Oh yeah, this is a weird one guys. I thought it would be fun to get crafty with a bunch of faux pumpkins and gourds that I’ve had for years, along with a few other items that have been tucked away in my craft bin for forever and a day. So all of these quirky little seasonal updates cost me zero dollars (holla!), and it turns out I’m cool with putting legwear on decorative items, so I learned a little bit about myself. Enter three sets of pantyhose, stage left. Or should I technically call them fishnets? Either way, I’ve been thinking about how much fun they’d be to slide around a pumpkin like a spider-web-ish slipcover for years now (I got them on clearance at TJ Maxx in 2011 for this purpose and promptly forgot about them).
While I was at it, I also used some craft paint and a sharpie to give a few old gourds a new look.
Here were all of my materials laid out before I got started. I had sprayed some of the gourds white a bunch of years back and those white faux pumpkins hailed from Michael’s before we even started this blog I think (I like using them in fall/Thanksgiving decor too since they’re pretty versatile, so I didn’t want to permanently do anything to alter them, like paint them with Halloween-specific things – which is why the fishnets are such a nice update). Let’s call them temporary tattoos, if you will. Except they’re a new breed that can be removed and reused every year around Halloween.
This was such a simple project that only took a few minutes per faux pumpkin. I just slipped the pumpkin carefully into one of the legs and tried to squish it as close to the foot part as I could. Pardon this next sentence (possibly the weirdest one I have typed to date) but in case you can’t tell what’s going on here, the pumpkin went in at the top of the pantyhose where the crotch is, and I pushed it down one leg as close to the toe as I could get it.
Then I just cut the pantyhose off off at the bottom of the pumpkin (so it was long enough to wrap around under it and stay put) and I clipped it off at the top. Thanks to the shrinky nature of pantyhose, even though I cut off the entire foot area of the fishnets, they sort of shrunk up around the stem, as you can see below. I did two exactly the same way using two different fishnet varieties (they were $1.99 each from TJ Maxx when I grabbed them two years back if anyone is wondering what they might cost to buy).
Here’s a closer shot from the top so you can really see how the stockings hug the pumpkin and sort of snuggle the stem so there’s not a big band of white up there or anything (just try to press the pumpkin in as far as it can go and cut off as little as possible of the stockings because obviously if you snipped them off at the thigh there would be a lot more of a hole and it wouldn’t hug your pumpkin as tightly and look as fitted up around the stem).
I think the diamond one’s my favorite.
The white fishnets are sort of subtle and even more real-life-spiderweb-ish. I think they’d be really cool on a chalkboard pumpkin or even a bold orange one if you want a little more contrast, but a black and white palette like this is fun too. Oh and I did two of the gourds with the small foot sections that I had snipped off, which are somewhat cute, but I’m not as in love with them as the big ones (when the fabric is tighter around the pumpkins I think it’s a little bit cooler of an effect).
Update: Apparently we have been living under a rock, and it turns out fishnet pumpkins are a thing (someone commented to say they were on The Today Show this morning!) – so check out all the fun ones that came up when I googled it.
Now let’s switch gears to my painted gourds. I used craft paint from Michael’s and JoAnn that I already had in my bin and just sort of smeared the yellow and red around with a brush haphazardly to give one of those previously white ones an orange and smeary look.
I did the same thing to the pear shaped gourd, and then just painted the smaller pumpkin and the goose-necked one solid yellow. After those dried I went back with some orangey-red paint and created some bands around each of them (two on all of them except for that squat little pumpkin, who just got one wide one around the top).
See that red sharpie in the picture above? Well, once they dried I took them outside (sharpies in the house = stinky, and I’m paranoid that they make Burger high) and doodled on each of the yellow bands around all four of them. I did some triangle doodles on the pear-shaped one, some diamonds on the long spiney one, and some stripes on the squat pumpkin and the goose-necked one.
They’re definitely far from perfect (my hand wiggled a few times since they’re not exactly like drawing on a flat surface) but I think the word “doodles” perfectly describes them.
I like that I can just spray paint them all gold or white (or any other color) if I so desire, but for now I’m digging the happier orange and yellow look. And my fishnet stockings make me feel like a woman who puts pantyhose on fake vegetables. Me-ow. Most of all, Clara loves all things bug, so the spiderweb-y slipcovers are definitely a hit with her. I think I might even grab some of those creepy rubber spiders and set them on top of each pumpkin, just to see the sheer joy on her face when she discovers them. What are you guys getting crafty with this week? Any other pumpkin related updates? Are you carving real ones? We grabbed some of those too, and can’t wait to find a night to carve them.
Looking for more seasonal craftiness? Here are 22 other fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving projects that we’ve tackled over the years:
GreenInOC says
Love your fishnet pumpkins! In your Crafty post last week @Maura commented and included a link to her chalkboard paint pumpkin which I totally copied!
YoungHouseLove says
Wasn’t that sweet? I loved it!
xo
s
Heather P. says
Love this idea! It turned out really well, and I like that it’s something you can switch up later if you want to!
Ashley says
Very well executed! Although, I’ve seen these all over Pinterest. I love the weekly craft, but I’d wish this were more original! But otherwise very lovely!
Mina says
The pantyhose pumpkins are incredible !! I love them, i love the idea. It’s beautiful. Thanks for your blog, i like it very very much!
Kisses from France.
Mina
Jessica says
Cute! The painted gourds would have been a good project to do with the very artistic Clara. Maybe not with a Sharpie, but washable markers or paint.
YoungHouseLove says
We have a few pumpkin projects planned with her too! So far she has painted and tissue papered pumpkins and she really loves getting in on the action!
xo
s
jeannette says
i too have a thing for insects. my favorites include these art nouveau ones by the wonderful E. A. Seguy:
http://www.amazon.com/Decorative-Butterflies-Insects-Picture-Archives/dp/0486235521
these kinda goth pricey ones made by mr. finch out of vintage rummage in north england:
http://www.mister-finch.com/portfolio/
and i have this ant on the coffee table, which just about kills me:
http://www.sciencestoreforthestars.com/insect-lore-ant-wood-model-kit.aspx
wave your antennae at my fellow bug girl for me.
YoungHouseLove says
Love it all!
xo
s
Amanda says
Ok, all of a sudden I am excited about digging up some old pantyhose to do this craft! I stashed 2 pairs of fancy, expensive stockings with unfortunate runs that I just couldn’t toss (Wolford, anyone?), so now I have an idea for what to do with them! Thanks!
jeannette says
not to spam you, but the best way to keep up with the amazing mr. finch is his blog, in which he is creating gorgeous things every day which sell out so fast you can never see them in his et$y $hop. i think somebody like you, sherry, with actual maker skills, could learn to fabricate something gorgeous just from looking at his bugs.
http://mynameisfinch.blogspot.com/
YoungHouseLove says
So inspiring!
xo
s
Deena says
Add me to the cache of people who didn’t realize that this was a thing! Love it – so cute.
I’m a big believer in a “one mind” kind of thing – there’s a lot of ideas I’ve thought would be so cool to do (thinking I was marginally original) and then I’ve done a quick search and realized people have been on it for years. :-)
In summary: haters gonna hate. March on, Petersiks!
Theresa says
These are so awesome! I am SO going to try this! I’ve never heard of this before, so I’m giving you credit :) Love it!
caroline [the diy nurse] says
Sexy Pumpkins! Love it
Megan says
We are doing apartment living for the first time ever this year and I am SO thankful for your tutorials linked up! I need ideas for pumpkins that aren’t carved and I LOVE the puff paint ones. Thanks!
Laura Gaskill says
And here I thought nothing new could possibly be done to pumpkins! :) And so easy! Totally trying this…
Julie says
I love the fishnet pumpkins! Apparently I’ve been living under a rock too, because I’ve never seen anything like them. So creative!
Haven says
Wow! Fun stuff. Keep visiting your blog to see what you do to the dining room & “den.” Would be nice to see your stair runner you talked about. Oh & I would really like to see the laundry room redo.
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
Love this! So cute & simple :)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Michelle!
xo
s
Haven says
Testing….sherry you there? I don’t see my comment. Did you delete it already?!
YoungHouseLove says
Sorry, for the trouble finding it! It’s right here for ya. Not sure why you aren’t able to see it (sometimes comments cache so it takes a little while to pop up, or people just look on one page when it’s on another one). Hope it helps!
xo
s
Boulder Painting says
Those pumpkins are great and so simple to do! Thanks for sharing!
Heather says
I must be living under a rock too because I had never seen this before!! I love it, such an easy and cute craft!!!!
Evie says
Sherry, they’re all cute! Hope you’re there to get a pic of Clara’s face as she finds the spiders for the first time. So fun!
Did you paint or embroider the orange zigs (and zags) on the white woven bowl? Wish I could have bowls and baskets and things like that around, but anything like that that I put out for decoration turns into cat beds. Hmmm, my multicat lifestyle choice comes back to haunt me now and then. (Oh! Halloween pun not intended! Very cool.)
YoungHouseLove says
I wish! That was from Target! I love it so much. The funny thing is that I was at my mother in law’s house and my best friend’s house and both of them bought them too!
xo
s
MP says
I’m sorry, but this strikes me as trying too hard. Crafty things for decor are kind of fine line, don’t you think? I mean this nicely, I love to do crafts, but sometimes they just seem like adding decor for decor’s sake.
YoungHouseLove says
I completely agree that crafts/small projects are a fine line, and everyone would probably draw it differently (I see so many ten layer cakes that I’d never take the time to make but my BFF loves that stuff and does it all the time). When we shared my metal grate pillow stenciling project about a month ago, I never thought so many people would love it and ask for more small projects/updates/craftiness, and since it’s a lot of fun for me (especially in a time of painting tons of blue trim and stripping room after room of wallpaper) I’ve really enjoyed diving into these little instant gratification updates each week. Even if they’re just painting/pantyhosing/stenciling/sewing/sketching something for the sake of a little mini pick-me-up in the middle of a week full of larger projects, ya know?
xo
s
Gabie says
I’ve never seen or thought of using fishnet to decorate pumpkins before either. I guess some people would find it surprising that other people don’t spend hours on pinterest or facebook(and, GASP!, I don’t even have a facebook account) worrying about what everyone else is doing and what’s the newest, coolest thing to do. I honestly hardly ever comment and find it so shocking when others post negative comments. Love your blog so much!
Melissa says
Some people probably would find it surprising that a full time blogger who does this for a living can’t keep track of current trends. Some people would also probably find it surprising that a blogger wouldn’t do a quick google search to see if their idea is in fact a very popular trend or a unique idea. But hey, 100 people, 100 different ways!
Jennie says
Cute! I have never seen anything like this before and also didn’t know that it was a “thing.” But then again, what isn’t a “thing” anymore? So many great ideas out there! Thanks for sharing! I remember making a scarecrow head out of a ball and some pantyhose when I was little. Poor guy had a really lopsided, roll-to-the-side kinda head! He was so sad looking! Fun memories :)
Katie says
Love this!! Just wondering…can you give us a peak at how/where you store your craft supplies? I know you guys try to keep things simple and minimize as much as possible so I’d love to see what’s important enough to you that you keep it stored. (Is it obvious that I’m kind of hoping you have a secret Monica Gellar closet?)
YoungHouseLove says
Someone else asked that and I admitted our craft closet is a mess (and it’s in the guest room so they can peek in there and scream, hah!) I’d love to get a handle on organizing it and share that with you guys! Maybe add some shelves and some clear labeled bins? Everything is piled into a few baskets and even some paper grocery bags right now without any rhyme or reason, so I should probably do that soon!
xo
s
Tania says
I have ideas all the time that I think are original and brilliant and it sometimes turns out someone else thought of them first. Whatever! I think you all are incredibly creative and i had no idea fishnet pumpkins are a thing. So what if they are? They look cute and you didn’t know about it, so you dreamed it up too. I love them! Yay $0 updates. I think you all totally keep it real. :)
Jennifer says
I have to admit, I didn’t read through the 102 comments but y’all are the stencil kings (queens? people?) could you stencil over the fishnet (maybe next year, maybe they are too thin)?
I never would have guessed, but they are cute!
Maybe next year…although I don’t see my husband or my boys going for this…but you never know!
YoungHouseLove says
Others said spray painting might work and I agree! The stockings would have to be tight (anything loose would get paint under it) but it could be really cool! If someone tries it I’d love to see pics!
xo
s
Sonia says
Just want to point out that if you bought the pantyhose a while back, it does not make this project a 0 dollar project. The cost of the project is the cost of the pantyhose, right?
YoungHouseLove says
True! By that logic when I bought the faux pumpkins and gourds years ago those count for the project too. I usually just list how much we spend on supplies whenever we do a project, and whenever we get to use things we already have around the house it feels like a nice little $0 payout at that time. But sure, everything in my craft closet was purchased at some point!
xo
s
Sheena says
This is amazing!! I never would’ve thought to use pantyhose! #clever ;)
Erika says
I keep imagining myself reading a pantyhose package for proper sizing . . . “Lessee . . . 14 inches tall, approximately ten pounds? Um . . . minus the feet and waist part . . .” :-) Teehee.
Love them! I posted in reply upthread there in response to a naysayer, but wanted to say here in case you miss it that I think they are very cool and webby looking indeed! I never would of thought of this!
Paula says
Loving the pumpkins – we don’t really do Halloween downunder, although it’s becoming more of a thing. But I have to share this, because you haven’t lived til you’ve made a dance top out of pantyhose! You cut out the crotch, which becomes the neckline, and cut off the feet, so that the leg bits can be sleeves, and the waistband is the bottom of the garment. Then you cut random holes in the “top” you’ve just made, and add glue and sequins round the edges. Oh, the joy that is little girls’ dance groups! (My little girl is 19 today, so feeling a bit nostalgic!)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh my gosh, how have I lived 31 years on this green earth and never heard about that?! It sounds amazing, and good for some Saved By The Bell/90210 costume party fun!
xo
s
Molly says
I know this is totally off topic… but how is your idea house coming? Have you guys thought of doing a series on drawing-board ideas from that house (so that you don’t spill the beans for the final design) like, “we experimented with this cool design but it didn’t quite work out, but is still a cool idea?” I’m so curious to see what you do there!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Molly! They cleared the lot this week and are going to be working on the foundation/framing for the next month or so! We are actually planning to blog about the entire process (we’re not keeping any secrets about the design, and will share those details as they go). We just have to wait to have walls up to start choosing finishes and watching rooms come together, but the plan is to be under-roof by Christmas and then things should move really fast between then and May when we get the whole house finished and furnished. Can’t wait to share the whole thing as it goes!
xo
s
Corie says
I don’t know if you guys watch How I Met Your Mother but the stocking pumpkins are Slutty Pumpkins now and I can’t stop laughing at my own joke.
I really like the outcome of that quirky idea, Sherry!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, now I want to watch it! Haha!
xo
s
Caity says
HAHA, I love that show, and I’m laughing at your joke, too, Corie!!
Lauren says
Cuuuuute – I loooove what you did with the hose! So fun.
Here’s what I did after Halloween with my pumpkins, if you’re interested. :)
http://muchadoaboutsomethin.blogspot.com/2012/12/christmas-pumpkins.html
YoungHouseLove says
Fun! I love that Christmas tweak!
xo
s
Becky Horst says
OMG pantyhose pumpkins!! Awesome idea. I’ll pretend that you Sherry invented this.
Suzanne says
I saw someone else already left a similar comment, so I’m not intending to jump up and down, but maybe you could advise “projected price”. Obviously most people don’t have a pair of fishnets lying around but you could estimate $10 at TJ Maxx or average price of the pumpkins. Same goes as for your stencil floored. I think they look great but I’m pretty sure NO ONE else on here has that sort of stencil lying around. Sure it’s inspiring to see a $0 project but many of us don’t have cans of paint lying around. I don’t think you have to do a cost breakdown for all your posts but maybe just for the ones that come across as more how-to things that people might get into one weekend (ie: sadly I will not be tiling my non existent sunroom. Sadly). They pumpkins are really cool. I always love the white ones, this really kicks it up.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Suzanne! We actually had to buy the paint for the stencil and listed that cost in the stenciling post on Monday (and linked to the stencil so anyone who wanted to buy it could see that additional cost). In the future I’ll try to add those costs up and point out how much things might be if you didn’t have everything on hand (I usually do try to include that, so I’m sorry I got a bit lax and just mentioned the cost of the stockings and linked to the stencil instead of fully breaking them down).
xo
s
angela says
I love this post sooo much. Reading through I was getting more and more excited about how crazy inventive you are…then, spoiler, apparently so are thousands of other people!! Haha. Who knew? I have never seen this before and think it’s such a cool idea. The black & white theme is so cute! Makes you wonder what other decor you can wrap in fishnets? Ceramic animals?? Hmmmm…
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! I think my concrete greyhound needs a fishnet tank top. Just for Halloween. Or year round…
xo
s
Angela says
Oh yes please! Do the tank top, too funny!! Put him at the front door for the season.
Tanya says
I prefer my gourds real and au natural… :)
Stephanie says
Please don’t make weekly craft projects a “thing”– I was interested when they were occasional, but I’d rather you just not have a post on Tuesday mornings and use the time to chip away at big projects.
:) just a reader’s two cents!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Stephanie! When we announced these would be a weekly addition, many people were really excited, although we know every post won’t resonate with every reader. Our pace for the last few years has been to share an average of two larger projects or updates a week, usually on Mon/Wed, like our floor stenciling project yesterday (they’ve never been an everyday thing). So perhaps it helps to think of quick crafty updates as bonuses (taking the place of other not-about-our-house things we’ve always shared like Window Shopping or mood boards). We like the diversity of crafts being in the mix with bigger projects, and there were also many requests for them – so I’m sure there are others who prefer them, especially over dropping a post. Who knows if they’ll be a weekly thing for years, but for now when so much of our work is painting blue trim and peeling wallpaper, they’re a welcome addition!
xo
s
Stephanie says
Thanks for your reply, Sherry. I appreciate that you took time to read and respond to my comment.
I think this is a matter of preference (as a reader, I’d prefer quality over quantity posts, but I’m sure as a blogger & business owner you need to keep a schedule/pageviews/etc.) and we can agree to disagree– especially as it’s your blog.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much, Stephanie!
xo
s
Kristen says
Sherry – I am one of the readers who loves the craft posts! It’s nice to have posts like this as well. I don’t own a home yet so I as much as I would love to, I can’t really do any renovations. It’s fun to have some posts that I can actually use now instead of in the future! :) (…but I obviously love the big projects too! A mixture of both is refreshing.)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Kristen!
xo
s
Mari of crab+fish says
Hi Sherry, here’s my take on fishnet pumpkins:
http://crabandfish.blogspot.com/2013/10/spookydiy-fancy-fishnet-pumpkins.html
I call them my “slutty pumpkins” — a How I Met Your Mother reference. :)
I like your take on them too — I wanted to try it with fancier/more intricate patterns like the stockings you have, but haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Yay for easy Halloween crafts!
Mari of crab+fish
Mari of crab+fish says
I just discovered some of my fishnet pumpkins come up on the google search link you posted — whoa! :D
YoungHouseLove says
So funny! I love them!
xo
s
Carly says
I LOVE this idea. Funny enough the day before I read your post – I found out that Martha (of course) makes “Pumpkin slip covers” (she doesn’t really call them that but she should) and they are basically what you made. So awesome! And I believe you about not knowing about them. I’m always on Pinterest and have yet to see them. I know they are out there but my point is that it’s not like you have to live on Mars to miss it…
FYI: Saw them at Joann’s in a pack of three for anyone who isn’t as creative as Sherry :)
YoungHouseLove says
Love the tip! Can’t believe Martha sells them premade!
xo
s
Summer says
Hey Guys! I love the pantyhose pumpkins!! There are a lot of great pumpkin ideas floating around right now and this has to be one of the most clever! Thanks for all that you do!
Jillian@TheHumbleGourmet says
Girl, those are awesome. I don’t care if they’re “a thing” now or the Today show did them…I am giving you all the credit. :-)
Alexe @ Keys to the Cucina says
You guys amaze me! What a cool way to spruce up some pumpkins, the diamond one is my fave too!
Libby Boyle says
I love the look of the stockinged pumpkins. They look really sophisticated. I’m thinking that my clear tall rectangular vase might look good with a trendy stocking around it.
Halloween is a relatively new thing in Australia. It’s only in the last few years that Halloween supplies have jumped onto our stoe shelves. Some families do the dress up thing with the kids and go trick or treating. I try to keep supplies of goodies in my fridge just in case. Some years I get little visitors; some years not … Then I have to eat the treats myself!
Erin @ House Envy says
I love the gourds and the pumpkins. If pumpkins had legs. . .
Virginie Delaitre says
Really beautiful !
Mamaw says
Love, love, love the pantyhose pumpkins!
Carrie says
Fantabulish, pumpkins and fishnet stocks, who would of thought.
Maria @ Inspiration Affirmation says
I love the fishnet stocking pumpkins! I have never heard of that before — thanks for sharing it with us. And thanks for sharing a bunch of your past Halloween/Fall posts in this post, too. I had so much fun looking through them all.