Paper Parade Co.

Painted pumpkins are everywhere these days, but when I saw this colour palette from Fusion Mineral Paint's Penney & Co. Collection I just had to try out the delicious colours for a diy decor story I was working on for The Toronto Star. Turns out it was a great way to add a pop of colour to the autumn table. I love the fresh, bright palette.

A basket full of pumpkins, large and small, turned into a pretty tablescape of painted pumpkins filled with flowers, tea light holders and a cheerful welcome at the front door.



Decorate your table with painted pumpkins filled with flowers.





I hoard all the mini pumpkins. Do you?  I like to add them everywhere, whether it's perched on a bookshelf or piled in bowls on the table. Although I always opt for white, sometimes a table needs something fun and colourful. So why not paint a bunch, fill them with flowers and candles and scatter them down the centre of your autumn table?



You'll need:

• mini pumpkins
• craft paint
• paintbrush
• small glass
• sharp knife
• scissors
• a spoon for scooping out the seeds
• tealight candles
• fresh flowers

Cut out the stem of the pumpkin and scoop out the flesh and seeds. Paint the pumpkin. Let dry. Fill a small glass with water ( a shot glass works well) and fresh flowers. Place inside the pumpkin.



Add candlelight



 Pop some tea lights inside mini pumpkins to add a whimsical glow to your tabletop.

You'll need: mini pumpkins, sharp knife, acrylic paint, paintbrush, tea lights.



Carve out the stem of the pumpkin, ensuring the area carved is large enough to hold a tea light candle. Gently push the stem inside the pumpkin, deep enough for the tea light to sit. Paint the pumpkin. Let dry. Place a tea light inside the carved space.


A cheerful welcome




Stencil a friendly hello or your house number to a bunch of pumpkins and stack them in a planter or on your porch.

You'll need: large pumpkins, stick on vinyl letters/numbers, acrylic paint, paint brush, acrylic sealer coating spray (optional).






Apply vinyl stickers to a pumpkin to spell out your house number or a friendly hello. Add a coat of paint, carefully remove the vinyl stickers while paint is wet and then let the paint dry completely. Once the paint has dried, you might want to apply a coat of acrylic sealer to protect the paint from the elements.


These images were originally created for and published in a diy column I wrote for The Toronto Star.