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Black & White Pumpkin Topiaries: another DIY Halloween craft.

October 4, 2012 29 Comments

Topiaries are always kind of fun and so I decided to make some fun pumpkin topiaries for Halloween.  I love how these turned out!

I have had the two urns for years, but everything else was either from the Dollar Store, or I already had them on hand.  (Or they were trash or yard clippings…)

Supplies needed:

  • 3 different sizes of pumpkins x 2  (I got these at the Dollar Store)
  • 2 fake ravens (I had these sparkly guys, but the Dollar Store has ravens too)
  • white spray paint
  • glitter paint (or glue and glitter)
  • hot glue gun
  • wood skewers
  • black spray paint
  • newspaper or kraft paper
  • sticks or dried florals
  • card-stock and ribbon

First, you’ll want to cut the stems off of your pumpkins.  It was pretty easy to do with just a bread knife.

I painted all of the pumpkins with white spray paint and then embellished them with ribbons, glitter and glitter puff paint.  You can use whatever you have around and put any design you’d like.

When the pumpkins were dry, it was time to start stacking them in the urns.

Because it’ll be top-heavy, you want to be sure it is stable at the bottom.  As luck would have it, I happened to have a couple of empty Patron Tequila bottles sitting around.  (Don’t you judge me!)  These bottles are beautiful and are a heavy, blown glass.  I wedged them into the urns, upside down.  These provide weight for the bottom of the topiary and also an elevated platform for the base pumpkin to sit on.

To help hide the bottle, I ripped up strips of kraft paper, spray painted them black and tucked them around the edges of the urn.  Next, I fired up my glue gun and glued the first pumpkin to the bottle.

I glued a few doo-dads in between the pumpkins here and there.  One thing I highly recommend doing is running a skewer through the 3 pumpkins and glue them as you stack them.  Again, for stability.  Base pumpkin, middle pumpkin, top pumpkin and top it off with a raven.  They have little wires on their feet and I just poked the wires down into the pumpkin.  I added some glue to the bottom of the feet as well…

Making the banner is easy.  I cut out the tags and the letters on my Cricut, but you could use any shape (or fabric) or store bought letters.  Whatever you want.  I tied them onto a length of ribbon….

Then I glued the ends of the ribbon to the back side of the birds’ beaks, so it looks like they’re they’re holding it.

I think it’s pretty simple because of the color palette, but is intricate because of all of the texture.

I like how the orange pumpkins and the candy pop against all of that white and silver.

I am so, so happy with how these turned out!  I wish Halloween would last a bit longer each year!

Happy October!!!

***UPDATE: I knew I had been inspired by ravens holding a garland somewhere last year and just couldn’t remember where, what or who.  I just stumbled across it… I should have known it was from the fabulous Carolyn at Homework, with her crow garland last October.***

Linking this up at Home Stories A2Z and Today’s Creative Blog

about Vivienne Wagner

Filed Under: craft time, Crafts, decor, glitter, Halloween, Holidays, Pumpkins, spray paint, tutorial

Comments

  1. Hi I'm Shannon! says

    October 4, 2012 at 2:27 PM

    I love it! The crows holding the banner are my favorite element. It’s awesome!!

    PS-I won’t judge, I have a Patron bottle hanging out waiting for it’s turn at bat 😉

    Reply
  2. Alderberry Hill says

    October 4, 2012 at 2:41 PM

    Oh wow! This is really beautiful, I love it. Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  3. MiMi says

    October 4, 2012 at 2:54 PM

    Viv, those turned out gorgeous!!
    I would try really hard NOT to knock em over while heading straight for the candy corn! 😉

    Reply
  4. Jill @ Create.Craft.Love. says

    October 4, 2012 at 4:23 PM

    Love this! So classic! I incorporated ravens this year too. Love how the ravens are holding the Halloween banner!

    Reply
  5. Beverly {Flamingo Toes} says

    October 4, 2012 at 5:11 PM

    Super cute Viv!! I love the crows and the bling!

    Reply
  6. nest of posies says

    October 4, 2012 at 6:42 PM

    how fun is this! love it.
    my favorite part is the birds holding the bunting.

    xo
    kellie

    Reply
  7. Richella says

    October 4, 2012 at 8:05 PM

    This is so cute! My favorite thing is the banner held in the ravens’ mouths. That’s just right!

    Reply
  8. PJ @ Planned in Pencil says

    October 4, 2012 at 8:43 PM

    <--- judging... just because I was asked not to ... POW.... that's me just being a rebel!

    Reply
  9. Laura@Elegant Nest says

    October 5, 2012 at 12:25 AM

    Another adorable Halloween craft! Your house must be so cute this time of year with all of your DIY ideas and decor!

    Reply
  10. Bliss says

    October 5, 2012 at 1:37 AM

    Love it so I’m pinning it.

    Bliss

    Reply
  11. Kelly B says

    October 5, 2012 at 3:48 AM

    The crows holding the banner is absolutely genius!

    Reply
  12. Amy* says

    October 5, 2012 at 2:33 PM

    This is beautiful Vivienne! I love the sparkly ravens holding the tag banner! You are so clever to use the empty patron bottle (no judgement here…I have a few of those lying around :))

    Amy*

    Reply
  13. Laura / The Shed blog, by Pet Scribbles says

    October 5, 2012 at 4:43 PM

    Love this idea! Have you ever made an ugly pumpkin, by the way? I think not! And I won’t judge about the tequila – you said the glass bottle is beautiful so I’m sure you just buy it for the glass, right? 😉

    Reply
  14. malia says

    October 6, 2012 at 2:38 PM

    Love the whole thing! xo

    Reply
  15. lisbonlioness says

    October 7, 2012 at 1:47 AM

    it’s amazing how a few bucks and a bit of coherent effort create something so ridiculously beautiful!
    If I could have something like this in my house, I swear I’d keep it all year round because I’d be so, so proud of it.
    It’s elegant, quirky, unique, and I think it really has my name written all over it yet again. Get out of my head, lass. You’re causing a creative itch!
    Why, oh why do our pound shops not sell ravens and pumpkins? What the heck???

    Reply
  16. Lady Courtney says

    October 8, 2012 at 12:12 PM

    Love it, I’m going out today to find some fake pumpkins!

    Reply
  17. Johnnie says

    October 8, 2012 at 4:02 PM

    So pretty, Vivienne!

    Reply
  18. SWEET YARNS says

    October 16, 2012 at 12:20 PM

    Love this Halloween display. Thanks for sharing…

    Reply
  19. Michelle Lunt says

    October 19, 2012 at 2:08 AM

    I really love this beautiful display.

    Warmly, Michelle
    Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust

    Reply
  20. popsiclesandpinatas.com says

    October 24, 2012 at 4:43 PM

    Looks awesome! I love the birds holding the banner. Great job on the pumpkins too!

    Michelle

    Reply
  21. Holly says

    October 27, 2012 at 2:39 AM

    Hi! First time visiting your cute blog. Love your Halloween decor. You have 4 boys??? Oh, MY! I have twin boys – that’s it! I can’t imaging double….xo

    Reply
  22. halloween says

    February 8, 2016 at 3:32 AM

    source
    http://halloweentrend.com/2016/02/08/elegant-gothic-ghastly-gory-halloween-decorations/

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Fifty shades of pumpkin. No-carve pumpkin ideas. » The V Spot says:
    September 4, 2014 at 12:50 PM

    […] These black and white pumpkin topiaries might be one of my favorite Halloween projects ever! I love the ravens holding up the Halloween banner too! […]

    Reply
  2. 10 Halloween Banners & Garlands says:
    September 19, 2014 at 8:26 AM

    […] Black and White Pumpkin Topiaries from The V Spot – This isn’t so much about the garland as the two crows holding it up. Love!  I with my cat wasn’t evil and let me have nice things like fake feathered birds! […]

    Reply
  3. 13 Halloween Garland Ideas - Sand and Sisal says:
    September 26, 2014 at 10:15 AM

    […] absolutely love how the ravens hold this easy to make Halloween tag banner by Vivienne at The V Spot Blog. The whole table-scape is […]

    Reply
  4. Elegant Gothic, Ghastly & Gory: Halloween Decorations | halloweentrend says:
    February 8, 2016 at 3:34 AM

    […] source […]

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  5. 30 Ideas for Halloween Decorating says:
    March 21, 2016 at 7:46 AM

    […] Stenciled Boo Sign from The Polka Dot Chair Spooky Accordion Banner from the Crafting Chicks Black and White Pumpkin Topiaries from the V Spot Paper Halloween Banner from Alderberry Hill Halloween Potion Centerpiece from Made […]

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  6. 20 Best Pinterest Halloween Party Ideas ~ Hallstrom Home says:
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    […] The V Spot […]

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    […] Tutorial […]

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