When it comes to decorating for fall, nothing says cozy elegance quite like these easy diy velvet pumpkins. Their soft texture, rich colours, and luxurious appearance make them a favourite for autumn decorating. The best part? You don’t have to spend a fortune buying designer velvet pumpkins.
With a few inexpensive foam pumpkins from the dollar store, some stretch velvet fabric, and a handful of sparkling rhinestone gems, you can create beautiful custom pumpkins that look like they came from a high-end home décor boutique.
Supplies List
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- Foam pumpkins (Dollar Store or similar)
- Stretch velvet fabric (4-way)
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Scissors
- Decorative gems
- Gem Tack Glue
- Gem Picker (wax Pencil)
- Perfect Pearls Acrylic paint
How to Make Velvet Pumpkins – Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Remove the Stem
Carefully pull the stem out of the foam pumpkin.
Set it aside; you’ll reattach it once the velvet has been added.
Use a wooden dowel or pencil and poke a hole into the foam where the stem was.
Step 2: Cut the Velvet
Lay the pumpkin on the velvet.
Cut a square of fabric that is a couple of inches larger than the pumpkin.
Having extra fabric makes it much easier to pull everything tight while gluing.
Step 3: Cover the Pumpkin
Place the pumpkin in the center of the fabric.
Working a little at a time, pull the velvet tightly over the pumpkin toward the stem opening.
Securing the fabric is easy when you poke it into the hole with hot glue.
Continue working your way around until all of the fabric is secured.
Because stretch velvet has some flexibility, wrinkles usually smooth out as you pull and glue the fabric snugly to the foam.
Step 4: Trim Excess Fabric
Once the fabric is secured, trim away the excess velvet and secure it in the stem opening.
Step 5: Replace the Stem
If desired, paint the stem in a metallic acrylic paint before reattaching it to the pumpkin.
Insert the original stem back into the pumpkin, securing it with hot glue.
For an even more realistic look, replace the foam stem with a real dried pumpkin stem.
Step 6: Add Sparkling Gem Accents
1 – Add Gem Tack glue to the stem area where you would like the gems to be.
2 – Use a wax pencil or craft tweezers to place the stone into the desired spot.
3 – Press into the glue.
Step7: Add Perfect Pearls
Using metallix dimensional perfect pearls, add decorative lines (or broken lines) in between the rows of gems.
Tips and FAQs
Variations to Try
Once you’ve mastered the basic velvet pumpkin, experiment with different embellishments:
- Pearl accents
- Puff Fabric Paint
- Gold leaf stems
- Velvet bows
- Lace trim
- Gold metallic ribbon
- Glitter leaves
Each variation gives your pumpkins a completely different look.
Can I use regular fabric instead of stretch velvet?
Yes, but stretch velvet is much easier to work with because it conforms naturally to the pumpkin’s curves. I recommend a 4-way stretch velvet.
What size pumpkins work best?
Small and medium foam pumpkins are easiest to cover, and more budget-friendly when it comes to the bejewelling cost. However, larger pumpkins make stunning statement pieces as well.
Getting the Best Results
- Stretch velvet tightly as you go.
- Pull the fabric evenly from all directions before gluing.
- Use gems in different sizes and stagger them.
- Use small amounts of hot glue to avoid lumps.
- Hide all fabric edges inside the stem opening. Trim if needed.
- Mix matte velvet with sparkling gems for beautiful contrast.
- Display pumpkins in odd-numbered groupings for a designer-inspired look.
Creating your own DIY velvet pumpkins is an easy and affordable way to add elegance to your fall decorating. With inexpensive dollar store foam pumpkins, soft stretch velvet, and sparkling rhinestone gems, you can achieve a luxurious look without the designer price tag
Whether you’re decorating your mantel, creating a Thanksgiving centrepiece, or adding seasonal charm to your entryway, these handmade pumpkins are sure to become one of your favourite fall decorations. Best of all, because they’re reusable, you can enjoy displaying them for many autumn seasons to come.
This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no cost to you).