DIY Painted Gourd: Ghost and Jack-O-Lantern Halloween Craft

A few weeks ago, I shared some pretty exciting news.

I had become a pumpkin farmer.

Apparently with a little patience, a lot of help from their husband, and a generous neighbor with hearty seeds, anyone can be a successful gardener.Including me. The girl with those terrible brown thumbs.

I was such a good student, that by the time fall arrived, I was the proud plant mama of backyard full of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes.

However, there was more to that story than I originally shared. You see, right about the time my husband showed up with those seeds, I spotted the most adorable painted Halloween gourd in a shop.

It was too expensive for my taste, but...I figured if I could grow a gourd, I could make my own.

And lucky for me, gourd seeds were included in our stash.

Of course, as luck, or more aptly, Mother Nature, who loves to hand me difficult situations, would have it, the one and only set of seeds that didn't pop up, were the gourds.

So the one you see in that photo on my back porch wasn't part of my harvest.

No, he grew up down the street. Part of my neighbor's bumper crop and I bartered for him...one white pumpkin for one large gourd.


Even Steven.

And the perfect shape and size for my newest pumpkin craft for fall. 

How To Paint A Ghost On A Jack O Lantern

Now this isn't the first time I've paired a painted ghost and a pumpkin.

It's not the first time I've painted a pumpkin in an unexpected way.  It is, however, the first time I've created such a darling pair for Halloween.

The Supplies

I started by gathering my supplies.

• Large Brushes I used these
• Small Brush
• White Paint
• Black Paint
• Black Sharpie
• Pencil
• Mod Podge Gloss
• Blue Painter's Tape
  
• A Gourd
  

* Just a quick aside. You could make this with a faux gourd so it would last for years, and I looked everywhere for ones that were large and would stand up. However, I couldn't find one that was the correct size or shape. 

I think drying out a few gourds this year and using it next year might be the answer.

The Steps

I covered the stem with tape.


I didn't want to get any paint on it accidentally.

Next, I painted my ghost white with a large brush.


Now, my gourd had a perfect scalloped edge, so I just followed the lines, since it looked like a ghostly bottom.

If your gourd does not you can draw it on and paint in the lines.

Either way, if possible, using a wide brush with a circular edge makes the job so much easier.


Once I'd covered the top of the gourd with several coats of white paint, I set it aside to dry thoroughly. 

Then I drew faces on my ghost and Jack O Lantern with pencil.


Outlined them with a fine tip Sharpie.


And filled them in with a very fine brush and black paint.

When I was certain that my paint was dry, I whipped out the Mod Podge to seal my artwork in place and help to preserve my gourd for the entire season.

Mostly, however, to give that adorable ghost and his pumpkin partner the sparkle they deserved.

And boy did they ever.


When I was done, I had the most adorable Halloween pair.


One I wish I could say I grew in my own garden.

If I had, this dynamic Halloween duo would definitely have a few buddies.

Unfortunately, now I have to keep moving these guys around the house, from the thrifted urn that usually holds my Boo-Tiful pumpkin to my DIY Dollar Tree plate stands.


Who knows, tomorrow they might join the rest of the brood outside on the front porch.

I guess I could just go ask my neighbor for more.

Or buy a few at the store.

But that's not very "farmery" of me now is it?

And since I'm new to the club, I really want to behave.

😉

What do you think? 

Happy Halloween Crafting, Friends!