My very favorite time to blog is here!
I love all of the fall tutorials that come out near September and I’m crazy about all of the Thanksgiving and Christmas tutorials, too. My favorite!
Today I want to show you what I’ve been up to today…
I’m playing with artificial pumpkins as part of a Great Pumpkin Challenge with Michaels.
Artificial pumpkins make me nervous for some reason. Crazy right? They’re usually price’-y and I’m afraid to cut into them and mess up! Well, have you ever heard of this little tool?
It’s called a hot knife and maybe I’m sounding creatively naïve here, but I’ve never used one. I plugged this baby in and let me tell you it was a breeze to cut those thick artificial pumpkins!
This is so simple to use. Attach the blade, plug it in, and carve away – so smoothly, too!
No more stressing about cutting into those fake pumpkins!
Your next step is to cut green floral foam to fit into the pumpkin tightly. I bought a pkg of 4 at Michaels for a great deal!
I’m so excited to add this to my fall décor! Maybe I’ll use it as a centerpiece for Thanksgiving!
Post By…
kathleenmcs says
Love this! I seldom enjoy autumn crafts because the color combinations depress me – so much orange, brown, green, and yellow. This is elegant. I’m going to follow your lead – thanks!
Kari Sweeten says
What a compliment! Thank you Kathleen!
Tammy Northrup says
I love this! I’ve never seen the hot knife but you can bet I’m going to check it out.
Kari Sweeten says
I can’t believe a hot knife hasn’t been in my life sooner! Super cool and this will come in handy with so many other crafts, too.
Mandy Beyeler says
oooh, I think I want to do this – great idea!
Kari Sweeten says
Thank you Mandy – so simple, one of those instant gratification crafts!
kathleenmcs says
Want to add that I tried cutting faux pumpkins once and failed miserably. Thanks for the hot knife answer!
Kari Sweeten says
You’re so welcome! It will make your faux carving life awesome! lol
Cat says
This was such an easy project to do and turned out so beautifully. I dug into my stash and found my hot knife my pumpkins and I just returned from Michael’s great Labor Day sale and bought some beautiful artificial flowers. Thanks for such a great idea and tutorial.
Kari Sweeten says
You’re so welcome! I love how easy using a hot knife makes this project!
Kiri Masters says
I’d never heard of a hot knife before. But looks like it should definitely become the latest addition to the craft arsenal (craftsernal?). Nice work 🙂
Kari Sweeten says
You will love it! Makes cutting these hard pumpkins a cinch!
Brenda says
I’ve never heard of a hot knife, either. Where’d you pick yours up?
Kari Sweeten says
Michaels Craft Store with a coupon of course!
Amy {The Idea Room} says
I love Fall also! This is such a cute idea! Pinned!
Kari Sweeten says
Thanks Amy!
Keri says
Super cute!! Thanks for the tutorial!!
Kari Sweeten says
So happy you like this project! THANKS!
Julie says
Hi,
I love this idea! I was wondering if I could use real flowers.
Do you have any advice for me?
Thank you so much.
Julie
Kari Sweeten says
You could absolutely use real flowers! I think it would work great!
Stephanie says
Do you think this would work with a shorter pumpkin? I have one that is smaller and I am considering using it.
Kari Sweeten says
absolutely! Just use smaller florals and you’re fine!
Teresa Savage says
This is so pretty. I’m going g to make one. Thanks for the tip also great idea.
LINDA says
Want to do this for daughter’s wedding centerpieces. I am concerned with the weight of the flowers it tipping over. I bought the 10″ size foam pumpkins. I played around with the flowers in a vase first and it seems tipsy. Do you fill the pumpkins with sand or rock to weigh them down. Also did you glue the flowers in the foam not sure if they will loosen up.
Kari Sweeten says
Yes, definitely put a weight in the bottom if you’re having the tipping problem – a rock is a great idea! Also, I didn’t glue the flowers and stems because they stick in and stay really well!
Merissa says
Where can I find the fake pumpkins?
I want to use them for centerpieces and use more maroon colors. My wedding is in November and fake pumpkins would prob be much easier and doable than the real pumpkins!
Kari Sweeten says
You can find them in most craft stores starting in September. They are so much fun to create with!
AJ says
Tj max, Marshalls, and maybe even home goods have a TON right now!
Faron says
Where did you get your white pumpkin? I’ve struggled to find pretty white ones!
Kari Sweeten says
Michaels craft store has them in many different sizes 🙂
Mackenzie Wayco says
Hi I came upon this searching for centerpiece ideas for my wedding. So glad I learned about a hotknife now and not when i attempted this. Thanks!! Also any chance you can point me in the direction of that gorgeous sunflower you used?
Kari Sweeten says
Hi MacKenzie,
I purchased all the florals at Michaels Craft Store!
Pam says
What size pumpkin did you use?
Jaclin says
How do you keep the pumpkin from tipping over? I put a few tall stems in mine.
Shirley Banks says
I love your pumpkin arrangement. Where did you purchase your off-white pumpkin and what size is it??
Juli Foden says
Love your arrangement. I too am not a fan of the autumn arrangements because of oranges and browns but LOVE what you have created. Great job. Thanks for sharing.
Vanessa says
I am doing this for my wedding centerpieces but I plan on using real flowers. Would the flower foam that’s able to get wet ok to use inside of the pumpkins? I was thinking about getting a vase or a cup to put inside but I bought flower foam in hopes that it can be used.