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9.27.2022

NEW! faux painted bamboo pumpkins

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my penchant for tropical decor and tiki culture inspired this new pumpkin project...

our So Cal home is filled with tikis and bamboo and leafy palm fabrics,
because during the pandemic lockdown we had to cancel our trip to Hawaii
and decided to just make HOME feel as much like Hawaii as we could.
and we love it!
so, i like to create seasonal decor for us that coordinates with that theme.
pumpkins that look like they are made from bamboo are a perfect fit!

continue reading for my paint tutorial...

this fall, i am giving ALL of the pumpkins i already have a complete makeover. why?
i'd rather re-use/re-purpose what i have than buy more things to store in the garage!

for this project, i started with two ceramic pumpkins that previously looked like this:
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those are the faux Kintsugi painted pumpkins that i created last fall.
 love the elegance of them! (post is linked below)

applying a new faux paint finish isn't hard... but it does take quite a few steps!
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after painting the ceramic pumpkins with a light tan flat paint,
mix some dark brown paint with a bit of water to make a thin wash of color.
apply this color in the grooves of the pumpkin, using a flat brush.

add more dark brown paint to the mix to thicken it,
and use a small thin brush to apply a thin line of dark brown in the grooves - 
right over the previous thin wash of paint.
the combination of the thin wash and the darker line give some dimension to the sections.

now we'll move on to the details...

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i used this image from a Google search as a reference while adding the bamboo details.

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here you can see a close up of the final look.
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mix a thin wash of golden yellow paint and water (you can also use clear paint and make a glaze),
then use a large flat brush to apply it lightly on each 'rib' of the pumpkin.

next, add horizontal lines randomly on the 'ribs', using the same method as the vertical lines:
first a wash of thin brown, then a thicker brown line.
(and if the wash drips a bit, no worries!)

dip a short-bristled brush into the thicker dark brown paint,
and dab some off on a paper towel (just like stenciling)
then tap the brush gently onto the pumpkin ribs near the horizontal lines.

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add some 'knots' (which is where the bamboo branches grow on the stalks) with dark brown paint,
and extend some long 'v' shapes from some of the knots, using the same paint.

take some of the base coat (light tan) and add a tiny bit of water to it to make a wash.
use a small sharp-tip brush to add a highlight in this color
to the tops of the horizontal lines and to the knots.

mix water into the dark brown paint again, with a drop of warm yellow paint to make a thin wash.
use a large flat brush to pick up some of the paint wash, then drag it lightly across each rib -
this creates a light 'wood grain' texture, which adds to the realistic look.

after the pumpkins were painted and dried, i painted the stems.
it's just easier to work when there's a 'handle' to use!

as a final step, i sprayed the pumpkins with a light coat of clear gloss paint.
bamboo has a sheen to it - but it's not SHINY, so i went easy on the paint spray.

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that warm yellow glaze/wash step really adds dimension to the finish -
if i had painted the pumpkins that color with paint, they wouldn't look as realistic.
( i actually painted a THIRD pumpkin, one from my stash.
it was kind of my 'test pumpkin' as i was working through the steps of this project.)

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photographed in our backyard barefoot tiki bar,
they look right at home!
they pair well with the faux sand painted pumpkins that i made this year, too ;) 

(i have an idea about something i might add to these guys for October...
stay tuned to see if it works out!)


related content:

faux bamboo painted mirror frame

faux kintsugi painted pumpkins 

faux painted 'sand' pumpkins

diy backyard tiki bar


shared online:

funky junk interiors | new upcycled ideas #646
thank you for including my project in your feature, Miss Donna!

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2 comments:

  1. Goodness... never have I ever wanted to be in Maui for Halloween more than right now. haha This bamboo effect on these pumpkins are incredible, Deb!

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    Replies
    1. thank you so much, Donna - just wait until you see what's coming, my friend! ;) i wish you a happy MAHALOween!

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