I love white pumpkins. I have had this idea in my head for years! So simple, but I just wanted to spell out “Halloween” in pumpkins going down my stairs. But…white “faux” pumpkins are pricey! Especially the nice sized, realistic looking ones. Even on sale. (Who would usually need to buy 9 of them???) So I had a bright idea…I’ll buy orange pumpkins & give them a makeover!!!
Supplies needed:
*9 pumpkins – I bought mine from Wal Mart.
2 bottles of “off white” acyclic paint (I used Folk Art Paint, from Wal Mart. .97 cents each)
a few regular sized sponge paint brushes
black acyclic paint or a large black sharpie marker
a small paint brush
pencil
*the pumpkins I purchased were $5.00 each. I got lucky & scored 3 damaged ones for half price. (the side & paint had been damaged on 3 of them, perfect since I was going to repaint, anyways.)
*Paint all of the pumpkins with the “off white” paint. It took 2 heavy coats!
*Let dry for about an hour in between each coat.
*After, your 2nd coat has dried, write & spell out your letters using your pencil. (I kind of went for a scrolly witchey font…if there is such a thing??? In my mind, there is!!! 
*If you have a steady hand, use your paint brush & black paint to trace your letters. OR, after realizing a large sharpie would do the trick with two coats or traces. I ditched the paint brush & used the sharpie marker. (Might take two coats, however using the sharpie.)
And, presto! There you have a great Halloween Pumpkin Makeover!
I included a larger frame shot, of my staircase. It really is fun at night with the candles. It gives great ambiance.
After spelling out the word – Halloween. I thought to myself, I could make these work for Thanksgiving as well! So, turning the pumpkins around…I spelled out “Thankful”. Actually, you will just need to write the letters, T, K, F, & U on the pumpkins opposite from the letters that you will use to spell out “thankful”. Because you will have all the other letters already needed for the word, “THANKFUL”. You will just have one extra pumpkin. I thought it was a great 2 for 1 decoration for both holidays! Of course, minus the Templeton Mice.
*EDITED TO ADD*
linking with:
Hello! I’m so glad you’re here & reading my posts! I’ve started truncating my posts, so please click over to read the rest of the story!
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
i love this idea. it looks great!
You are a genius! I love that you will get longer use out of these pumpkins!! Very cute!
Love this idea… You are so creative! Hope you’re having a blast in DC.
What a great idea! So creative! When I have a house with stairs I will be sure to do this
Totally adorable, I may have to try tht on my outdoor staircase. If I tried that inside my 2 little boys would be bowling while pumpkins everywhere
Daily laying it at the Master’s feet!
Laura Ann
I am screaming with delight! You are so clever to paint pumpkins white and I L O V E how you displayed them!!! ASnd those little mice make it all perfect! How clever you are and what a great conversation piece as guest come to visit! Happy Fall!
Hugs,
Maryjane
What a clever idea! Two holidays with one decoration! You are one crafty gal.
This is SO pretty! I really LOVE the mice too, I saw these in Michaels today. Too bad I don’t have a staircase!!
The mice would freak me out in the middle of the night! LOL This looks beautiful..you are good.
You had me before at the mice but this is so, so cute!
I can’t handle this. Please. We the readers beg you to stop with all this cuteness. How will we feed our children? Take a shower or do anything else productive if we have to sit here and stare at your amazing creativity and talent all day?
I’m drooling. You are incredible!!!!
Love it.
I’m with your reader who commented that her children would use those pumpkins as bowling balls. Same here.
Love the lettering that you used. That looks so good.What a nice idea. The mice look great along side the pumpkins.
Have a great day.
Dan and Deanna “Marketing Unscrambled”
Just found your blog today. Love it! I am from Kingsport and live in Maryville and work in Johnson City. Howdy neighbor!
Love both ideas for H’ween and T’giving! Very cute
You’re right–the white ones sure are pricey. TFS 
O.K, between you and Sibi, I’m feeling a bit incompetent in the “creative mommy department”. Gee wiz! How do you girls do it!
Now that my creative juices are flowing: what about writing “THANKS” on the back sides. Then you can use them through Thanksgiving too! (Hey, that was a good one!)
soooo cute!! love it!!
i just love your pumpkins on the stairs! here’s my twisted take from your inspiration: 5 pumpkins that say:
1: “don’t”
2: F
3: A
4: L
5: L
I am saying that i will go home and do this, but that’s probably a lie. i’ll do it 45 years from now when i get to that part of my to do list!
thanks for the inspiration!
angie
so cute! Love the mice, too!
Wow, this turned out great! I only have 7 steps, so maybe I can spell out “Boo!”
Love the mice and their doors.
Those are adorable! I love this idea!!!
Love, love, love, the mice!
Love this idea. The white pumpkins are great and I love the little mice at play Ü
Hi~ I’ve finally got my pumkins ready! I posted about it with a link to here. Thanks again for sharing this fab idea!
http://shanarunacreativespace.blogspot.com/2010/10/halloween-pumpkins-stairs-and-mice.html
How great is this!! I’d love to feature you on my blog tomorrow. If that is not ok, please let me know!!
Heather
The Gift Closet
http://www.thegiftcloset.blogspot.com
Did you make the mice? If not, where did you find them?
So much fun, and I love that you added the mice!
I linked to this project over at Pumpkin Week:
http://www.alwaysexpectmoore.com/2010/10/pumpkin-week-daily-dozen_05.html
Saw you on One Pretty Thing. I love this idea because I just hate the idea of devoting storage space to decorations that I’ll only have out for one month. This is such an efficient use of decor!