Lettering on a Pumpkin

You can letter on anything, not just flat surfaces. Since it’s October let’s give lettering on a pumpkin a try!

Lettering on a flat surface only requires to ability to create letters. When we move to alternative surfaces, like a pumpkin, river rocks, or a glass ball ornament, we need to consider the curves as we lay down our lettering. As a lefty, it also means I need to get creative about keeping my hand out of wet ink!

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Clean your surface to prepare for lettering.

I wiped down my pumpkin with a damp paper towel. Anything from nature that your lettering on will need a simple surface wipe so that you don’t damage your pens with dust and dirt. (For a glass ornament, clean it with a bit of window cleaner to make sure fingerprints are gone.)

Use chalk to plan your lettering design.

When I want to be sure my lettering will fit, I sketch out my design in chalk before lettering with the paint pen. While drawing monograms I’m more likely to just put the pen to the surface. I’m wild and crazy like that.

Use good paint pens for satisfying results when lettering on alternative surfaces.

I prefer the water-based paint pens because the color lays down nice and opaque right from the start. Oil-based pens tend to need a few layers of paint to stand out boldly, and take longer to dry between layers which is not good for a lefty.

Add doodles to pull it all together.

Simple frames or wreaths, or added doodles like spiderwebs, really help to pull the whole design into a complete look. I like to use a contrasting color with an extra-fine point for these final details.

Protect your finished work with a spray coating.

If you are keeping your decor outside, or if they are indoor decorations that you wish to store for another season (NOT fresh pumpkins), spray a thin layer of protective spray paint on your finished work. My preference is the clear coat from Krylon. Be sure to spray outside, or in a very well-ventilated area. 

Here’s a video demonstration of lettering on a pumpkin (and a foam craft pumpkin):

Some supply recommendations:

Find more posts in #loveYOURlettering: Part 2 here-