Repurposed Pumpkins

I know…, it’s at least 90 degrees outside, and I am talking about pumpkins. But, I’m going to a craft show the end of September, so I need to start thinking fall. My repurposed pumpkin is made from the drawer of a little chest I kept in the closet to hold craft supplies. But, after moving my craft room downstairs I no longer needed it. It was inexpensive, so I didn’t mind repurposing it. It has three drawers, so I will be able to make three pumpkins for ten dollars.

I gathered up my supplies. Paint, paint brush, a cork for the stem and burlap to tie around the stem. You can get paint samples in any color at Lowe’s and today they were buy one get one free. So that was two for $3.99.

Supplies to create a repurposed pumpkin

The chest was originally green, so the first thing I had to do was paint it. It required two coats, and I knew it would need another after I had drawn the face on and had it cut out with a jigsaw.

I drew the face on with a pencil, but I am not good using a jigsaw, so I ask my son cut the eyes, nose and mouth out for me. Another coat of paint, and then I added the stem.

Repurposed piece of table leg for Pumpkin stem

I was going to use a cork, but I found these pieces of wood which I had previously cut off of some old table legs. I never throw away anything, and I thought these pieces look like a stem!

Repurposed Pumpkin Stem

Those were painted green, and while drying, I sanded the edges around the drawer, and between the eyes, nose, and mouth to smooth them over. A third coat of orange paint went on the repurposed pumpkin, and I glued some sphagnum moss around the stem and sanded it slightly.

A repurposed pumpkin

Tips:

If you use the pumpkin and light it at night, DO NOT use a candle. It could catch fire. Use one of the LED candles that has a battery.
When looking for old drawers, find ones that have wooden bottoms. Mine had a Masonite board bottom and was harder to cut with a jig saw.
Find drawers that are of different sizes to add interest to a grouping.

If you want to use your pumpkin for fall decorating. Just paint the drawer, add a stem, fashion a few leaves, and leave off the pumpkin face.

Repurpose aan old drawer into