Are you like me and look for inexpensive ways to decorate for Fall? I love creating vignettes with an assortment of real and faux pumpkins in different textures and colors. Because I prefer working with a small budget decorating for the season I have to get creative. Today I'm sharing 3 budget-friendly DIY Fall pumpkin ideas using burlap, chalk and metallic paint, and tree branches from the backyard.

3 Budget-Friendly DIY Fall Pumpkin Ideas

All three of these faux pumpkin ideas are easy to do and we'll start the easiest, painting plastic pumpkins.

Chalk Painted Pumpkins And Gourds

It's so easy to turn those ugly plastic pumpkins into beautiful Fall decor that can be customized to your Fall decor color scheme, whether traditional or untraditional.

Chalky paint has a lovely matte finish and when combined with dark wax, has gorgeous French Country charm. I share a tutorial on how to do it here in my Painted Dollar Store Pumpkins post.

Metallic Pumpkins

A really quick way to update plastic pumpkins is with spray paint. Although they don't get the matte finish like the ones painted with chalk paint, painting them metallic gives them a modern edge.

My mini pumpkins were painted with silver reflective paint so they have an almost mirror-like finish. But imagine the possibilities with metallic spray paint in bright gold, silver, copper, bronze, or even rose gold. So many possibilities!

Burlap Pumpkins

To make these on-trend pumpkins you'll need some burlap, jute twine, and tree branches from the backyard.


Instead of sharing a detailed tutorial on how to make them, I have both a video and detailed written step-by-step tutorial in my Red Ticking Fabric Pumpkins post where I used vintage kitchen cabinet knobs for the stems. The assembly for the burlap ones is exactly the same, just skip the cabinet knob stem section and hot glue a cut tree branch on top instead.

I also made Cotton Terry Knit Sweater Pumpkins and Modern Retro Fabric Pumpkins much the same way. Mixing burlap, sweater, and fabric pumpkins on a tray look so pretty. Incorporate real pumpkins and gourds into the mix too.


Here are a couple more ideas that incorporate plastic pumpkins for Fall decorating. I turned half pumpkins into an Untraditional Fall Pumpkin Door Hanger and a small half pumpkin into a 5 Minute DIY Fall Dollar Store Wreath.

But I also mixed real pumpkins into the mix by turning Mini White Pumpkin Tealight Holders along with a pumpkin patch wood table riser for the dining room table.

If you have any questions about these projects, please leave them in the comment section below or press the Contact Me button at the top of the blog to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!



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