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Make a Super Cool Day of the Dead Pumpkin for Halloween

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Make a Super Cool Day of the Dead Pumpkin for Halloween using a Dollar Tree foam pumpkin, mod podge, and napkins from the dollar spot.

This decoupage technique is so easy and fun to use with seasonal napkins… 

sugar skull pumpkin with halloween art

Some friends are also sharing pumpkin craft ideas today! Be sure to visit each for some amazing pumpkin craft inspiration.

The links are at the end of this post, so please read to the end so you can see all the pumpkin goodness!

For my pumpkin craft, I’m sharing a sugar skull day of the dead pumpkin. My daughter loves sugar skulls and Halloween.

She’s been collecting some really cool artwork and ceramic skulls since college.

We were looking at the dollar spot at Target and were shocked to see really nice Day of the Dead napkins for $1!

She asked what I could make with them and I told her they would be perfect to decoupage on pumpkins. I’ve been on a decoupage kick lately.

There are just so many things you can create with them. If you are a regular visitor here (thank you) you know I love to makeover Dollar Tree foam pumpkins.

Here are several pumpkin makeovers I’ve created: 

Dollar Store Pumpkin Makeovers

Supplies for Day of the Dead Pumpkins

Day of the Dead Pumpkin supplies

How to Make a Day of the Dead Pumpkin

Start by painting the orange foam pumpkin with black paint. Even though the pumpkin will be covered with napkins, it’s still good to paint it so the black napkins blend better. 

black painted pumpkin

 

You will need 2-3 coats of paint. This is the paint I used:

deco art paint

Next up, remove the top printed layer of the napkin and cut it into four square pieces.

 

separating napkins

Add a good amount of mod podge to the pumpkin. Wait a minute or two until it gets tacky.

mod podge on pumpkin

 

Then you can place the napkin square on the pumpkin. Lightly press it down. Using a plastic bag smooth out any of the wrinkles.

day of the dead napkin on pumpkin

Follow the same process by adding mod podge to the pumpkin. Place the second napkin square onto the next section of the pumpkin. Lightly tap it down and smooth any wrinkles.

napkins on pumpkin

This size pumpkin took 3 squares to fully cover the pumpkin. Add a coat of mod podge to the outside of the pumpkin. Let dry.

skull pumpkin

To make the sugar skull complete,  hot glue flowers in your choice of color, to the top of the pumpkin.

flowers for day of the dead

I stuck with white and blush colors, but you can go with rich colors of purple and rust if you like.

close up of sugar skull day of the dead pumpkin

Make a Super Cool Day of the Dead Pumpkin for Halloween using a Dollar Tree foam pumpkin, mod podge, and napkins from the dollar spot. This decoupage technique is so easy and fun to use with seasonal napkins. #ourcraftymom #sugarskullpumpkin #dayofthedeadpumpkin #dollarstorepumpkins Click to Tweet

finished pumpkin

My daughter LOVES how it turned out, especially when displayed with some of her collection. I have to say I do like the King and Queen Skull artwork.

And the skull in the smaller frame has white and pink flowers, so it definitely blends well.

sugar skull pumpkin with halloween art

Save for later by pinning:

sugar skull day of the dead pumpkin on mantel

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I hope you enjoyed this simple Day of the Dead Pumpkin for Halloween. Enjoy the rest of the pumpkins shown below:

 six easy pumpkin crafts

 

Marianne from Songbird Blog is showing her
Pumpkin Wall Art.

Meegan from What Meegan Makes is sharing how to
Decorate Pumpkins with Vintage Doilies.

Leen from Sand Dollar Lane is showing
How to Decorate Wooden Pumpkins.

Kippi from Kippi at Home has a tutorial on
Buffalo Check Pumpkins.

Michelle from Our Crafty Mom is showing us her
Day of the Dead Pumpkin.

Juliet from A Loverly Life is sharing a tutorial on
How to Paint Pumpkins on Wood.  

Thank you so much for stopping by. Have a good day and Happy Halloween!

finished pumpkin

Make a Super Cool Day of the Dead Pumpkin for Halloween

Yield: 1 Sugar Skull Pumpkin
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Active Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $3

Pick up a dollar store foam pumpkin, some Day of the Dead napkins and make a really cool sugar skull pumpkin! It's quick, easy, and fun!

Materials

  • Day of the Dead Napkins
  • Foam Pumpkin
  • Mod Podge
  • Craft Scissors
  • Black Paint

Tools

  • Hot Glue Gun

Instructions

  1. Paint the orange pumpkin with black paint.
  2. Remove the top printed layer of the napkin and cut it into four square pieces.
  3. Add a good amount of mod podge to the pumpkin. Wait a minute or two until it gets tacky.
  4. Place the napkin square on the pumpkin. Lightly press it down.
  5. Use a plastic bag to smooth out any of the wrinkles.
  6. Place the second napkin square onto the next section of the pumpkin.
  7. Lightly tap it down and smooth any wrinkles.
  8. Add a coat of mod podge to the outside of the pumpkin. Let dry.
  9. Hot glue flowers in your choice of color, to the top of the pumpkin.

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

You can find me on social media below:

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Juliet | A loverly life

Saturday 16th of October 2021

Michelle, your sugar skull pumpkin is amazing. What a fabulous DIY. Using the napkin to decoupage makes it so easy!

ourcraftymom

Sunday 17th of October 2021

Thanks so much! So many fun pumpkins!

meegan

Saturday 16th of October 2021

I love the pattern of the napkins, Michelle! So fun for celebrating Day of The Dead and Halloween. Thanks for the tutorial and how to decoupage using a napkin. Have a great weekend.

ourcraftymom

Sunday 17th of October 2021

Thanks Meegan! I was so excited when I found them!

Marianne

Friday 15th of October 2021

Wow those are cute and spooky at the same time. I have recently discovered the joy of napkin decoupage too! What a fun craft technique is that. I love the inspired idea of creating Halloween pumpkins with those awesome napkins.

ourcraftymom

Sunday 17th of October 2021

Yes! Napkin decoupage is slightly addictive! Thanks for visiting. :)

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