Step outside and breathe in deep. There is definitely a hint of fall in the air. And yes, a hint of a still simmering summer heat – but here in Virginia, once September hits fall is close behind! So even if the weather isn’t quite there, my fall spirit is!
I am kicking off September with an homage to fall decorating! I’ve been itching to try this project ever since I saw it over on my pal’s site Teal & Lime, and I thought this fall was the perfect time to try it out.
So here’s how to turn cheap plastic gourds, pumpkins, and leaves into high-end ceramic looking items for a bargain price and with your own two hands and a little plaster of paris!
Plaster of Paris Gourds, Leaves, and Pumpkins
Supplies
- Plaster of Paris (the small box should do)
- A mixing bucket (found in the paint aisle)
- A paint stirrer
- Plastic gourds, pumpkins, and fake leaves (I found my at the dollar store)
- Waxed paper
- Disposable gloves
Directions
1. Set out all your supplies. Once you get to mixing you are going to move quickly.
2. Put on your disposable gloves and mix the Plaster of Paris according to the directions on the box. You will want it to be the consistency of runny pancake batter.
3. Take each item one a at time and dip into the mixture. Don’t worry if you don’t get perfect coverage the first dip. Some of my items I had to dip 2-3 times after they completely dry.
4. Pace on wax paper to dry.
For the leaves, put it on the surface of the mixture and then slowly press it down, covering it completely. Then scoop it out gently, drying not to let all the mixture drip off the leaf. I found these were better looking with a thick mixture on top.
It took me a couple of tries to really get a good method down, but I learned to do thinner coats and just to keep redipping until they looked like I wanted them too! If you mess up, you can just crack the plaster off when it dries and try again.
This was such a fun project to do this past Saturday afternoon. I setup all my supplies on the kitchen counter and poor Eric came in to eat lunch and had to go eat in the basement (because I was recording a how-to video too – look for that soon – so I needed no ambient noises like crinkling and crunching from eating). Ahh the supportive husband of the blogger, right?!
That is also a word to the wise, since I had to redip the items a few times my supplies took over the counter for an hour or so. So be prepared to have that space be out of commission for a while!
Are you looking forward to fall? Any fall projects you are working on?
PS – Check out the video tutorial for this project!
PPS – And learn how to make the sweater wrapped vases shown in the pictures!
What a great idea! I like the look of white items for fall. I wonder if you could turn the leaves into hanging ornaments by drilling a hole through the plaster of paris? They might look nice hanging from a branch in a vase.
Ooo those are fun ideas, Paula! I really like white items for fall too! It would be fun to transition them to winter too. Maybe a future ornament?!
I think I will do this but maybe add a bit of glitter to them the final coat.
Loooove that idea Rosemary! I think I might do that too! I was also thinking of spray painting them with a glitter spray too – or a pretty metallic color.