Put your Logo on a Pumpkin (and impress coworkers)

Here's the perfect, low-key DIY project for you. All you need is a pumpkin and a few art supplies. The best part of all: there's no need to pull out all of those slimy pumpkin guts. Rejoice, clean people of the world!

Supplies:

Pumpkin
Printer
Scissors / X-acto knife
Acrylic paint
Paint brushes

Step 1: Pick a pumpkin, wash it, and let it dry.

Look for a pumpkin that is smooth with a semi-flat side. This is where the logo will go. (I picked up my pumpkin at Trader Joe's. Instead of "choosing" a pumpkin, I let it choose me. This is a no-fail technique for finding the perfect pumpkin.) Wipe it down with a paper towel to remove any residual dirt.

Step 2: Print your company's logo and cut it out.

Locate the semi-flat side of the pumpkin and eyeball the area where the logo should go. Next, print out a logo that will fit in that space. I went with a printout that was slightly smaller so the logo wouldn't be distorted by the curved areas on the top and bottom. Cut out the logo using scissors, X-acto knife, laser beam, or whatever works for you. Voila, your printout is now a kick-ass stencil.

Step 3: Loosely tape the stencil on the pumpkin and trace it.

Place a few tape loops on the back of the stencil. Then place it on the pumpkin. Readjust as necessary. The tape loops lift up fairly easily. Once the stencil is in place, trace the logo. A ballpoint pen works better than a sharpie because it is easier to cover the outline with paint.

Pro tip: I suggest keeping the tracing part a secret. Just tell your coworkers you free-handed it. They will be amazed by your mad skillz. (Note: to my Traction friends reading this please ignore that last sentence, I most definitely free-handed it.)

Step 4: Paint the logo, one color at a time.

Acrylic paint works best since it is water-based and dries quickly. Start with the light colors. I started with white. Then let it dry and apply a second coat if needed. Once that is dry, move on to the next darker color in your palette. For me, that was black.

Step 5: Proudly display your masterpiece.

Ta-da! Enjoy the bountiful amount of "oohs" and "aahs" that will come your way when you display the perfect cornucopia of company pride. And remember, there's no need to mention this tutorial. It is all about you, you crafty office genius.