This is the kind of project I love doing. I saw a pumpkin I liked and wanted to try making my own, and I already had pumpkins, paint, and floral transfers in my stash.
My inspiration was the MacKenzie-Childs Black Flower Market Medium Pumpkin. The combination of black, colorful flowers, lavender dots, and a gold stem caught my eye. It was listed at $149.95 when I looked at it.
My pumpkins were originally purchased at 40% off at Hobby Lobby. For this project, I decorated two individual pumpkins and a three-pumpkin stack. The stack came already assembled.
Black pumpkins with purple dots and flowers are a departure from my usual decorating, but I enjoyed making these. I’ve included four styling ideas below.
What I used
Pumpkins from my stash, originally purchased at Hobby Lobby at 40% off
FolkArt Multi-Surface Satin paint in Noir Pur
Craft Smart acrylic paint in Grape Taffy
IOD transfers: Catharina and Lost Garden
Rub ’n Buff in Antique Gold
Paintbrushes and a stamper for the dots, also from my stash
Scissors and the rubbing tool supplied with the transfers
A protective covering for the work surface
I’m not putting a total price on this project because I used supplies purchased earlier and only portions of the transfers and paint. Your cost will depend on what you already have.
1. Two coats of black paint
I gave the pumpkins two coats of FolkArt Multi-Surface Satin in Noir Pur, allowing the paint to dry between coats.
Work the brush into the grooves, then turn the pumpkin and check it from different angles. It’s easy to miss a pale patch along the lower edge.
2. Stamp the lavender dots
I used Craft Smart acrylic paint in Grape Taffy and the end of a foam stamper to make the dots.
Try a few impressions on scrap paper first to get a feel for the amount of paint to load. Then work around the pumpkin, leaving space for the floral transfers. The grooves make stamping a little trickier than working on a flat surface. My dots aren’t all identical, as you can see in the close-up.
3. Give the stems a gold finish
I used Rub ’n Buff in Antique Gold on the stems. A little gold on the raised details makes the shape of each stem easier to see.
Use a small amount and follow the product directions for application and buffing.
4. Add the floral transfers
I used flowers from two IOD transfer collections: Catharina and Lost Garden.
Before applying a transfer, plan where the flowers will sit with their backing still attached. Look at the pumpkin from the front and sides so the arrangement travels around the shape.
Follow the instructions supplied with your transfers. Work carefully around the grooves and check that the design has released before lifting the carrier sheet away.
A note about the stack and finish
The three-pumpkin stack was purchased already assembled, so there was no construction step. The middle pumpkin is plain black; the top and bottom have the flowers and dots.
I did not use a sealer on this project. These pumpkins are intended for indoor use only. If you use different paint or transfers, follow the finishing instructions for those products.
Four ways to style them
A collected entryway
Place the stack on a dark wooden console beneath an aged gold mirror. Add old books, a small brass dish, and a modest arrangement of autumn foliage. This is the setting closest to my usual style.
A whimsical vintage mantel
Set the two individual pumpkins across a mantel with floral artwork, burgundy foliage, and a black velvet ribbon. Try lavender battery candles to pick up the color of the dots.
A warm boho sideboard
Place one pumpkin on a woven tray with amber glass and dried flowers. A tray keeps the arrangement together and makes it easy to move when you need the surface.
An autumn dinner table
Use the two individual pumpkins with plum linens, cream dishes, and gold flatware. Pull a few colors from the transfers into a low floral arrangement, leaving room for serving dishes and conversation. Choose battery votives around the decorations.
The four styled room scenes are AI-generated inspiration based on my finished pumpkins. The project and process photographs show the pieces I made.
I could keep going with these—there are so many flowers to choose from between the two transfer collections. For now, I have two individual pumpkins and a stack ready for Halloween.
Which setting would you choose?
This is my independent DIY interpretation, inspired by MacKenzie-Childs. This project is not sponsored by or affiliated with the brand.