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Plastic Pumpkin Ideas – DIY Music Sheet Planter

September 17, 2012  Fall | Garden | Halloween | My Projects

Plastic Pumpkin Ideas - turn an ugly plastic pumpkin pail into a fun planter - step by step directions kellyelko.com

Hoarding comes in handy sometimes.

I know you understand (unlike my Hubs)!

As I was rummaging through my Halloween bins in search of fall decorations, in the dark hole that is my basement,

I came upon a huge garbage bag filled with cheap plastic pumpkins that I bought for a Halloween party game years ago.

Cheap plastic pumpkins = halloween ugliness.

How to rectify that?

DIY Halloween music sheet planter from a plastic pumpkin!  Perfect fall decorations at kellyelko.com

Ahhhh, much better.

Now I’m in my happy place once again with these plastic pumpkin ideas.

DIY Halloween music sheet planter from a plastic pumpkin!  kellyelko.com

Supplies:
*Plastic pumpkin
*Mod podge
*Paint brush
*Music sheets (or dictionary/book pages)
*Clear spray paint sealer

The How To:
*Cut music sheets into strips (cut the shorter side which is the perfect fit for the pumpkins)
*Apply thin layer of mod podge to paper strips and stick on pumpkin – letting the overlap fold into the top of pumpkin
*Let dry then apply 1 coat of mod podge or 2 coats of clear sealer if you plan to put them outside

DIY Halloween music sheet planter from a plastic pumpkin!  Perfect fall decorations at kellyelko.com

Now my other ugly pumpkins expect a makeover.

DIY Halloween music sheet planter from a plastic pumpkin!  Perfect fall decorations at kellyelko.com

Made over pumpkins can be such divas – there’ll be no living with their huge egos now.
I’m on a Fall roll, have you seen my Mummy Votives – talk about prima donnas?
DIY Mummy Votives for Halloween kellyelko.com
And check out My Fall Porch – where these beauties made their debut.
Love pumpkins?
Check out Ugly Plastic Pumpkin Makeover – Round 2 and …

my lace pumpkin …

bling pumpkin …

3D paper pumpkins …

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Comments

  1. Maureen

    September 17, 2012 at 5:14 am

    Kelly,

    You have to be careful with those diva pumpkins, I had one who got so out of hand once he took over the guest room as his own personal “suite”! If you keep making them look so good, they will start to take advantage of you. . .lol!

    Seriously, good job putting the old pumpkins to use.

    Reply
  2. misty cotton

    September 17, 2012 at 5:35 am

    two things i love about fall: mums and cheap plastic pumpkins! i have a few pumpkins that never got retired after halloween last year, they’ve just been hanging around the play room looking completely out of place! now i think i should find some scrapbook paper or gift wrap and give them a makeover! thanks for sharing this wonderful idea!

    Reply
  3. [email protected] This Top That

    September 17, 2012 at 6:41 am

    don’t call her “cheap” anymore! her fee just went up!:)

    Reply
  4. Heidi McCarty Milton

    September 17, 2012 at 6:52 am

    Duh! Why didn’t I think of that? 😉 Brilliant and sooooo much cuter.

    Reply
  5. Karah @ thespacebetweenblog

    September 17, 2012 at 8:10 am

    I would have to agree, that is probably the best makeover you can give a plastic $1 pumpkin! Love it.

    Reply
  6. Ann

    September 17, 2012 at 8:31 am

    Diva, indeed. Love this idea.

    Reply
  7. cassie

    September 17, 2012 at 8:45 am

    too fun! what a clever idea! and totally in my price range, which is negative to $5 for project costs.

    Reply
  8. Mary Alice Patterson

    September 17, 2012 at 8:48 am

    This is sooo cute! Leave it to you, Kelly, to come up with such a great idea.
    Mary Alice

    Reply
  9. Keeping it Cozy

    September 17, 2012 at 9:19 am

    So pretty! I would never had guessed that was a cheap plastic pumpkin underneath! The mums are gorgeous… I can’t wait to go buy some for our porch!

    Reply
  10. Anne

    September 17, 2012 at 9:47 am

    Awesome job! Now I’m sorry I got rid of my pumpkin head when I moved… blogging is driving me crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

    Reply
  11. kim

    September 17, 2012 at 9:54 am

    Good idea. Love the sheet music added to it with the mum.

    Reply
  12. Thistle

    September 17, 2012 at 9:58 am

    You are totally singing my tune 🙂

    (so sorry…..I couldn’t resist)!

    Have a great day rock star.
    🙂

    Reply
  13. Dana

    September 17, 2012 at 10:00 am

    Yup. You’re a genius. LOVE THESE!!! Might have to copy you. 😛

    Reply
  14. Jean

    September 17, 2012 at 10:06 am

    Not only that, but lightweight, too! I did that to some seriously ugly ceramic canisters. They sold quickly. Maybe you could start a new biz!!

    Reply
  15. Jessica @ Mom 4 Real

    September 17, 2012 at 10:14 am

    Holy minoly! I cannot believe that was a plastic pumpkin…it’s so cute now! I’m totes stealing this idea!

    Reply
  16. [email protected]

    September 17, 2012 at 10:46 am

    Don’t even think I didn’t just pin these with the intention of stealing your idea to do myself.

    Reply
  17. Linda @ A La Carte

    September 17, 2012 at 11:09 am

    What a change a little sheet music makes! Great idea!

    Reply
  18. Karen

    September 17, 2012 at 12:23 pm

    Now this is a good thing! Thanks Martha! I mean Kelly.

    Reply
  19. Jo

    September 17, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    Kelly ….fantastic..I saw these at Fred’s and my mind was blowing up with ideas,this has really inspired me…now I’ve got to get back to Fred’s and get those inexpensive little babies.and get to modpodge’n….come see me I cut out some jack-o-lantern faces out of old orange placemats…cost…0…

    Reply
  20. endlesslyinspired

    September 17, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    I am dying that you posted this today. I was just at Goodwill — like an hour ago! — and there were a billion of these, and I was trying to figure out what I could do with them. LOVE IT.

    Reply
  21. Ali

    September 17, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    LOVE this!!!!!!

    Reply
  22. Mary

    September 17, 2012 at 2:44 pm

    What a GREAT idea! Very, very nice transformation.

    Reply
  23. [email protected] Ain't Cheap

    September 17, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    super cool idea!…I have a few of those…with leftover last year candy…yuck!

    Reply
  24. Bonnie and Trish @ Uncommon

    September 17, 2012 at 4:02 pm

    girl…now I wish I had kept all those plastic pumpkins over the years!! ADORABLE!! 🙂 Bonnie

    Reply
  25. Bliss

    September 17, 2012 at 4:09 pm

    At this time of year every garage sale has at least one of these pumpkins. Usually they can be had for a quarter. Now that I want some, they will be a buck if I ever see them again.

    ~Bliss~

    Reply
  26. [email protected]

    September 17, 2012 at 4:19 pm

    So cute! I love that! What a great idea!

    Reply
  27. debbiedoos

    September 17, 2012 at 5:33 pm

    CAYUTE pie right here! I love it Kelly.

    Reply
  28. Shannon Fox

    September 17, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    I think you re right! That dollar punkin looks great in sheet music. Is that the Fall 2012 line? 😉

    Reply
  29. Linda @ it all started with paint

    September 17, 2012 at 6:43 pm

    So clever and so simple! I think it’s time for me to whip out my Mod Podge again …

    🙂

    Linda

    Reply
  30. Kris

    September 17, 2012 at 11:23 pm

    You are so clever!!!!

    Reply
  31. Sheila @ SZInteriors

    September 18, 2012 at 12:50 am

    Another great idea! What a fun way to liven plastic pumpkin head up! I love it 🙂

    Reply
  32. Kelly @ JAX does design

    September 18, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Very creative re-use for an orange plastic pumpkin 🙂 You could use all sorts of interesting kinds of paper to dress up one of these babies – pages from an old book would be cool. Maybe The Legend of Sleepy Hollow 🙂 I wonder if putting a few of those LED tea lights inside would create a glow through the paper… assuming the pumpkin isn’t filled with flowers, of course!

    Reply
  33. aimee {sixteen fourteen}

    September 18, 2012 at 7:28 pm

    Love it! So cute. Is it kind of sad that you have a smiling pumpkin and then you cover it with paper? He’s like “noooooo!” 😉

    Reply
  34. Dear Helen Hartman

    September 18, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    Cute idea! So glad I came by to see it on this Wow Us Wednesday

    Reply
  35. Shannon Fox

    September 18, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    Thanks for partying with us Kelly!

    (I have to hide my sheet music projects from my kid, he has a fit! lol)

    Reply
  36. Rebecca LS

    September 18, 2012 at 11:13 pm

    That is a nice idea. The sheet music really does make it look classy.

    Reply
  37. JoAnn @ SweetPepperRose

    September 19, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    I love hoarding crafty things – clever make over 😉

    Reply
  38. [email protected]

    September 19, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    That pumpkin is music to my ears!!!…Love it!! So darn cute!!

    Reply
  39. Beverly

    September 19, 2012 at 8:48 pm

    Love, love, love this.♥♥♥

    Reply
  40. Laurie

    September 20, 2012 at 12:32 am

    Love it! You got me with the music note, they are one of my favs! Stopping by via Debbiedoo’s.
    http://www.the-finishing-touches.net/

    Reply
  41. Ricki Jill Treleaven

    September 20, 2012 at 7:27 am

    THis is a great idea because you can put any kind of arrangement in them. I love this!

    Linking from Debbidoos,
    Ricki Jill

    Reply
  42. Honey

    September 22, 2012 at 1:59 am

    This is an adorable and clever idea!

    Reply
  43. Nichi - The Mandatory Mooch

    September 22, 2012 at 11:37 pm

    I love this project. How cute!! I would love for you to share on my linky party. Still live until tomorrow night. Thanks ,Nichi http://www.mandatorymooch.blogspot.com/2012/09/tasty-thursdays-9.html

    Reply
  44. Athena at Minerva's Garden

    September 27, 2012 at 5:20 pm

    This is such a great-looking idea, Kelly–I can see it applied to all types of plastic objects! I am definitely going to have to play with this creative gem you gave me today–thank you for the inspiration!

    Reply
  45. Tazas y Cuentos

    September 27, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    So cute! I love decoupage. You have inspired me. I’m welcoming spring here but I must have my pumpkin too!
    Besos, Silvina

    Reply
  46. Honey

    September 27, 2012 at 11:23 pm

    Stopping back by to say thank you for sharing your creativity and inspiration at Potpourri Friday.

    Reply
  47. Deanna

    September 28, 2012 at 12:01 pm

    So cute ! I love it!! Now I know what to do with my son’s pumpkin head buckets!! Thanks for the inspiration! I’m your newest follower!! Cheers ~Deanna

    Reply
  48. Laura @ Elegant Nest

    September 29, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    So simple and yet so cute! The perfect kind of project! I pass these up at the thrift store this time of year…perhaps I should pick up a few! Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  49. Linda

    October 1, 2012 at 11:54 pm

    That is a really unique pumpkin. I’d love for you to come and link up to our PUMPKIN PARTY which is open until the 18th of October. Take care, Linda

    http://twosucculentsisters.blogspot.com/2012/09/thirty-days-of-pumpkins.html

    Reply
  50. Ann

    October 20, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    Oh MAN! I just got rid of two plastic pumpkins just like yours! And with outdoor Mod Podge this would totally stand up to the Oregon weather. Good thing these pumpkins are so cheap at the thrift store, cuz I see a cute project in my immediate future. Thanks for the idea!

    Reply
  51. Pam

    November 3, 2012 at 10:25 am

    I made one of these for my front porch……super easy project. My husband especially liked it as I used the sheets from his favorite piece………Blue Danube!

    Reply
  52. Kimi Jean

    November 23, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    What a blog!! 1st time checking it out!!! Now I have tons of ideas for Xmas gifts- I usually just make Jams, Jellies, & Marmalades-there are so many different ideas to go with. Tons of ideas- I am not worried anymore of what to make. Thanks so much ^j^

    Reply
  53. [email protected] Direction

    June 24, 2013 at 10:10 am

    I just love it!

    Reply

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KELLY

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Join me as I decorate my 100 year old home, scour thrift stores, create pretty things, putter in my peony and hydrangea filled garden, and mix up a mean cocktail all with a touch of sarcasm and a side of bacon - Cheers!



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Love where you live by mixing high and low, new and old to create a home that shows off your personality. My mantra ... simple projects equals more time for cocktails!
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