How to Make a Stenciled Pumpkin Centerpiece

by Liz Anderson

Want to give your Thanksgiving table a unique fall look and make use of those pumpkins left over from Halloween at the same time? In this simple project, pumpkins are the basis for an elegant, autumn centerpiece which will be an eye-pleasing complement to your Thanksgiving feast.

For our holiday centerpiece, we turned pumpkins into festive vessels to hold autumn-hued blooms. We stenciled a cornucopia design on the large pumpkin, which we filled with orange daisies, and centered it between two smaller ones, stenciled with a leaf design, and filled with gold mums. You can design your own stencil or buy one ready-made. Our stencil comes from The Stencil Book by Louise Drayton and Jane Thomson, Dorling Kindersley Press.

NNNWhat You'll Need:

AND: Acrylic paint the color of your choice, craft knife, dense sponges, paint brush, paint dishes, glue pen and green glitter

1. To Make a Stencil: First, draw or trace your design. Next, cut a piece of acetate or mylar at least an inch larger than your design all around. Tape the cut-out piece down over the design and trace it with a felt-tip pen. Using a craft knife, carefully cut out the stencil on a cutting surface, pulling the knife toward you. If you make a mistake and the acetate or mylar should tear, you can fix it using tape. Try to keep cuts as clean as possible.

2. Tape the stencil securely in place with masking tape. Always test the consistency of the paint on scrap paper before moving on to the stencil. Apply the paint by dabbing the sponge into a paint dish or coat it using a paint brush. Make sure the sponge is evenly coated with paint, dabbing off any excess paint onto a piece of scrap paper. Dab the sponge over the entire design until it's covered to your satisfaction. Create highlights using a second color with a separate sponge. Make sure the paint is almost dry before carefully pulling the stencil from the pumpkin. Repeat to your satisfaction.

3. Fill the pumpkins with flowers mentioned or those of your choice. Cut stems to different lengths to create a full look.

4. Fill surrounding table space with additional fall accents such as indian corn, wheat stalks and different gourds.

NOTE: Because pumpkins decompose quickly once they are opened, it's a good idea to clean them the day of your event.

5. As a finishing touch, mark each table setting with a mini pumpkin written with the guest's name. We used green-tone glitter adhered with glue to write names. First, write the name carefully using the glue pen. Then, sprinkle ample amounts of glitter over the name written in glue until satisfied with the effect.

Happy Thanksgiving