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Create a Giant Cedar Pumpkin with Melissa Miller 🎃✨
DIY Giant Cedar Pumpkin with Melissa Miller
Fall is the perfect time to bring out the pumpkins! In this tutorial, Melissa Miller of Miller’s Rustic Sawmill shows us how to transform a giant 18x18” cedar pumpkin into a rustic, layered work of art using Essential Stencil designs. The result is a warm, subtle, patterned pumpkin that’s perfect for porches, entryways, or as a cozy fall accent inside your home.
Table of Contents
Materials Needed
- Sweet October Pumpkins Mini Stencil 6pk
- Maple Autumn Greetings Mini Stencil 4pk
- Football Plays Pattern Stencil (optional)
- Fall is for Football Door Hanger Stencil
- Stencil Brush Set
- 18x18” cedar pumpkin board (from Miller’s Rustic Sawmill)
- Acrylic paints: muted orange, black cherry, metallic copper, antique white
- Wood Honey sealer or finishing oil
- Tape, paper towels
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep Your Board
Start with your 18x18" cedar pumpkin board. Make sure the surface is clean and smooth before stenciling.
2. Stencil Pumpkins in Orange
Tape down the pumpkin stencil from the Sweet October Pumpkins Mini Stencil pack along the sides of the board. Fill them in with muted orange paint, repeating the design on both edges.
3. Add Maple Leaves
Position the leaf stencil from the Maple Autumn Greetings Mini Stencil pack. Stencil the leaves using black cherry (a rich maroon shade) to create an autumn touch.
4. Add “Pumpkin” in Metallic Copper
Next, tape down the “Pumpkin” word stencil from the Sweet October Pumpkins Mini Stencil pack. Fill it in with metallic copper paint for a shimmery background effect.
5. Center the Main Phrase
Once your background design is dry, place the Fall is for Football Stencil in the middle. Using a stencil brush in circular motions, fill only the words “Fall is for” with antique white paint.
6. Seal with Wood Honey
When the paint has set, apply Wood Honey sealer evenly across the entire pumpkin board to enhance the natural cedar grain and deepen the painted tones.
Use paper towels to gently wipe away any extra sealer.
Final Reveal
Your giant cedar pumpkin is complete! The layered stencils and wood finish create a rustic, subtle design that looks pressed right into the wood. Perfect for porches, mantels, or seasonal displays.
Helpful Tips
- Subtle background: Use muted tones for the pumpkin and leaf stencils so the main phrase stands out.
- Vary directions: Turn the leaf stencil in different directions for a more natural, scattered look.
- Try metallics: Copper or gold metallics add shimmer without overpowering the design.
- Protect outdoor projects: If displaying outside, add a clear protective spray after sealing.
Watch the Full Tutorial
Want to craft along with Melissa? Watch her full tutorial here:
🍂 Ready to make your own? Shop all Fall Stencils today! 🍂
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