Sparkly pastel autumn pumpkins (as seen on ITV This Morning)

Autumn is here and I've been inspired by the pretty pastel pumpkins all over my Instagram feed lately. With Halloween around the corner we'll soon be inundated with scary-faced pumpkins so I though I'd create a pretty Autumn pumpkin table display that can sit and sparkly on our sideboards throughout the rest of Autumn. Perhaps include some scented pine cones so when guests arrive though the autumn period they're greeted by a lovely festive, scented display. The gold and copper leaf you'll be using for this project not only brings the autumn colours inside, it will also come very in handy for the Christmas crafting period too! If you'd like to see me making this project step-by-step on ITV's This Morning you can watch it by clicking here ... Sparkly pumpkins on ITV This Morning.

Happy Autumn folks!

You will need:

A container (wire basket or any large bowl will work)

Selection of chalk paint (sample pots are ideal)

Selection of small pumpkins or squash's

Gold / copper leaf flakes

Optional pine cones to decorate

Gilding paste

Straw

1. Begin by giving your squash two coats of chalk paint, leave to dry. TIP: Use an egg cup to stand your pumpkin on while you paint. Once dry turn upside down to do the bottom.

2. Once the two coats have dried, apply one coat of gilding paste and leave for 15 (or follow the instructions on the bottle)

3. Pick up some gold leaf flakes on another brush (or simply sprinkle them on) and begin brushing them onto the squash. Work your way around. Try alternating between the cold and copper as you go. Once dry you can add an optional coat of varnish to protect from oxidation.

4. Line your container / basket with the straw, and arrange your squash / pumpkins. Either leave as it is or finish of with some Eucalyptus or scented pine cones.

JM x