Simple Skeleton Pumpkin with Sparkle

Make a painted pumpkin with a skeleton design. This Halloween craft is SO easy – add Sparkle Mod Podge for a really festive touch!

Too early for Halloween – and a painted pumpkin idea? My friends, there is no such thing as too early in the world of crafting! That is what I love about being a crafter. I can be a rule breaker. By the way, am I the only person that refers to skeletons as “skulligans?” If you are out there, please identify yourself.

My first project of the season is this DIY pumpkin. It’s easy and uses Mod Podge as a sealer . . . and it’s NO CARVE. There’s some painting involved but it’s fun, and you also get to use white transfer paper.

Ooh la la. This purple and black and glitter painted pumpkin will be loved by you for years to come, guaranteed. Here’s how to make this skeleton pumpkin.

Skeleton Painted Pumpkin

Gather These Supplies

• Craft pumpkin
• Skeleton clip art printed out to fit the pumpkin – I got mine from Microsoft Clip Art
• FolkArt Paint – Licorice, Dove Gray, Metallic Silver Sterling
• Sparkle Mod Podge
• Purple craft leaves
• Paintbrushes in two sizes – small and large
• Hot Glue Gun
• Pipe Cleaners, black
• White transfer paper and stylus
• Stencil tape

Your first step is to paint the craft pumpkin with Licorice (unless you got a black craft pumpkin) and transfer the image to the pumpkin using white transfer paper.

Use your small brush to paint in the skeleton design with gray paint. Follow the transfer paper lines as closely as you can. Keep painting until you’ve filled the skeleton completely in and then allow to dry. Don’t forget the stem.

Use your small brush and silver to paint over the gray. It gives it a nice little sheen. Cover and then allow to dry. Paint the stem too. You are so close to being done you can’t imagine. By the way, does this photo look like I’m painting in a basement?

Coat your pumpkin with several layers of Sparkle Mod Podge, allowing to dry between coats. This should sparkle nicely on the black paint! Set aside and allow to dry.

While you are waiting for the pumpkin to dry, take some of your leaves and glue onto the ends of pipe cleaners. You should use your hot glue gun; I’m A.D.D. so I grabbed the glue that was sitting right there.

Once dry, wrap the pipe cleaners around your finger to make a curled vine effect.

Using your hot glue gun, attach the pipe cleaner “vines” to the top of the pumpkin, then start attaching leaves. Glue leaves down until you feel your pumpkin has enough – basically to your heart’s content!

Let the glue cool before placing out, and then enjoy your spooky decoration. If you would like to set outside, make sure to spray with a waterproof enamel sealer.

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If you love my painted pumpkin, check out these other no carve pumpkin ideas:

• DIY House Number Pumpkin
• Mod Podge Map Pumpkins
• Nautical Pumpkin Craft
• No Carve Pumpkin Decorating