This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission which helps keep my blog up and running but won't cost you a penny more)! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

• Electric plastic Jack-O-Lantern (I found mine at Goodwill for $4.99)
• Flat black spray paint
• Dark grey stone texture spray paint
• Sandpaper
• Handsaw to cut off the existing stem (optional)
• Air dry clay to make a new stem
• E6000 glue
• Aluminum foil to create a form for the new stem
• Dirt
• Damp paper towel

Notice how their stems are longer and curved? The pumpkin I found at Goodwill had a short, squatty stem so I decided to change that.

I used air dry clay and some aluminum foil to make a new stem.

I used a toothpick to make the lines.

I let that dry overnight and in the meantime, I used a hand saw to cut the stem off my pumpkin.

Once the stem was dry, I used E6000 to glue it to the top of the pumpkin and then some more clay to blend it in.

I let that dry overnight too and then started painting.

I used some oil-rubbed bronze spray paint that I already had as the base coat but I only listed black in the supplies because that would work here too.

The next layer is for texture to give it a terracotta appearance. I used some stone texture spray paint that I also already had. (NOTE: If I were doing this again, I would get the thickest, coarsest stone paint rather than fine to make it look more like the inspiration).

For the next step, I used flat black primer and painted it in a vertical stripe pattern over the indented stripes on the pumpkin so that when it dries those areas will look darker (watch the video for a better explanation).

Next comes the best part... rub dirt all over it! 😲

And finally, I sprayed it with Matte Mod Podge spray sealer to protect it and seal in the dirt.