Learn how to make a DIY faux succulent pumpkin centerpiece you can reuse year after year! This pretty – and super simple – faux succulent pumpkin planter is easy-peasy to make in thirty minutes or less! Read on for the full tutorial.
It’s no secret that I love the look of succulents. I used them for a pretty faux succulent wreath, and then made some faux succulent framed art.
Yep, my crafts are faux not fake.
Kind of like shopping at Tar-jay instead of Target.
I have a few real succulents growing on our kitchen windowsill and killed two of them, so faux is the way I go most of the time.
For this easy fall craft, I used leftover dollar store faux succulents from the wreath project and a faux pumpkin I carved for our Thanksgiving table two years ago. Back then, I filled the pumpkins with water and added a grocery store bouquet.
Of course, that’s a perfectly pretty fall centerpiece, but this version – a faux succulent pumpkin arrangement – is a bit unexpected and will last a lot longer.
Including paint drying time, this project takes a little more than 30 minutes and is much less if you leave your pumpkin naked.
Supplies to Make a Faux Succulent Pumpkin Centerpiece
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- Carvable craft pumpkin (a.k.a. “funkin”)
- Copper craft paint (I like Martha Stewart’s)
- Floral foam block
- Faux succulents (The succulents for this project Dollar Tree because I already had them, but I’ve also used the ones linked here.)
How to Make a Faux Succulent Pumpkin Arrangement
Before you get started, prepare your work surface with newspaper or wax paper. I like to use wax paper since it won’t stick to my project.
Step 1: Cut the faux pumpkin
The key to making a faux succulent pumpkin arrangement is to use a sharp knife to carve the top off a foam craft pumpkin. Be sure to buy the carvable kind that’s hollow inside just like a real pumpkin.
Step 2: Paint the pumpkin
Of course, you can paint your pumpkin any color you wish, but I chose a pretty copper craft paint that creates a soft, metallic glow. My daughter applied a single coat of paint to allow the original orange color to show through.
The effect is very subtle, so add another coat of paint or two if you want a richer metallic finish.
Step 3: Prepare the faux succulents
While you’re waiting for the paint to dry, prepare a little bouquet of faux succulents by arranging them in your hand until you’re happy with the look. Trim the stems if necessary so the succulents will sit just on top of the pumpkin, without visible stems.
Step 4: Fill the centerpiece with faux succulents
After the paint dries (in 20-30 minutes), insert the floral foam block in the bottom of the pumpkin. You may want to use a little hot glue to keep the foam in place, but I skipped that step.
Starting with your central succulent, poke the stems into the floral foam until your faux succulent pumpkin planter is complete.
An Easy Fall Centerpiece with Fake Succulents
Ta-da! You’ve just made a lovely faux succulent pumpkin planter that makes a great Thanksgiving centerpiece or decoration for your fall mantel.
My shimmering pumpkin planter sits on our family room shelves alongside cute Halloween prints that you can get for FREE in my resource library. Just scroll down to subscribe to get access to the library, or log in if you’re already a No Pressure Life subscriber.
shelves, picture frames, similar ceramic squirrel, similar ceramic fox, similar “Happy Halloween” wood sign
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