When fall rolls around, it’s my favorite time of the year to do fun fall crafts and transform my home into a cozy haven filled with seasonal decor. One of the most charming and budget-friendly ways to do this is by decoupaging pumpkins with napkins. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll walk you through the process and share tips on creating stunning decoupage pumpkin masterpieces that will add a touch of autumnal magic to your living space. Here’s my fall craft idea on how to decoupage pumpkins using napkins.
Why Napkins? Well here in Southern New England the leaves don’t start to turn color until mid October so instead of waiting to press actual leaves onto a pumpkin, why not get a head start and choose fun fall napkins? There are so many options with napkins too! Not only can you choose napkins with fall leaves and flowers, you can choose any print! The possibilities are endless!
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Materials You’ll Need:
- Pumpkins (Real or Artificial)
- Decorative napkins with fall designs
- Mod Podge (matte or gloss, depending on your preference)
- Foam brushes
- Scissors
- Sealer (optional)
Step 1: Prepare Your Pumpkin
Begin by selecting your pumpkin. You can use real pumpkins from the pumpkin patch or artificial ones from a craft store. I went with this craft pumpkin from Michaels. If you’re using real pumpkins, clean and dry them thoroughly. For artificial pumpkins, make sure they are clean and free of dust.
Step 2: Choose Your Napkin Design
Pick out decorative napkins with fall-themed designs that you love. These can feature autumn leaves, pumpkins etc. I found these cute fall cocktail napkins that are perfect for this craft. The design you choose for your decoupage pumpkins on the napkins is completely up to you! This is where you can have some fun with it!
There’s an extra layer on the napkin that should be removed before applying to your pumpkin. Be sure to carefully separate the napkin layers and keep only the top printed layer (watch video below).
Step 3: Cut And Arrange The Napkin
You can either cut out the desired design elements from the napkin, which is what I did. You can mix and match different designs or use a single pattern for a more uniform look. Another option is to keep the napkin as a whole and lay it onto the pumpkin. I found that this option caused lots of wrinkles. There will be some wrinkles but I like how it gives it a little texture.
If you choose to use the entire napkin instead of cutting it into pieces. Cut a piece of the corner of the napkin to fit around the stem. If you can remove the stem (on an artificial pumpkin), remove it and lay your napkin right on top of the pumpkin, cut a tiny hole in the napkin where the stem will go and place your stem right through and back on. To make it easier to glue down, cut long vertical sections of the napkin that line up with the grooves on the side of the pumpkin if possible.
Step 4: Apply Mod Podge
Using a foam brush, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to a small section of the pumpkin where you want to attach your napkin cutout. I’m pretty heavy handed so of course I applied way too much 😄.
Step 5: Adhere The Napkin
Gently place the napkin cutout onto the Mod Podge-coated area. I didn’t do this but to reduce any bubbles or wrinkles you can smooth it out with a clean paintbrush working from the center outward.
Once your cutout is on, apply a thin coat of Mod Podge over it.
Continue applying Mod Podge and attaching napkin cutouts, working one section at a time until your entire pumpkin is covered or desired design has been achieved.
Instead of sealing each individual cutout, you can also attach all of the cutouts first, then go back and apply Mod Podge over the entire thing to seal it.
For added protection, you can seal your pumpkin with a clear acrylic sealer.
With a bit of creativity and some Mod Podge magic, you can easily transform ordinary pumpkins into stunning works of art that celebrate the beauty of autumn. These pumpkins will look great on my porch as one of my 5 Fall Porch Must Haves .
It’s also a great option for an Easy Thanksgiving Centerpiece Idea!
I was so impressed with the idea of how to decoupage pumpkins using napkins, that I made one for Halloween!
Look at this pumpkin with bats!
Whether you’re decorating for Halloween, Thanksgiving or just the joy of the season, decoupaging pumpkins with napkins is a delightful and rewarding DIY project. Give it a try and watch your home come alive with the warmth and charm of fall. Happy crafting!
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