FALLING FOR GRAY ~ Now That You Are Home...

No. Fall is not, not my favorite season. I get that it is all about cooler weather and sweaters. Some even think it is the best season of all. For me, it is a sign that summer is drifting away (sigh) and that winter is rapidly approaching (ugh). A transition to the holidays. A time to gather before I hibernate. Bittersweet. So, to make this passage a little easier, I am shaking up fall a bit with a nod to the white pumpkin craze. Here is my new take on fall, let me introduce... the GRAY PUMPKIN. Applause. It’s soft, calming, welcoming and gentle. And, of course, beautiful. So here it is, gray. Might be all the magic some of us need to fall in love with fall.

Gray, like an extra long hug.

This is what you need-

Small, Medium and Tiny White Pumpkins

Paris Grey Chalk Paint

White Craft Paint

Silver Metallic Paint
Small Container

Small Paint Brushes

Led String Lights

Pennant Garland (Directions Below)

Galvanized Tray

Roughly divide the pumpkins up into three groups, several of each size in each group. I used three medium, three small and eight tiny pumpkins total. You can add more or less, if you like.

Paint all of your pumpkins in the first group with Annie Sloan Paris Grey chalk paint. I purchased a sample pot of paint to make sure I liked the color. It is a nice soft gray, perfect. Carefully paint around the stem with a small craft brush. Switch to a larger brush and finish painting the body of the pumpkin. When the all the pumpkins are dry, roll over onto their side and paint the bottom.

In a small container add equal amounts of white craft paint and Paris Grey paint. Mix.

Paint all the pumpkins in your second group with the new light gray paint. Cut in around the stem, the body and finish the bottom when dry.

With the remaining pumpkins, paint with silver metallic paint. You can use any craft metallic paint. I had a leftover jar of this metallic paint, a good stir and you are good to go.

One of each.

I think there is nothing more pleasing than pairing monochromatic colors together with textures of similar hues. I chose to mix this galvanized pennant garland with my gray pumpkins and tray. I don’t believe the garland is still available, but you can make this faux paper pennant garland that will give you the same look and feel.

This is what you will need for your faux galvanized pennant garland-

Silver Cardstock
Scrap Cardstock

Silver Floral Wire

Pencil

Scissors

Tape Measure

Straight Edge

XL Needle, Tiny Hole Punch or Awl

On a scrap piece of cardstock, draw a straight line with a straight edge. With a tape measure, mark with pencil three lines, one inch apart .

Measure up 2 1/2" from the middle line and make a mark.

With a straight edge, make a triangle by connecting the three marks as shown.

Cut out triangle.

Trace 36 triangles on the back side (the white side) of the cardstock.

Cut the triangles out.

Place two dots at the top of one triangle as shown.

Carefully punch the two dots out with your needle, awl or punch.

Line up another triangle under your first triangle, make sure it is the back side (the side without color) of the triangle. Mark a dot onto the back of each triangle through the holes, Repeat for all triangles.

Punch small holes through all the dots.

Measure and cut the wire about 6’ long.

Sandwich two triangles together with the silver side out.

String your triangles together as shown. Repeat for the remaining triangles.

Not a bad looking faux galvanized pennant.

I used a galvanized tray to center the pumpkins. A gift from a dear friend. They come as a set, I used the smaller of the two. You can purchase them…Link here.