• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

October 18, 2011

Pumpkin Week At the Picket Fence … Corn Husk Pumpkin

013-1

Welcome to Pumpkin Week!
We are just having way too much fun being inspired by this wonderful seasonal fruit.
Wait, what? Pumpkins are actually a fruit?
Oh man! I’ve been convincing myself that eating all of that pumpkin bread was actually helping meet my dietary needs. Sheesh! Can’t a girl catch a break?
Well, I guess we will just have to come up with some pumpkin creations that won’t convert to sugar the minute they hit our blood stream!
First up, a Copper Corn Husk Pumpkin.
That’s right folks, I made something else out of Corn Husks.
Are you sick of them yet?
Well, too bad! Winking smile
I had some corn husks left over from my Corn Husk Garland which I shared with you last week and wondered what they would look like if I spray painted them.
I had leftover copper spray paint and figured it didn’t hurt to just try it out!
002

I was instantly hooked! I loved how it absorbed the color and how the metallic paint just soaked in perfectly to the texture of the corn husks.
The next step was figuring out how to attach the husks to a round foam ball.
I tried hot glue and that was a big fat FAIL so my next attempt involved using these greening pins and slowly working my way around the ball, layering the husks over each other and having the ends meet at the top.
135
Of course, this left me with a very ugly bottom!
(insert “ugly bottom” jokes here)
137
No worries though, because I just turned that puppy over and stuck it into an urn.
Bye-bye ugly foam and greening pins.
Hello lovely Copper Corn Husk Pumpkin!
030-1
The “stem” was made using a snipped off piece of silk leaves with the branch portion twisted up to resemble the stem of a pumpkin. I just hot glued it right onto the top covering up the other section of foam and greening pins. Easy peasy!
019-1
017-1
026-1
I had so much fun taking photos of my Corn Husk Pumpkin with our newest family member.
Isn’t she just beautiful? I haven’t quite decided on a name for her.
For some reasons names like Bertha and Betty keep coming to mind.
Don’t ask me why! Maybe you all could help me name my new baby.
Any suggestions?
005
She is extra special to me because I almost lost her before I even found her!
You see, my sweet hubby gave me a gift card to go buy her for my birthday…in FEBRUARY!
But then, I lost that gift card.
I KNOW!!
Awful. Sick. That was how I felt when I couldn’t find it.
I knew that I had stuck it someplace safe and apparently I’m better at keeping things safe than I realized. I tore the house apart, went through every card, every gift bag, every place I could think of.
Fast forward to last week when my sweet hubby (who never made me feel like the horrible wretch I was for losing that gift card!) moved aside some papers and books in the office.
One of those books was a Photography book he had given me to go along with the camera.
Guess what was inside the book?
Yep. There was the gift card!
I cried.
I hugged his neck.
And then I grabbed that gift card and raced out the door to go buy my sweet new little love.
The moral of this story is….don’t buy me gift cards!
Ok, scratch that.
I really do like shopping! I’ll be better next time, I promise honey!
Now, here is one last Pumpkin related picture for you to enjoy.
This one is from our family Pumpkin Patch trip!
046
This is just one of 4 trips I will have made to a Pumpkin Patch by the time you read this.
Yep. 1 family trip, 1 Birthday Party and 2 Field Trips.
That’s a lot of pumpkins folks!
But, we still have more pumpkin related fun in store for you this week.
So come back tomorrow when we will be sharing an absolutely over-the-top delicious
Pumpkin Recipe!
Thanks for joining me at the Fence today,
1553F4F30A9801A6AFB3E9C624118E7B

This post will be partying here this week:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday’s Treasures
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
DIY By Design: Fall Into Fall
No Minimalist Here: Open House Party

Home Stories A to Z Tutes and Tips Party
Kristen’s Creations: Share Your Creations Party
Common Ground: Vintage Inspiration Friday
Ask Anna: Weekend Warrior Party

28 Comments Filed Under: Crafts, Decorating, Good Ideas

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « The Legacy…
Next Post: Sticky-Bun Pumpkin Muffins »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    October 17, 2011 at 2:02 PM

    Congratulations on your new camera! You will love it. We gave my oldest daughter a Nikon last year for graduation and this year we gave our youngest a Canon. I still have a point and shoot and can’t wait to get a nice slr for myself so I won’t have to borrow my youngest daughter’s camera.
    Love the cornhusk pumpkin!

    Reply
  2. Kelly says

    October 17, 2011 at 2:06 PM

    Another great pumpkin idea! Who knew there could be so many variations to creating/decorating pumpkins? Blogland is full of great ideas. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  3. The Old Block House says

    October 17, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    I love these pumpkins. Now I’m off to check out the corn husk garland.

    Reply
  4. Marianne says

    October 17, 2011 at 2:42 PM

    Love your new camera…I actually have camera envy. This is actually on my list of things to buy one day. And love the corn husk pumpkin idea…there are just so many wonderful ideas out here in blogland.
    Marianne 🙂

    Reply
  5. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    October 17, 2011 at 2:49 PM

    Vanessa that pumpkin is so stinkin cute, LOVE IT! Girl you sure did come up with a lot of creative ways to use corn husk! Beautiful family photo and I think we have the same camera’s! Happy Monday, Martina

    Reply
  6. michelle says

    October 17, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    I love your copper pumpkin, the color is beautiful!! Oh my gosh I had to laugh reading your gift card story, I just found a GC that my hubby got me for my birthday almost a year ago for a massage! HELLO!! What was I thinking??? I am booking that baby this week! 🙂 I am glad that you found your and I love your camera, how fun!!
    The photo of your family is beautiful sweet friend. Enjoy your day!
    xoxoxo

    Reply
  7. Honey at 2805 says

    October 17, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    Your pumpkin was a stoke of genius! How cute! The family picture is just adorable!

    You will love your new camera!

    Reply
  8. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    October 17, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    Cute pumpkin and thank goodness you found the gift card. Nice camera. I am a Canon girl, but Nikons are great, too.

    Reply
  9. NanaDiana says

    October 17, 2011 at 4:06 PM

    Vanessa- I love that copper pumpkin! Great job and very clever. I am so glad you found your gift card. I hid one that I got and have not found it yet…probably my kids will discover it when I am dead and gone!;>)

    Love your new camera. She looks more like a Betty to me. I think of Bertha as being much more chunky! xo Diana ps…great family photo~

    Reply
  10. marty (A Stroll Thru Life) says

    October 17, 2011 at 4:27 PM

    The new camera is wonderful. So glad you found your gift card. I totally adore the corn husk pumpkin sprayed copper. Such a cute idea. The leaf top is perfect. I may have to borrow this. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  11. Nicole@Thrifty Decorating says

    October 17, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    I am SO glad you found that gift card!!! I absolutely LOVE my Nikon and continue to learn how to use it….enjoy! 🙂 I’m also putting your cute pumpkins on my FB page! 🙂

    Reply
  12. janet says

    October 17, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    Hey Vanessa,

    So happy you found your card. I can totally relate. Last Christmas I bought my son a $400.00 Apple Store gift card.
    He called the other day to say he was coming to pick it up(I was holding it safe for him) to use it.

    Well I could not find my ‘SAFE’ hiding place. We looked every where and I mean EVERY WHERE.

    Like you I got panicky, but finally found it in an envelope marked
    “Important stuff..do not Loose!”

    Finally I could breathe again!

    Janet xox

    PS…love your pumpkin!

    Reply
  13. Coley says

    October 17, 2011 at 5:33 PM

    Your pumpkin looks awesome, love the texture it gives.

    Reply
  14. Joi says

    October 17, 2011 at 6:18 PM

    I love your corn husk pumpkin, Vanessa! I just might have to go out and get supplies just to make it. And what a beautiful picture of your sweet family…

    Reply
  15. Debbie says

    October 17, 2011 at 7:30 PM

    I am beginning to freak out just a little. Believe it or not, I looked at my left over corn husks and decided that I wanted to cover a pumpkin too. I’m getting all Vanessafied.

    Love yours. If mine isn’t an epic failure, I shout it out.

    And the camera is making me salivate. I won’t tell the shiny red kodak, but I covet it.

    And I would call her Nikki. Not creative, but my names are usually a bit of a take off of the product.

    Reply
  16. Courtney ~ French Country Cottage says

    October 17, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    Hi girls! Darling pumpkin Vanessa and congrats on the new camera! You will love it! I am loving my Canon to pieces!

    Reply
  17. Debbie says

    October 17, 2011 at 11:29 PM

    I’m back, hours later, and I just wanted to report that my pumpkin project was an epic failure. Tossed the whole thing out and had an ice cream sandwich.

    At least it was sugar free.

    Reply
  18. Ange says

    October 17, 2011 at 11:50 PM

    Cute Pumpkin, Very cute family and oh man what a story! So glad you found the card and know you get to have fun getting to know your un-named camera better. Enjoy! And I think Betty sounds like a great camera name.

    Reply
  19. Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing says

    October 18, 2011 at 1:59 AM

    I have done the same thing, and never did find my gift card. Great camera, and great pumpkin too. You are having fun with those corn husks.

    Reply
  20. Jen @ Creating with the J's says

    October 18, 2011 at 2:35 AM

    Congrats on the camera! LOVE the corn husk pumpkin!

    Reply
  21. Myric says

    October 18, 2011 at 4:15 AM

    Congratulations for finding your giftcard! I lost mine 1 1/2 years ago and I am still looking for it! I just can’t let it go can I? Oh well. Happy for you with your new camera!
    SWEET!
    I suggest the name Nikki for Nikon 😛

    xoxo
    Myric

    Reply
  22. debbie~refreshrestyle.com says

    October 18, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    The pumpkin looks great, I only wish I could fix my ugly bottom so easily! LOL Oh and that lovely camera, how wonderful! I use a 8 mp Canon. Ok course most everyone else has the Nikon—and you know that makes me want one! Let me know how you like it or should I say love it!
    Debbie

    Reply
  23. Lori says

    October 18, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    The perfect pumpkin and the perfect place to hide/store that card.

    Reply
  24. Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage says

    October 18, 2011 at 12:55 PM

    Love your corn husk pumpkin! It has such awesome texture!

    Reply
  25. Zuni says

    October 19, 2011 at 2:35 AM

    I love the texture that resulted from spray paiting the husks! What a great idea! The pumpkin turned out great; how about a wreath too?! It may be too obvious a name for “her,” but how about Nikki? Nikki is a beautiful name, and she IS a beauty! 🙂 Enjoy her company, after you waited so long to have her!

    Reply
  26. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    October 19, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    Vanessa, thanks so much for sharing this at Wow.

    Reply
  27. Just Jaime says

    October 25, 2011 at 11:43 PM

    This looks great! Fun idea!

    Reply
  28. Dori says

    October 31, 2011 at 4:52 PM

    I like how you painted the chandeliers. They look stunning! I have about the same brassy chandelier in my dining room and was thinking to attempt painting it. The wiring is yellow, so I can’t imagine painting that. If it doesn’t match, on the other hand, it will stand out. Did you have the chandeliers rewired? Or how did you solve that problem? Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • Nostalgia is Not an Aesthetic

    Nostalgia is Not an Aesthetic
  • A New Podcast

    A New Podcast
  • Taking Decorating Thoughts Captive

    Taking Decorating Thoughts Captive
  • Kids Need Real Answers

    Kids Need Real Answers

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Making the Case for Heirlooms

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Nostalgia is Not an Aesthetic March 21, 2026
  • A New Podcast March 21, 2026
  • An Autumn Home Tour October 9, 2025
  • How to Adapt Your Traditions as Your Kids Get Older December 13, 2024
  • Christmas Home Tour 2024 December 13, 2024

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

Front door wreath….✔️ The very last Christmas dec Front door wreath….✔️

The very last Christmas decorating to be completed and one of the most important since there’s nothing I love more than welcoming people into our home this season.

I bought the wreath for $15 from a wonderful local vendor, reused my favorite bells and added a velvet bow in the color I’m carrying throughout the house this year.

Do you buy a fresh wreath each year or do you use a faux wreath on your front door? 

#frontdoorwreath #christmaswreath #christmasporch
The first day of December and the first Sunday of The first day of December and the first Sunday of advent. As we enter into a month that can be filled with stress, anxiety, worry and even sadness, let us turn our hearts towards the ONE who came as the ultimate, undeserved gift. Because it’s all about Him. 

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.” (Corrie Ten Boom)
“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours dear friends! 🍂
Its that time of year again. I share this recipe e Its that time of year again. I share this recipe every November because it’s JUST.THAT.GOOD! 

And I have a confession ...I’d rather have cranberry sauce smothering the turkey on my plate than gravy any day!! And this, this right here? Well it’s the best (and easiest!) cranberry sauce ever!! I eat on crackers and sandwiches and sometimes just by the spoonful. It’s so yummy! And I’m just so very thankful for all of you that I’m going to leave the recipe right here instead of making you go to the blog to get it. I promise you won’t regret having this on your Thanksgiving menu but be warned...you may find yourself up in the middle of the night sneaking some helpings of this deliciousness. Or maybe that’s just me!

Ingredients:
2 pounds fresh or frozen cranberries
2 oranges
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup white wine.

Instructions:
Wash and pick over berries, removing any that are soft. Peel and dice oranges removing any seeds. Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a full boil. Reduce heat and continue cooking until cranberries pop open and mixture is thickening.
For best flavor, prepare and let stand for several days before using.

Gobble, gobble!! 🦃
It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be ma It’s that time of year again!! Chex Mix will be made on repeat for the next month and I’ve figured out the secret to getting the BEST flavor.

Want to know what it is? It’s all about being EXTRA! 

Take the base recipe up a notch by using a full stick of butter, extra tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and an extra 1/2 tablespoon of Lawry’s seasoning salt.

I guarantee you’ll never go back!

You’re welcome. 😉🎄

#chexmix #chexmixupgrade
Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the w Happy Friday!! I limped my way to the end of the week and I’m feeling especially grateful for the twinkling lights around my home which give me so much joy.

The great debate on social media over whether or not Christmas decorations should appear before Thanksgiving is one I just let roll on past me. Because I am so unbelievably thankful for this life, my family, my friends, this country, this home and most of all my Savior. 

Having my home all ready to welcome the next sacred season doesn’t take away one iota from my ability to express gratitude on the official day set aside each year where we do that collectively.

And when the last slice of turkey has been eaten and all of the leftovers put away, I’ll be over here ready to be fully present in the month of December and soak up every bit of it! 🦃🎄
IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures “ IKEA vs Heirlooms: Why we need family treasures

“My children have grown up seeing antique books on a coffee table, vintage toys in their bedrooms and even pieces of furniture that were all passed down from one generation to the next. But as my nest gets closer and closer to being empty, I’m keenly aware of the fact that many of these cherished items might not be as welcome in the homes of future generations.”

*Read the rest over at @cleartruthmedia*
All of my CTM articles are saved in my highlights
Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked Not too long ago, someone told me that they liked it better when I just talked about decorating and didn’t mention anything else. This person preferred me to keep any opinions or convictions to myself and just focus only on content about home decor, crafts and recipes. Aside from the fact that I’m always astonished that people feel so free to say things like that, I do agree that it would be a lot easier and more palatable if I didn’t talk about things like a Biblical Worldview, apologetics and the nature of reality itself. For one thing, Instagram wouldn’t throttle my account with its algorithms that are skewed to diminish voices like mine. It would be much easier to be so tethered to this app that I change everything I post to fit into its preferred framework. I would be asked to be part of influencer groups and activities like I was years ago. But I’m not that person anymore. Yes, the core of this community will always be an emphasis on homemaking which will include decorating and recipes but I can’t separate that from the core of who I am as a follower of Jesus Christ.

It would be so much easier for me to just show you the latest Amazon products I’ve bought and tell you to “comment” to get the links. But I’m not called to take the easy path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

I truly believe that so many have been lulled into thinking that the narrow gate wasn’t really all that narrow. But, it’s never been more obvious that it really is. And every day I seek to stay on that very narrow way.  More than ever before, I believe that our world needs to know that there is objective truth and a solid foundation to stand upon as we navigate our lives. My role as a homemaker is predicated on that foundation and everything else flows out of it. Talking about these things isn’t going to get me lots of views here. 

But I live for an audience of ONE.
The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was The first time we hosted my in-laws for a meal was in 1998. I was a new bride and eager to impress them. It did not go well. Let’s just say there was a bit of a garbage disposal mishap. 

It’s been over 25 years since then and I’ve learned so much about what really matters when it comes to hosting and caring for my family well during the holiday season. 

The peace we long for in our home begins with our hearts. If you want your home to feel more peaceful during the upcoming holiday season, I have five things to consider that will make that not only possible but predictable.

✨ Read the full article over at @club31women ✨

#club31women #wearethehomemakers
Here, in my little corner of social media, you won Here, in my little corner of social media, you won’t find a lot of unboxing of brand new items for Christmas. 

What I’m unboxing are the decorations in the attic that  I’ve had for years and figuring out how to give them a fresh look. I added new lights to an old pre-lit tree that no longer worked because I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I’m putting out a different set of mugs at the hot cocoa station and the advent candles are arranged with greenery from outside.

As our feeds are filled with so.much.stuff, I want to offer you a reprieve. A place where you will find less emphasis on what’s happening in our homes and more on what’s happening in our hearts.

More than ever before, I can see just how much people are needing the hope found in Christ and that will always be the focus here. 

So, while you may not see me unpacking a massive, new tree or telling you to “comment for the link”, what you will see is encouragement to turn our hearts to what matters the most and let that reflect in every corner of our homes this season and all year long. 🌲

#wearethehomemakers #homemaking #homemakerschristmas #club31women
Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2026 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2026 At The Picket Fence