Tried this project?Tag @hearthnvine on Instagram
     
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    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

    Comments

    1. Karen

      September 17, 2020 at 3:32 pm

      How did you put the dowel through each of the pumpkins? If you used beach balls, I can't imagine you could just push them down through the middler. Did you make holes in the tops and bottoms of the "pumpkins" first to shove the dowel through? These are super cute and I'd love to try making them!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 17, 2020 at 3:38 pm

        Karen, I'm so glad to hear that you like this project. These are inflatable beach balls and are much like a balloon. Once the newspaper has dried you can pop the beach ball inside and maneuver the dowel through the pumpkin.

        Reply
    2. Leanna

      September 20, 2018 at 1:40 am

      These are absolutely beautiful. A gorgeous display for those of us on budgets. I can't pin this fast enough. I love it.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 21, 2018 at 7:45 am

        Thanks Leanna. They were fun to make.

        Reply
    3. Laurie @ Vinyet Etc

      September 17, 2018 at 3:50 pm

      How cool, what a clever idea! I love that you can create a symmetrical look without going crazy trying to hunt for the perfect pumpkins! and no worries about getting rid of all the pumpkins after Fall is long gone AND so pretty, well done!

      Reply
    4. Angie @ Postcards from the Ridge

      September 17, 2018 at 7:53 am

      These are so pretty! I love the rustic look of them. I would have never thought to do this! Thanks for sharing such a creative idea and for joining the tour this year.

      Reply
    5. Mary Beth

      September 16, 2018 at 8:11 pm

      You are so creative! I love these. The colors and textures are gorgeous.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 17, 2018 at 6:44 am

        Thanks Mary Beth.

        Reply
    6. Nancy @ Foodie Chicks Rule

      September 14, 2018 at 8:16 pm

      Now, that is about the most creative thing ever! Love it! xo

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 15, 2018 at 7:44 am

        Thanks Nancy. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Susan

      September 14, 2018 at 1:09 pm

      Your pumpkins are adorable! I have always wanted to try paper mache'. Thanks for inspiring me!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 15, 2018 at 7:44 am

        I'm so glad you like them Susan.

        Reply
    8. Lynn B Spencer

      September 13, 2018 at 8:19 pm

      Patti...I knew that whatever project you did I would LOVE! And you didn't disappoint. Those paper mache pumpkins are gorgeous...truly prettier than the real thing. Very 'artsy' and fun....espeically that turquoise/blue one!

      Thanks for another brilliant idea my friend.

      Hugs, Lynn

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 14, 2018 at 6:36 am

        Lynn, you are too kind. I'm glad you like the pumpkin topiary. They ended up taking way longer to make than I thought. Luckily they turned out pretty good in the end.

        Reply
    9. Maryann

      September 13, 2018 at 4:34 pm

      What a fun project! They turned out adorable.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 14, 2018 at 6:34 am

        Thanks Maryann. So much fun and inspiration on this tour. I was happy to be part of it.

        Reply
    10. Leen Curinga

      September 13, 2018 at 4:01 pm

      Patti, your topiaries are so cute and clever! They look perfect on your cute Fall porch 🙂

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 14, 2018 at 6:33 am

        Thanks Leen. I still feel like it needs something around the door. Maybe a pine cone garland.

        Reply
    11. Pamela

      September 13, 2018 at 11:25 am

      These turned out so cute, I love them. Now I need to paint them. 🙂

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 13, 2018 at 1:37 pm

        Thanks Pamela. Can't wait to see your painting!!

        Reply
    12. Vicki and Jenn 2 Bees in a Pod

      September 13, 2018 at 9:32 am

      You are so smart and creative! We all know how expensive these large pumpkins are and you have created a brilliant solution! Beautiful too!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 13, 2018 at 1:38 pm

        Thanks Vicki and Jenn. I really appreciate it. 🙂

        Reply
    13. Kim Jones

      September 12, 2018 at 11:49 am

      this is a genius idea! I just love how you were able to make large pumpkins so inexpensively! gorgeous!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 12, 2018 at 2:17 pm

        Thanks Kim. Yeah, I just couldn't justify spending a ton of money on pumpkins that would eventually rot. Besides, I would have to figure a way to keep them from toppling over which would be a challenge.

        Reply
    14. Cindy

      September 12, 2018 at 11:35 am

      This is the cleverest idea I've seen all year! Love the pumpkins!!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 12, 2018 at 2:14 pm

        Thanks Cindy. ♥

        Reply
    15. Kristi Dominguez

      September 12, 2018 at 11:17 am

      This is just SO clever!! I'm seriously wanting to make them for my own porch now...adorable!!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 12, 2018 at 2:15 pm

        Thanks Kristi!

        Reply
    16. Randi

      September 12, 2018 at 10:33 am

      The topiary is gorgeous! I love the paper mache pumpkins and the colors you chose!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 12, 2018 at 2:15 pm

        Thanks Randi. I think the blue was the hardest and I still feel like it's a little too dark but they still turned out okay.

        Reply
    17. Patti

      September 12, 2018 at 9:36 am

      Very nice! I have been thinking about making paper mache pumpkins, thanks for posting your tutorial. And yes, absolutely do a bittersweet garland!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 12, 2018 at 9:43 am

        Thanks Patti. I know of one spot that I have found bittersweet in the past but it's a little bit of a drive. Might have to go for it anyway. I just love that stuff.

        Reply
    18. Janie

      September 12, 2018 at 9:19 am

      Patti, what a great craft idea for your front porch. I love the large heirloom pumpkins but the cost always stops me. This is an economical way to make them and they look awesome.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 12, 2018 at 9:22 am

        Thank you Janie. I agree the cost is always so high and if you want large ones even higher. Also, large pumpkins are so heavy and I have no idea if I could stack them and keep them stable, so this worked out well for me.

        Reply
    19. Paula

      September 12, 2018 at 7:45 am

      What a clever project, Patti! I never would have thought to make a paper mache pumpkin. I absolutely love this idea and the colors that you used to paint them are fall perfection!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 12, 2018 at 8:42 am

        Thanks Paula. It took longer than I anticipated especially since there were two of each, but I like the way they turned out.

        Reply
    20. Carole West

      September 12, 2018 at 7:42 am

      Patti this is brilliant! Every little detail is perfect and love how you presented such an inviting space for fall. It's moments like this when I miss space. Love everything about this and the color pallet is perfect.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        September 12, 2018 at 8:41 am

        Thanks Carole. You still have lots of wide open spaces to work with and I know it will be gorgeous whatever you do.

        Reply

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    I'm Patti

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

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