Painted Wood Pumpkins for Rustic Fall Decor

I find pieces of Monkey Pod Wood at thrift stores from time to time, but I recently found a couple of them that sparked an idea. Both were scratched up, and with their short little handles, I quickly envisioned them as painted wood pumpkins.

First I found this one. Maybe it’s an apple shape?

…But I’d already upcycled some monkey pod bowls as apples!

So, let’s just assume that first one I found was a pumpkin. Anyway, then I found this one, which was in far worse shape. 

All I needed to do was give them a little upcycling TLC. Which included paint paint, wax, and some embellishments for their “stems”.

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Upcycling the Monkey Pod Wood Bowls

First, I grabbed some orange chalk paint. This brand comes in small bottles, perfect for non-furniture upcyclers like me!

The best part about this makeover? No fancy techniques required. Just an old fashioned paint job with a cheap-o craft paint brush.

And I purposefully left the handles (or “stems”) naked and unpainted.

Once the orange chalk paint was dry, I sanded the painted surfaces lightly with high-grit sandpaper. After wiping away the sanded chalk dust, I then buffed on some wood wax to seal and protect the chalk paint finish.

I use Annie Sloan soft wax (which I LOVE), but there are other less expensive options available.

I used a large round brush to swirl the wood wax on the monkey pod wood. Then, I used a clean, lint-free cloth to buff until the finish was no longer tacky to the touch.

Now they were nice and satiny smooth with just a hint of shine! My painted wood pumpkins were coming together nicely.

Seriously, y’all…from start to finish, this project took me just a couple of hours to do! The orange chalk paint dried in a hot second, and while the wood wax takes several days to FULLY harden, it goes on and buffs off really quickly.

So, this is a great last minute fall project if you happen to find some monkey pod wood in pumpkin-esque shapes!

Anyway, I felt like my painted wooden pumpkins needed a little more embellishment.

To add a touch of rustic greenery, I gathered up some wide burlap ribbon in a pea green (similar to this one) and some jute twine.

The burlap ribbon was wired, but I didn’t need that aspect. So, I snipped out a long piece between the wires (using my favorite mixed media scissors), and tied it around the handles of the monkey wood.

Finally, I layered on a knotted piece of jute twine over the burlap ribbon. Ready to see my painted wood pumpkins in all their glory?

Painted Wood Pumpkins for Rustic Fall Decor

You know what? I love them!

I mean, I have special affection in my heart for any project that is this easy to do. But these wooden pumpkins are as cute as can be.

I didn’t glue the “greenery” to the handles (or should I say “stems”?), but I did use a drop of hot glue here and there to get the jute to lay more nicely over the ribbon at the knot.

I can use them as rustic fall decor, or as serving trays for wrapped Halloween candy, etc.

These painted wooden pumpkins would also look nice as part of a Fall Mantel, too. Either way, I’ll never pass up any monkey wood that kind of resembles a pumpkin shape ever again!

I just love creating pumpkins at this time of year, and anything goes! I even created a couple of pumpkin projects in my book, “Crafting with Flannel”!

And if you enjoyed this upcycling idea for painted wooden pumpkins, then you may also enjoy these painted gourds from glass liquor bottles, as well!

Craft on!

S

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