Who is Emily Nichols?
Emily Nichols is an abstract artist from Fort Worth, TX. She lives there with her husband and three kids. Before becoming a painter, Emily was a ballerina, where she learned to tell stories through movement and form. Later, she became a teacher, helping kids explore their creativity.
Emily’s love for painting grew when she became a stay-at-home mom. Inspired by her kids’ imaginations and the beauty of nature, she started creating colorful abstract art. Her “confetti style” paintings are full of bold colors and playful shapes, celebrating joy and everyday beauty.
Emily’s art invites people to imagine, dream, and find happiness in the little things.
Fall is a time for creativity, and what better way to celebrate than with colorful, handmade pumpkins? In this blog post, we’re crafting paper mâché pumpkins using balloons—and we’re painting them in the playful, colorful style of Emily Nichols, an artist who’s known for her cheerful patterns and bold designs.
These pumpkins are lightweight, easy to make, and perfect for decorating your home or classroom. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need:
- Balloons (one for each pumpkin)
- Plaster Craft Strips
- Acrylic paints (bright colors like pink, orange, yellow, blue, and green)
- Paintbrushes
- Scissors
- String or ribbon (optional, for hanging or displaying)
How to Make Your Pumpkins:
Blow Up the Balloons: Blow up your balloons to the size you want for your pumpkins. You can make small pumpkins, big pumpkins, or a mix! Tie the ends to keep them secure.
Cut the Plaster Craft Strips: Follow the directions.
Cover the Balloons: Wet the strips and lay the strips onto the balloons, covering them completely. Add 2–3 layers, leaving the knot of the balloon uncovered. Let the pumpkins dry for about 24 hours.
Paint Your Pumpkins:
Now the fun part—painting! Channel your inner Emily Nichols by using bright, happy colors and bold patterns. Try creating like her confetti style. Mix unexpected colors like pinks and blues with classic fall tones like orange and yellow.
Seal and Display:
Once the paint is dry, seal your pumpkins with a layer of Mod Podge or craft sealer to protect your designs. Add string or ribbon if you want to hang them.
Fall is a time for creativity, and what better way to celebrate than with colorful, handmade pumpkins? This week, we’re crafting paper mâché pumpkins using balloons—and we’re painting them in the playful, colorful style of Emily Nichols, a ceramic artist who’s known for her cheerful patterns and bold designs.
These pumpkins are lightweight, easy to make, and perfect for decorating your home or classroom. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need:
- Balloons (one for each pumpkin)
- Newspaper, torn into strips
- Flour and water (to make the paper mâché paste)
- Acrylic paints (bright colors like pink, orange, yellow, blue, and green)
- Paintbrushes
- Scissors
- String or ribbon (optional, for hanging or displaying)
How to Make Your Pumpkins:
Blow Up the Balloons:
Blow up your balloons to the size you want for your pumpkins. You can make small pumpkins, big pumpkins, or a mix! Tie the ends to keep them secure.
Make the Paper Mâché Paste:
Mix 1 part flour with 2 parts water in a bowl to make a smooth paste. Stir until it feels like pancake batter.
Cover the Balloons:
Dip the newspaper strips into the paste, wiping off the extra. Lay the strips onto the balloons, covering them completely. Add 2–3 layers, leaving the knot of the balloon uncovered so you can pop it later. Let the pumpkins dry for about 24 hours.
Pop and Trim:
Once the paper mâché is dry and hard, carefully pop the balloon with scissors or a pin. Pull out the balloon pieces, and trim the edges of your pumpkin to make it neat.
Add a Stem (Optional):
Roll a small piece of paper or cardboard into a stem shape and attach it to the top with tape or more paper mâché.
Paint Your Pumpkins:
Now the fun part—painting! Channel your inner Emily Nichols by using bright, happy colors and bold patterns. Try stripes, polka dots, wavy lines, or even tiny flowers. Mix unexpected colors like pinks and blues with classic fall tones like orange and yellow.
Seal and Display:
Once the paint is dry, seal your pumpkins with a layer of Mod Podge or craft sealer to protect your designs. Add string or ribbon if you want to hang them.
Why We Love These Pumpkins
These paper mâché pumpkins are all about having fun and being creative. Painting them in Emily Nichols’ style makes them extra special—they’re colorful, playful, and totally unique. Whether you hang them, use them in a centerpiece, or give them as gifts, they’re sure to brighten up your fall season.
We’d love to see your pumpkins! Share your creations with us—we can’t wait to see how you make them your own.
Happy Fall Yall! 1969
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