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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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October 12, 2011

A Tale of 3 Pumpkins … Pumpkin Two: Faux Nailheads

I’m on a mission to beautify cheap foam pumpkins! Inside every garishly orange pumpkin is a lovely little gourd just waiting to emerge.  This is the tale of 3 Pumpkins and their amazing transformations! Up first I showed you how to make a Book Page Pumpkin.  I also made a Monogrammed Pumpkin early in the season, if you want to check that out as well!
Next I want introduce you to the Faux Nailhead Pumpkin.
nailhead-pumpkin-1
Aren’t they so stylish! While the Book Page Pumpkin was sweet and vintage, this pumpkin is a little more glamorous and sophisticated.  Now I am as obsessed as the next person with nailhead trim. BUT I was not going to pay $2.00 for 10 nailheads only to be placed on a a Dollar Tree pumpkin! That would have been $14.00 for the amount of nailheads I needed! Um…no. 
nailhead-pumpkin-5
I needed to find a cheap alternative.  Enter the humble thumbtack! First can I say how difficult it was to find just plain ole’ cheap thumbtacks?! I finally located them deep within the office supply aisle at Wal-Mart hiding as if they were ashamed behind all of the new fancy schmancy thumbtacks they make now.  I found a pack of 70 for .78!
Here’s a quick step by step tutorial on how to make your own Faux Nailhead Pumpkin!
Supplies:
inexpensive foam pumpkins (I get mine from Dollar Tree)
Primer
Paint color of your choice (I used a soft blue)
Pack of cheap plain white thumbtacks
Copper or Espresso Brown Metallic paint
Pearl Metallic Paint
2-Foam brush
Small paint brush
2011 10 021
Step 1: Prime your pumpkin lightly using one of the foam brushes.

Step 2. Paint your pumpkin with color of choice using foam brush.  Allow to dry completely.

Step 3: Using dark metallic color of choice and a tiny paint brush Paint 1 of the two sets of thumbtacks.  I found it helped to dab the paint on working to avoid getting to much on the cardboard so they wouldn’t be “stuck” on it when dry.  You might find you need to add a second coat for full coverage of the thumbtack.  Allow tacks to dry completely.
Step 4: Paint the second set of tacks half with the brown metallic paint and half with the pearl metallic paint following steps above.  Allow them to dry completely.  While you have paint out, use the small brush to paint the stems of your pumpkin with the dark metallic paint.
Nailhead Pumpkin Option 1:

nailhead-pumpkin-6
using the line on the along the middle of the pumpkin (from the pumpkin mold) evenly space your nailheads around the perimeter pushing them into the foam. 
Nailhead Pumpkin Option 2:

nailhead-pumpkin-4
For option two, place the two colors of nailheads in a random pattern over the surface of the pumpkin by pushing them into the foam.
nailhead-pumpkin-3
And that’s it! A cheap and easy faux nailhead pumpkin!
nailhead-pumpkin-5
What do you think of my faux nailhead pumpkins? I just love how they turned out!
Stay tuned for Pumpkin Number Three and thanks for joining me and my glam pumpkins…At The Picket Fence!
And don’t forget all week we have a $30 Pottery Barn gift card giveaway going on over on our Facebook Page to celebrate our 1,000+ Facebook friends! Be sure to head over and “like” our page and enter the giveaway! Just scroll down the wall and comment on the giveaway post. That’s it!
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This post is partying at:
Home Stories A2Z

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
Savvy Seasons: Autumn Arrives Party

41 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Crafts, Decorating, Good Ideas, Holidays, Tutorials

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debra @ Common Ground says

    October 11, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    LOVE this idea, very smart using the tacks, and even painting them!! xoxo

    Reply
  2. Michele Smith says

    October 11, 2011 at 4:38 PM

    How cute are those! I love how you used tacks.

    Reply
  3. Myric says

    October 11, 2011 at 5:30 PM

    wonderful idea! thanks for sharing

    Reply
  4. Marilyn says

    October 11, 2011 at 6:22 PM

    Especially like these because they are CUTE and NOT orange! Same with the paper pages! Looking forward to #3.♥♫

    Reply
  5. Savvy Seasons says

    October 11, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    Those faux nailhead pumpkins are adorable! You are so creative. And, that is my kind of project, love it! Thanks for sharing! XO ~Liz

    Reply
  6. Honey at 2805 says

    October 11, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    Great idea! You are becoming a crafting genius! Hugs!

    Reply
  7. Kim @ Savvy Southern Style says

    October 11, 2011 at 7:14 PM

    Cute pumpkins and how smart using tacks. I painted some plastic pumpkins and gourds with chalk paint and some metallics. Yours are looking mighty fine. Thanks in advance for joining the party.

    Reply
  8. Le-Ann says

    October 11, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    ooh, so pretty! I may have to do this using a soft grey green. 🙂

    Reply
  9. Tanya@takesix says

    October 11, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    I always thought painting pumpkins was smart…but painting thumbtacks!! Girl you are amazing with this idea!! So cute!

    Reply
  10. Karen says

    October 11, 2011 at 8:23 PM

    what a terrific idea….I wonder if you had used a bronze nail polish on the tacks….if the polish would have stuck…..I’m sure it costs more, but then I have a few dozen bottles sitting around drying up…

    Reply
  11. Debbiedoo's blogging and blabbing says

    October 11, 2011 at 8:46 PM

    Those are adorable, and very clever of you to think of using the tacks! Love the color, I use that craft color often.

    Reply
  12. Leslie says

    October 11, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    EEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeee!! I lurve them! Adorumble!
    I have some white thumbtacks in my desk drawer in case you need some next time 😉

    Reply
  13. Kelly says

    October 11, 2011 at 9:15 PM

    I love this! I would’ve never thought to do that. I love the one with the scattered thumbtacks the best. It’s all polka-dotted.

    Reply
  14. ℳartina @ Northern Nesting says

    October 11, 2011 at 10:23 PM

    OMG Heather I love them both!! Martina

    Reply
  15. Lori says

    October 11, 2011 at 11:37 PM

    Fun, I just may have to go back for more!

    Reply
  16. Pamela says

    October 11, 2011 at 11:37 PM

    What a cute and fun idea!

    Reply
  17. Debbie says

    October 12, 2011 at 12:35 AM

    Yet another smashing idea! And yet again, I went to DT to discover not a pumpkin in sight.

    I tell ya, somebody has gone all over my town buying up every pumpkin. I’ll just bet she’s a blogger, too. Those pesky bloggers.

    (BTW, I don’t have a facebook. I’m the only one on the planet, but I don’t.)

    Reply
  18. Sherry @ No Minimalist Here says

    October 12, 2011 at 12:46 AM

    This is such a cute (and thrifty) idea. Lov the pumpkins!
    Hugs,
    Sherry

    Reply
  19. once in a blue moon says

    October 12, 2011 at 12:55 AM

    love the copper accent~

    Reply
  20. Ginger Zuck says

    October 12, 2011 at 1:36 AM

    I LOVE them! They look so expensive and classy! You are just too creative. I went to my Dollar Tree and no pumpkins 🙁

    Reply
  21. Betsy (BB) says

    October 12, 2011 at 2:16 AM

    Your pumpkins are great! I love the color and the nail heads! Cute idea! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  22. Marla and Steve @ Always Nesting says

    October 12, 2011 at 2:23 AM

    Adorable. Love pumpkin decorating and these are awesome.

    Reply
  23. Buttercup Bliss says

    October 12, 2011 at 2:35 AM

    What an awesome idea – Southern Living had a beautiful pumpkin this month that used nailhead trim – your idea is just a pretty and so much more affordable! I love the pale blue too!!

    Reply
  24. Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads says

    October 12, 2011 at 2:46 AM

    You were so clever to use the tumbtacks and paint them. I love these pumpkins! Off to the Dollar Tree tomorrow!

    Reply
  25. Janette - The2Seasons says

    October 12, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    Your project turned out great!

    Reply
  26. Robin says

    October 12, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    You are smart, smart, smart!!!

    Love your pumpkins. They look amamzing.

    Reply
  27. Sandi @ The Primitive Skate says

    October 12, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Love those pumpkins! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  28. The French Hutch says

    October 12, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    What a great idea and I love the price! Your tutorial is great because i think I could do this. I love both designs. I love the finished product…..

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

    Reply
  29. Heidiopia says

    October 12, 2011 at 7:45 PM

    Love the glamour factor! I actually found upholstry nailheads at my WalMart in the hardware section. 30 in a pkg for $1.97– very DIY friendly!
    Thanks for sharing!
    Heidi @ Show Some Decor

    Reply
  30. Dawn says

    October 12, 2011 at 9:28 PM

    These are so cute!

    Reply
  31. Andrea @Oasis Accents says

    October 12, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    Those turned out AWESOME! I picked up my thumb tacks at Dollar Tree in boxes of 300. Granted, you would have to stick them in some cardboard. If you decide to do another project it’s worth checking $T. Hope that helps! =)

    Reply
  32. Lizabeth says

    October 13, 2011 at 3:41 AM

    Great idea! Looks wonderful! I want to try this myself!

    Reply
  33. Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR says

    October 13, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    I saw your post over on Savvy Seasons. Your pumpkins look great! They would easily rival the ones in the October issue of Southern Living!! And for the price…genius!

    Reply
  34. Brandi says

    October 13, 2011 at 7:51 PM

    Such a cute idea and so unique!

    Reply
  35. Jo's This and That says

    October 14, 2011 at 12:30 AM

    Great Idea! Thanks for sharing,Joann

    Reply
  36. Kathryn Ferguson Griffin says

    October 15, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    Cute as can be! Thanks for sharing. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

    Reply
  37. Shannon at madiganmade says

    October 18, 2011 at 10:49 AM

    Adorable! I love seeing fun ideas with pumpkins. I love the one with the simple line of tacks around the pumpkin.

    Reply
  38. One More Time says

    August 27, 2012 at 3:21 PM

    So Cute…I was just getting ready to paint my pumpkins too….I love the thumb tack idea thanks for sharing…would love it if you would share at Share It One More Time..
    https://www.onemoretimeevents.com/2012/08/features-6-share-it-one-more-time-6-and.html
    Tammy

    Reply
  39. Anonymous says

    September 6, 2012 at 8:27 PM

    Cute, cute ! BTW since you get your pumpkins at the $ store, you might want to get your thumbtacks there too. They are in a box of 300 for $1

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to make a book page pumpkin - At The Picket Fence says:
    August 14, 2013 at 6:07 PM

    […] Out Spiderweb Pumpkin Nailhead Dollar Store Pumpkin Ribbon Wrapped […]

    Reply
  2. Dollar Tree Valentine’s Day Ring of Roses Wreath - At The Picket Fence says:
    August 24, 2013 at 7:15 AM

    […] The Picket Fence. It started with my Dollar Tree Pumpkins! We came up with a Monogramed Pumpkin, A Faux Nail Head Pumpkin, A Ribbon Pumpkin and the most popular one my Book Page Pumpkin. For Christmas I came up with […]

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