i recently went thrifting in Palm Springs
and found some beautiful vintage china with yellow roses and gray & brown leaves.
the moment i saw them, i pictured a new version of a project that i created last fall:
last November, i painted some of my ceramic pumpkins
with floral motifs that matched my brown English Staffordshire china collection:
they were a HUGE hit on social media (thank you all!)
and even won a creative 'pumpkin decor' challenge!
last year i also painted some mini pumpkins with the Jewel Tea 'Autumn Leaf' pattern
to match my grandma's ceramic collection.
i envisioned a similar paint treatment that would match the 'new' vintage yellow rose china,
creating the perfect additions to a beautiful fall mantel or table this year.
many people get a similar effect gluing pretty paper napkins onto pumpkins. that's ok.
but i love to paint, and i'm able to replicate the design from the plate, so i do it that way.
honestly? it's not hard. and it doesn't have to be perfect.
the end result is a very elegant fall decor accent that i made myself - and that no one else has.
i LOVE that part!
but i love to paint, and i'm able to replicate the design from the plate, so i do it that way.
honestly? it's not hard. and it doesn't have to be perfect.
the end result is a very elegant fall decor accent that i made myself - and that no one else has.
i LOVE that part!
here's a close-up of one of the vintage china plates that i bought at the thrift store:
as soon as i saw those yellow roses, i was smitten!
when i photographed them here, i layered them on a larger yellow plate
and added a yellow napkin folded as a 'rose' (easy-peasy) as a prop.
while most people see roses as a 'spring' decor element,
this palette of warm yellow with toasty brown and pale gray
would be lovely in a picnic basket or tea table on a relaxing fall afternoon.
now for the painting part...
when i photographed them here, i layered them on a larger yellow plate
and added a yellow napkin folded as a 'rose' (easy-peasy) as a prop.
while most people see roses as a 'spring' decor element,
this palette of warm yellow with toasty brown and pale gray
would be lovely in a picnic basket or tea table on a relaxing fall afternoon.
now for the painting part...
i use craft paints and artist acrylics for projects like this,
and i mix my own colors to match the china.
then i paint with small brushes, adding layers of color from darkest to lightest,
in both thin washes and thicker layers. i just keep building those until i get the look i want.
(yep, sometimes i have to do a 'do-over'!)
i also don't replicate the entire design exactly as it appears on the china.
i pull elements and use them in similar ways:
and i mix my own colors to match the china.
then i paint with small brushes, adding layers of color from darkest to lightest,
in both thin washes and thicker layers. i just keep building those until i get the look i want.
(yep, sometimes i have to do a 'do-over'!)
i also don't replicate the entire design exactly as it appears on the china.
i pull elements and use them in similar ways:
the small pumpkin on the left has leaves and rose buds that form a wreath around the top.
the larger pumpkin on the right has a centered arrangement of one large open rose,
two opening buds, one tiny closed bud, and loads of leaves.
the larger pumpkin on the right has a centered arrangement of one large open rose,
two opening buds, one tiny closed bud, and loads of leaves.
i use elements that are scaled to the size of the pumpkins,
taking into account the area available for painting.
i wouldn't put that big blowsy rose bloom on the little pumpkin - it would overwhelm it.
the smaller pumpkin is actually a cheap Dollar Tree styrofoam pumpkin.
yes, the day-glow orange ones!
i paint them with KILZ primer then satin finish white paint, for a nice smooth opaque finish.
i tear the chunky styro stems off, too - they're held on by a toothpick, and come right off.
then i find other things to use as stems...
in this case, i took a piece of gold metallic tissue paper, as it matched the gold rim of the plates,
folded it in quarters, then twisted it to look 'woody' -
then glued it to the top of the pumpkin after i painted it.
taking into account the area available for painting.
i wouldn't put that big blowsy rose bloom on the little pumpkin - it would overwhelm it.
the smaller pumpkin is actually a cheap Dollar Tree styrofoam pumpkin.
yes, the day-glow orange ones!
i paint them with KILZ primer then satin finish white paint, for a nice smooth opaque finish.
i tear the chunky styro stems off, too - they're held on by a toothpick, and come right off.
then i find other things to use as stems...
in this case, i took a piece of gold metallic tissue paper, as it matched the gold rim of the plates,
folded it in quarters, then twisted it to look 'woody' -
then glued it to the top of the pumpkin after i painted it.
these pretty pumpkins are perfect displayed in a nature-themed vignette
on a mantel, credenza, or table.
on a mantel, credenza, or table.
i like displaying the china with them even when it's not on a table.
accented by real leaves from my rose bushes (that were scorched brown by the 108 degree heat!),
it feels like i've brought the garden inside to enjoy a bit longer.
projects like this - and the still-popular blue and white Chinoiserie motifs on pumpkins -
prove that yes, you CAN decorate with any color you love in fall.
and summer, and spring, and winter, AND the holiday season!
you can make your own decor elements that express a popular trend YOUR way.
this year, i'm all about the optimism of yellow... and i'm using it all year long!
accented by real leaves from my rose bushes (that were scorched brown by the 108 degree heat!),
it feels like i've brought the garden inside to enjoy a bit longer.
projects like this - and the still-popular blue and white Chinoiserie motifs on pumpkins -
prove that yes, you CAN decorate with any color you love in fall.
and summer, and spring, and winter, AND the holiday season!
you can make your own decor elements that express a popular trend YOUR way.
this year, i'm all about the optimism of yellow... and i'm using it all year long!
links to previous related content:
shared online:
funky junk interiors | new upcycled projects to make #593
thank you for featuring my floral painted pumpkins, Miss Donna!
creatively beth | creative crafts linky party #58
thank you for choosing my painted pumpkins as your feature, Miss Ann!
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My goodness. I really thought this was done with decoupage but you've fooled me again! You're a wonderful artist Deb! I really enjoy watching these dish pumpkins come to life! Yup, you invented dish pumpkins too so you can also add this one to the list.
ReplyDeleteLOL i'd LOVE to take credit for the idea, but i saw pumpkins painted with blue & white motifs taken from Chinoiserie last fall - and did my own 'take' on it in brown tones to match my English Staffordshire china. so it's not my original idea, even though it IS my original artwork in my style! ;)
Deletethank you so much for your continued encouragement and support, my friend. you're the best!