Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links and at no cost to you I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. See my Disclosure + Privacy Policy for more info. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Like modern fall pumpkin decor? Me too! See how I upcycled a pair of modern pumpkins into metallic Gold Leaf Pumpkins with gilding. For more posts like these see my Fall+ Thanksgiving page.
It’s time for another Thrift Store Challenge! This time I found these cool geometric pumpkins or possibly they are apples (not sure) on clearance at Hobby Lobby for the whopping low price of $2 a piece. Can I get a heck yeah?!
I decided to spray paint them white since they were scratched and to get a clean slate to start from.
When I the paint dried I had a hard time figuring out if I wanted to add anything else to them. These modern pumpkins were just so elegant being all white. I was afraid I would overdo them.
I played around with different mediums to add some pop, but everything I thought I would like to do would have taken away from the design.
That’s when I decided on gold gilding! I love gold gilding on pumpkins it is so gorgeous to me. Let me show you how I made these geometric super modern gold leaf pumpkins for my fall decor.
Modern Gold Leaf Pumpkins
Supplies:
- Faux pumpkins
- Gilding adhesive
- Gilding gloves
- Soft bristle brush
- Gilding brush
- Gold gilding sheets
- Spray paint & primer
- Washi tape
How to spray paint on enamel surface
The geometric pumpkins I found had a shiny coating on them and when I first tried to spray paint them with regular cheap paint I had on hand. The paint ran off the pumpkins. Not good.
Off to the hardware store I went. I bought a can of Rust-oleum Universal Bonding Primer and wow am I in love with this stuff. It bonds a top coat to difficult surfaces. It worked perfectly!
I followed it with a coat of Rust-oleum Semi-gloss enamel and they came out fabulous. Like you just bought them in a store fabulous. I was able to add washi tape to the pumpkins and it peeled right off without taking the paint with it! Great stuff!
How to add gold leaf to a pumpkin
Paint the pumpkins let them dry overnight. Now you are ready to add your gilding.
Tape off the area you are going to add gilding adhesive. Apply a thin layer of gilding adhesive to the pumpkin. Let it dry for a few minutes or until it feels tacky to the touch.
Lay a gilding sheet over the adhesive. Do not peel the gilding off of the wax sheet. Rub the wax backing to smooth and adhere the gilding. Allow it to dry for 1 to 2 hours.
Use a soft brush to remove extra gilding from edges.
Peel off the washi tape. Apply a thin layer of sealant over the gilding so it will not chip off and that’s it!
You have two trendy gorgeous pumpkins for your fall decor! They really came out better than I expected. And who knew making gold leaf pumpkins could be this great!
Love it? Pin it!
These are super cute! Love the design!
So very creative! I love anything gilded & these are adorable!
What a fantastic find! And, I love what you did with them. Pumpkins with a modern edge! I have never tried gilding before, but this project makes me want to give it a try.
Thanks Maureen, I am so in love with gilding. I want to put it on everything! Thanks for stopping by!
Kim
Girl, these are GORGEOUS! I would not have even thought to do this. The small added gold gilding totally makes these so modern and funky.
SO cute, Kim! This DIY is so unique :)
They are really cool!! I think the gold gilding is just perfect, it gives them a sophisticated look without overdo them.
These are so cool. Like a modern version of a traditional pumpkin. I love how you applied the gold gilding. I think I would want to keep them out all year round.
I think I need them out year long too Debra! Thanks for reading.
Kim
These are amazing! I’ve never seen anything like them. I would use them as bookends. Love the gold detail.
Thanks so much Emy, They are really unique. They were on clearance at Hobby Lobby. I can’t believe they were 2 bucks!
Kim
How cute are these!! I agree with not wanting to overdo the design but I think the gilding is perfect!
Thank Amanda,
They are my new favorite fall things. They really came out better than I thought.
Kim