DIY Pumpkin Specimen Art

by Myra Hope

I’m so stinkin’ excited to show you my pumpkin specimen art!  I’ve been wanting to create specimen art for months, so I’m over-the-moon excited to finally have gotten it done in time for Fall!

Isn’t it cute!

And yes, I used scrabble tiles {again}, but I couldn’t help myself. :)

Pumpkin Specimen Art Tutorial

Supplies:

  • Photo frame {my frame is for an 11×14 picture}
  • Scrapbook paper {or sheet music, newspaper etc}
  • Foam board  {Hobby Lobby runs 20×30 sheets on sale for $2.00}
  • Scissors, pen, glue gun, glue sticks, ruler
  • Pumpkin stencil, silhouette machine or make your own pattern with this clipart.
  • Furniture felt pads
  • Scrabble tiles {or just do extra pumpkins}

After giving my $2 yard sale picture frame a good coat of oil rubbed bronze spray paint, I used the mat that came with it to outline the size of foam board to cut.

I opened up the scissors to cut the foam board. Don’t try to cut foam board with scissors normally. Trust me. It isn’t pretty. If you have a box cutter on hand, use that, but be careful. Either way – be careful. :)

Next, I cut a piece of burlap and hot glued it to the foam board around the edges.

The spray painted frame looks beautimous now! I taped off the gold edge because I thought it would really pop with the bronze and burlap. I really like the extra detail too.

I determined how many pumpkins I wanted to use and what size they needed to be.  Then I resized this pumpkin clip art in my silhouette machine to be 2″ wide.  I cut out four “test” pumpkins out of copy paper so I wouldn’t waste scrapbook paper.

I then cut out 16 pumpkins out of various papers that I scored at Hobby Lobby on sale. Woot!!

Looking pretty!

I lined the pumpkins out to see what papers looked best together and to break up the polka dots. Ha!

Did you notice how the pumpkins stood out away from the burlap?  Well these handy dandy felt pads did the trick. I stuck one on the back of each pumpkin and then I hot glued the pumpkins to the burlap. I used my ruler to line up the pumpkins.

Once the pumpkins were all glued down, I dug out my yard sale Scrabble set and found the letters for “pumpkins” and glued those down as well.

I love, love, love my pumpkin specimen art!  It’s hanging in my living room above my apple green desk.

Have you gotten into a Fall decorating mood yet?

I’m linking up to Made By You MondayTip Me Tuesday, Tips & TutesToday’s Creative Blog, Fall Frenzy PartyI’m Lovin’ ItWeekend Wrap Up Party and Fall Nesting Party!

XO

*****

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{ 7 trackbacks }

Friday Favorites - all things pumpkin | the Creative Paige
September 16, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Halloween Decor Round Up | One Story Down
October 6, 2011 at 6:14 pm
Handmade Holiday: Snowman specimen art
November 16, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Pinterest Projects: Specimen Art {blog hop}
June 7, 2012 at 6:45 am
Nature-minded Craft Ideas that Celebrate Autumn
September 22, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Craft Ideas for Fall – Pinterest Roundup
September 26, 2012 at 8:56 am
A SAFE Paper Pumpkin Craft | one.beautiful.life.
January 30, 2013 at 8:07 am

{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Shona September 12, 2011 at 7:22 am

This is so cute! You could do this year round with different images. Love the scrabble tiles with it too! Awesome idea…thanks for sharing!
Shona´s last [type] ..My Etsy Shop

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2 Myra September 12, 2011 at 7:32 am

Thanks Shona! I actually plan to do seasonal specimen art now…stay tuned! :)

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3 Janet September 12, 2011 at 7:23 am

This is adorable. A perfect fall project.
Janet´s last [type] ..Menu Plan Monday 9/12/11

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4 Amanda September 12, 2011 at 7:29 am

Truly beautiful Myra!

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5 Myra September 12, 2011 at 7:53 am

Thanks Amanda! :)

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6 Johnnie September 12, 2011 at 7:31 am

That is dang cute. Pin, stumble, FB :)
Johnnie´s last [type] ..Spinach Tomato Feta Chicken

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7 Myra September 12, 2011 at 7:57 am

Johnnie, you are so sweet! Thank you bunches! :)

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8 {darlene} September 12, 2011 at 7:33 am

yes, VERY cute!!
{darlene}´s last [type] ..our daily schedule

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9 Amy @ Filled With Praise September 12, 2011 at 7:35 am

I love this. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Amy
Amy @ Filled With Praise´s last [type] ..Adoption Fundraising Spotlight…The Miller Family

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10 Myra September 12, 2011 at 7:57 am

Thank you Amy!! :)

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11 Leen September 12, 2011 at 7:39 am

I love this! I am so gonna copy this one :)

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12 Myra September 12, 2011 at 7:58 am

Girl, you just copy to your heart’s content! :) xo

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13 Lila September 12, 2011 at 7:42 am

This is so cute. I want to make one! Now.
Lila´s last [type] ..leaf print Hungry Caterpillar

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14 Myra September 12, 2011 at 7:58 am

Awwww, thanks Lila! :) Go do it! :)

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15 Heather B. September 12, 2011 at 7:55 am

Beautiful, Myra! I recently bought a picture frame at a garage sale for $1…I now know what I can do with it :)

You could definitely change the images as the seasons go by.

Hugs,
Heather

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16 Myra September 12, 2011 at 7:59 am

That’s awesome Heather! I’m planning on making seasonal specimen art. It’s so fun!! :)

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17 Fabrizio September 12, 2011 at 8:17 am

That’s so cute I love it, one for papermood me think ! ;)
Fabrizio´s last [type] ..#papermood : Sponsore feature; Michael Strong was in the…

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18 sweetsugarbelle September 12, 2011 at 8:53 am

This is adorable!!!
sweetsugarbelle´s last [type] ..Amazing Ivory {Creating Color Palettes}

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19 Heather Han September 12, 2011 at 9:07 am

This is exactly what I was looking for! thank you thank you thank you for the inspiration!!

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20 Hannah L. September 12, 2011 at 9:24 am

Myra, that turned out even more BEAUTIFUL than I thought they would!! You are so very talented! =)
Love ya!

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21 lisa sinacori September 12, 2011 at 10:07 am

This is soooo cute! Keep the ideas coming…..

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22 Allison {A Glimpse Inside} September 12, 2011 at 10:34 am

This is so cute Myra! I’ve seen so many specimen art projects out there and I think this is my favorite! :)
Allison {A Glimpse Inside}´s last [type] ..GIVEAWAY: Ooh Baby Designs

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23 jengd September 12, 2011 at 12:52 pm

VERY cute. I’m with you- I’ve been wanting to do one of these specimen pieces… really need to get to that.

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24 Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen September 12, 2011 at 1:05 pm

Love those scrabble tiles! Such a cute idea.

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25 Lauren September 12, 2011 at 1:29 pm

I love this! Just wish I had read it before I did all my craft supply runs this morning! You’ve got such a gift, Myra!

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26 Kerri September 12, 2011 at 1:55 pm

Love, Love, Love it!!!

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27 Deceptively Educational September 12, 2011 at 3:27 pm

OMG! I love your pumpkins. SUPER cute! I totally have a Martha Stewart paper punch in the shape of a maple leaf that would be an adorable variation on this. Thanks for providing some much-needed inspiration!
Deceptively Educational´s last [type] ..Measuring with Paper Clips

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28 MsJoyceG September 12, 2011 at 5:35 pm

Wow that is to to cute. I’ve already “scraplifted” it. Only I live in a Sr apartment building. Some of us have greetings on our door. I have a framed blackboard about 8 1/2 x 11. I have welcome on a banner across the top, write something in the center and add “something seasonal” at the bottom. This Fall I’m doing some pumpkins .. and I’ve added a scarecrow .. cause he’s so cute. Thanks for the thought starter. MsJoyceG

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29 Larissa September 12, 2011 at 5:50 pm

This is lovely! I like it!
Larissa´s last [type] ..Hair removal methods

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30 Annie September 12, 2011 at 6:32 pm

How creative! I love your idea! Nice work :)

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31 Diane@LongabergerLifestyle September 12, 2011 at 8:08 pm

So inspiring! How fun to switch up for the season with different ‘specimens’!!! Great job!!

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32 cheryl @ nefotlak September 12, 2011 at 9:33 pm

this is SO cute. LOVE it!!!
oh i want me a silhouette machine.
*sigh*
hope you have a great week.
cheryl xox.
cheryl @ nefotlak´s last [type] ..goob’s room – progress report 2

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33 breanna September 12, 2011 at 11:12 pm

Myra I love this project! I’m not typically a fan of lots of pumpkins for fall decorating (too halloween-y) but I love how playful this is, and the colors are so fresh for fall!
breanna´s last [type] ..Make a Rainbow Ring Toss Game

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34 Myra September 13, 2011 at 7:37 am

Thank you Breanna! I totally get what you’re saying about pumpkins. We don’t do Halloween, but I usually decorate with a few pumpkins just for fun. Thank you for your sweet words! :)

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35 Jenn September 13, 2011 at 2:30 am

So cute! I love all of the different patterns!
Jenn´s last [type] ..Painted Shelf and a Little Fall Decor

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36 Corie September 13, 2011 at 10:22 pm

Those pumpkins are so cute! Thanks for sharing : ) I’m hosting a Halloween link party now through the end of November. Stop by anytime!

http://stirizsisters.blogspot.com/2011/09/halloween-imagination-station.html

Corie @ Design DNA
Corie´s last [type] ..Canvas Makeover

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37 Tiffini September 13, 2011 at 11:23 pm

what an adorable idea! i love the simple.sweet look of it.
xo

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38 Jasmine Ford September 14, 2011 at 12:39 pm

This is a great project! I found this over on Pinterest and followed it back to your blog. I did my own version today totally inspired by yours and just wanted to share it with you!! http://wildflowerford.blogspot.com/2011/09/pumpkin-specimen-art-pinterest-project.html

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39 SouthernScraps September 16, 2011 at 6:07 am

What a genius way to do this, using the felt pads! That turned out great!

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40 Lindsay September 16, 2011 at 6:45 am

This is SO fabulous! I LOVE it & may actually have to give it a try!!!

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41 Lanie September 16, 2011 at 7:08 am

I featured this cute project on my Inspiration Friday post… http://www.laniejandco.com/2011/09/inspiration-friday-91611.html

Happy Friday!

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42 Paige September 16, 2011 at 8:01 am

This is so adorable! I especially love the scrabble tiles! I think your idea would be perfect for my brand new linky party!

Creative Genius @ http://www.thecreativepaige.com!
Paige´s last [type] ..creative genius link party!

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43 kelly@imperfecthomemaking September 16, 2011 at 8:02 am

i LOVE this! So cute! Great Job :)
kelly@imperfecthomemaking´s last [type] ..6 Simple Ways to Cozy Up Your Home for Fall

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44 Megan September 16, 2011 at 11:15 am

This is soooooo darn cute! If only I was somewhat crafty! Oh and if I had just an hour a day to myself….hahahaha just gave myself a great laugh:) I love seeing all your great ideas!

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45 Paige September 16, 2011 at 4:19 pm

Just wanted to let you know that I featured you on my Friday Favorites!

http://thecreativepaige.com/2011/09/friday-favorites-all-things-pumpkin.html
Paige´s last [type] ..Friday Favorites – all things pumpkin!

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46 Cathy September 16, 2011 at 4:53 pm

Cute! I love the Scrabble tiles!

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47 jen @ tatertots and jello September 17, 2011 at 8:53 am

Adorable Myra!! I love it.

I featured it on my TT&J facebook page. Have a wonderful Saturday!

xoxo
Jen

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48 Debbie@refresh restyle September 17, 2011 at 8:59 am

I love everything about this!!

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49 Bernadette @b3hd September 18, 2011 at 2:36 pm

So crafty and cute. LOVE that you used the burlap backing.
Bernadette @b3hd´s last [type] ..Week 38 Random Pinehurst

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50 Elizabeth September 22, 2011 at 1:18 pm

Oh I love this and already see hearts for Valentine’s Day!
Elizabeth´s last [type] ..Milk Glass and Orchids

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51 Laurie@TheBakingBookworm September 23, 2011 at 10:07 pm

I love this! Plus it’s a great use of my Silhouette machine and can be changed depending on the season or theme. A great idea!! :) I also love the texture the burlap adds to it.

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52 Deborah K September 25, 2011 at 11:11 pm

What a wonderful piece of art! Thank you for sharing! I pinned this to my Inspired to Create board over at Pinterest. :)

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53 Jenni October 5, 2011 at 5:38 pm

This looks like something my older kiddos can do with me, thanks!
Jenni´s last [type] ..Super Cute & Cheap Find

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54 Maria October 12, 2011 at 10:05 am

I love this! I was wondering how you got your silhouette to cut out the pumpkin? When I import it to my library I can only get the cut line to be in a box around the pumpkin, not the pumpkin shape. Thanks!!

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55 Lynn Dix September 5, 2012 at 8:34 am

I love the burlap and this is a great way to use the beautiful scraping paper in my stash. I’ll bet you got the felt pads on a great sale. In a pinch, scraps of heavy felt or thick cork would work.

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56 Jessica October 3, 2012 at 8:31 am

You inspired me!!! I made one too! But I didn’t have a pumpkin punch, just a heart one… No it’s not for Valentine’s haha! You can see it on my blog :)
http://homemakin-decoratin.blogspot.ca/2012/10/fall-specimen-art.html

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57 Myra Hope October 3, 2012 at 2:45 pm

So cute, Jessica! Thanks for sharing!!

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