Oh my gourd-ness, Halloween is nearly here, and these Halloween splatter pumpkins make a quick, eye-catching decoration. With a few inexpensive craft pumpkins and some paint, you can create whimsical yet spooky decor in no time.
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Halloween is a big event around here. Hundreds of neighbors come by for trick-or-treating, and we even perform a yearly flash mob in front of our house. This year I decided to decorate indoors too—making spooky DIY candles, folding over 100 origami bats, and creating these paint splatter pumpkins. They add a playful, eerie touch to any display.
The goal with these paint-splattered pumpkins is to mimic the look of splattered blood, which is why red works so well. But you can use any colors you prefer. For more depth, paint the entire pumpkin one color, then splatter with a contrasting shade. Metallics would be beautiful for Thanksgiving or Christmas versions.
đź«™ Materials
- Real or craft pumpkins (budget-friendly craft pumpkins work great)
- Paint (acrylic craft paint recommended)
- Paint brushes
- Small bowl
- Water
🖌️ How to paint splatter the pumpkins
Set up in a large, well-ventilated space—outdoors is ideal because splattering paint can be messy. Wear old clothes you don’t mind getting paint on.
I used two shades of red acrylic paint for visual depth, but any paint type or color combination works. In a small bowl, stir each paint with a little water to thin it. You want a consistency that will flick off a brush without running uncontrollably.
Test the splatter on a scrap sheet of paper first to judge the consistency and the effect from different distances and angles. Adjust water or paint as needed.
Arrange your pumpkins on the surface you chose. Placing them on their sides with the bottoms facing you produces a saturated effect near the base that fades toward the top. Dip a brush into the thinned paint and flick your wrist to splatter—repeat using different heights and angles for varied marks.
Allow one side to dry completely, then turn the pumpkins to splatter the other side. Drying time is short for craft paint, but ensure full dryness before displaying.
Once dry, arrange your splatter pumpkins around the house—on tables, porches, or entryways—for an instant spooky statement.
Lookin’ gourd-geous!
Happy Halloween!
If you love Halloween projects, try other seasonal ideas and recipes from the archive, including DIY candles, easy tombstones, paper mache masks, and themed treats.
Did you make these Halloween Splatter Pumpkins? Let us know in the comments below!