Monogrammed Pumpkin

The other day I purchased a big, beautiful pumpkin from the grocery store. I knew it would end up on my front porch, but wasn't sure if I was going to do something with it first. Well, come on...how could I not?! A bare-naked pumpkin just begs to be crafted. So, crafted it got. 

I like using vinyl as a reverse stencil because it's super easy and almost no-fail. And, you don't even have to have a digital die-cut to use vinyl! They sell it by the sheet in a lot of craft stores, or you can buy rolls online through a multitude of sellers. And, most vinyl comes with a grid pattern on the papered backside, making tracing and cutting a breeze. 

Monograms are an easy thing to hand-cut from vinyl! Simply print your monogram on standard paper, cut and trace onto vinyl. 

Of course, I used my silhouette to cut the "M" because...well, if you've got it, use it. Right? But, I promise you it's not essential to this project! 

I did not, however, use the silhouette to cut out my polka-dots. I always keep scraps of leftover vinyl when I'm done with my projects. I used those itty-bitty (unusable with my machine) scraps to trace and cut my circles. I then hand-placed them (no need for transfer paper with these guys) around the M. I'll be honest, since my pumpkin's backside faces a wall, I concentrated my efforts on the front of the pumpkin. 

Stick your monogram letter on the purdiest (that's how we Texans say prettiest) side of the pumpkin.

Place your dots here and there.

When I got my vinyl stencil (reverse stencil, that is) in place, I took that baby outside to my special spray painting zone. I really wanted a light dusting of white so the orange would come through a bit. However, I got a little spray happy, as I am wont to do, and it ended up with a fairly saturated white coat. 

Next came the fun part. The vinyl removal. Such satisfaction in that task. Look at those clean lines. 

I added a striped ribbon to the pumpkin and placed it on a little black table by my rocking chair. And, I borrowed the sock pumpkins from my daughter's room to add to the vignette. It's okay, I'll make her some new sock pumpkins. 

That's it! Now, I just need to spruce up the rest of my front porch.

I'm linking up this week!!