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Fall Craft Ideas: DIY Gold Leaf Pumpkins

This post was originally published October 2019 and updated as of September 2022.

Follow this tutorial to add some glamour to your fall decor! Using Martha Stewart gilding supplies, these DIY gold leaf pumpkins come together super easily! 

Fall Craft Ideas: DIY Gold Leaf Pumpkins

This week in Utah the temperatures are gonna drop down to the 30’s for a couple of days and that is waaaay to winter-adjacent for me. As a result, I am going all in on squeezing every tiny drop out of fall with winter looming on the horizon. So, we’ve got plans to go hard on all things pumpkin — visit a patch, bake up a storm, and most importantly, decorate them!

Every year we are on the hunt for something a little different that we can do with pumpkins to jazz them up in our fall decor and this gilded gold leaf detail gives some plain pumpkins a shiny makeover! Along with gold leaf, we are also using our go-to craft paint, FolkArt Acrylic Paint to give them a base of rich, fall color to make the gold really stand out.

Let’s make some pretty pumpkins!

Supplies Needed to Make DIY Gold Leaf Pumpkins 

Plain Pumpkins
FolkArt Acrylic Paint
FolkArt Paint Brushes
Martha Stewart Gilding Adhesive
Martha Stewart Decoupage Gilding Sheets-Gold

How do you make gold leaf pumpkins?

Step 1: Using a paint brush, paint pumpkins with FolkArt Acrylic Paint. Apply two coats. Let dry completely between each coat.

Step 2: Use a paint brush to apply the gilding glue to the pumpkin in areas where you want the gold foil sheets to stick. For our pumpkins we wanted a more abstract result so the areas we applied the glue were random.

Step 3: Let the glue turn from wet to tacky. This only takes about a minute.

Step 4: Gently place the foil sheet on the glue and rub backing to apply. The foil will stick anywhere there is glue and fall away elsewhere. Remove the backing and use fingers to press any loose pieces into the glue and a dry paint brush to brush away any excess. Repeat process until pumpkin is covered in the desired amount of gold foil. If desired, spray a clear top coat sealant over the pumpkins to protect.

That’s it! Aren’t they stunning? Gilding is such an easy way to add a little luxe to your pumpkins, and with the vibrant color results you get from using FolkArt Acrylic Paint, they are sure to add a stunning touch of fall to your home!

Can’t get enough gold? To see even more of these beauties and get even more tips, you can watch our segment on gold foiling on Studio 5 TV right here!

How are you decorating your pumpkins this year? I’d love to hear! And for more ideas for using FolkArt Acrylic Paint, be sure to follow Plaid Crafts on FacebookInstagramPinterest, and via Email!

ox. Liz


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