Glam Up Your Fall: Easy DIY Metallic Paper Circle Pumpkin

Want to jazz up a plain faux pumpkin? Create a stunning metallic-look pumpkin masterpiece using this easy DIY tutorial.

This DIY project is perfect if you love a little shimmer in your fall decor. With just a few simple supplies, you can transform a plain faux pumpkin into a stunning fall accent!

A DIY pumpkin adorned with overlapping metallic petal-like shapes in shades of pink and gold sits on a table. A blue and white patterned vase with plants is partially visible in the background, enhancing the fall décor with its autumn-themed setting.

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Last fall, I created a colorful metallic paper leaf garland for our mantel. I made the garland with leaves cut from hand-painted card stock.

A close-up of a fireplace mantel decorated with a DIY paper leaf garland for fall in shades of orange, pink, and yellow. In the background, there are a couple of small rustic votive candle holders on the mantel.

I had the best time painting the card stock with metallic acrylics in stunning fall hues using a rubber brayer. It was the first time I had ever used this technique, and it was so much fun! You can read all about the technique in this post.

I love the way the garland turned out, and, fortunately, I had lots of paper left over. These pretty painted metallic papers have been sitting on the shelves in my craft room for over a year just waiting for the inspiration for another creative DIY project to strike.

Abstract art pieces with a mix of pink, orange, and yellow hues are laid out on a flat surface. Alongside them, a DIY paper leaf garland for fall adds an extra touch of seasonal charm. The artwork features a blend of textures and colors, creating a vibrant and dynamic visual effect.

I think these colorful papers are so pretty, and I decided a metallic paper-covered pumpkin would be the perfect way to use them!

How to Make a Paper-Covered Pumpkin

This fun pumpkin craft calls for lots of small paper circles to fully cover the pumpkin.

A cream-colored pumpkin is surrounded by orange and pink paper circles on a brown surface, offering a perfect DIY Metallic Paper Pumpkin project with a touch of seasonal glam. A craft punch and red glue gun emphasize the crafting scene, ideal for those looking to glam up their fall decor.

Supplies Needed:

Step 1 — Paint your card stock.

I was lucky because I already had these papers made, so this project was very, very quick. However, if you want to paint your own paper in this same manner, here’s the easy process.

A person uses a red roller to spread pink paint over white paper. Various streaks and blobs of paint in pink and brown are also visible on the paper, which is lying on a brown surface. A bottle of paint is seen below the paper, likely for creating a DIY paper leaf garland for fall.

I used three different metallic paint colors to create these different designs. Begin by squirting a few drops and squiggles of the paint onto a piece of card stock, and then use the rubber breaker to roll and spread the paint out around the paper, mixing the different shades together covering the entire page. The end result will be a beautiful mixture of metallic color.

Alternative: It’s really fun to make the colored paper with the rubber brayer; however, if you don’t want to go to the trouble of making your own colorful paper, you can certainly use colorful card stock in a variety of colors to make your pumpkin. You can even choose metallic papers to get a similar effect.

If you choose to make your own, you will certainly need to allow time for the paint to dry completely before you punch the circles for the project.

Step 2 — Make the circles.

The easiest way to make lots and lots of circles is to simply use a circle punch.

A person wearing a cream sweater is using a punch tool to cut shapes from orange textured paper, perfect for creating DIY metallic pumpkin accents. The layered papers hint at cozy fall decor on the brown surface.

My circle punch is an old Creative Memories circle punch that I’ve had for years, but this hole punch would be a great option.

The size of your pumpkin will determine the number of circles you need.

A pile of round, multicolored paper cutouts lies scattered on a gray surface, perfect for a Glam Up DIY project. The circles, in various shades of orange, pink, and yellow, create a warm fall decor palette that's as inviting as a cozy autumn afternoon.

For reference, my hole punch made a 1 and 1/4 inch circle, and I used between 140 to 150 circles to cover the surface of my pumpkin.

That sounds like a large number, but it really went very quickly.

Step 3 — Curve your circles.

This simple step should be done before gluing the circles to the pumpkin. Since your pumpkin is spherical, you need to curve the circle pieces so they are rounded and not flat.

Two hands holding a paper circle and a pencil, preparing to craft a DIY metallic paper circle pumpkin. A pile of similar circles and sheets of glam orange-toned paper are in the background, setting the perfect fall atmosphere on the tabletop.

Wrap your circles around a pencil to round them. You can grab small stacks of several circle pieces at a time to curve around the pencil. You just need a slight curve.

Step 4 — Glue the circles to your pumpkin.

Turn your pumpkin upside down to glue the circles from the bottom up.

A person in a white sweater is glam up fall by gluing small, round, orange and pink paper cutouts onto a cream-colored, textured round object. A hot glue gun and more paper cutouts for this DIY metallic pumpkin are visible nearby.

Use your hot glue gun to squirt a bead or line of glue, and then attach your circles to the pumpkin overlapping them as you go.

Hands decorating a small white pumpkin with pink and copper circular paper cutouts, creating stunning DIY Metallic Pumpkin decor. More cutouts are scattered on the table, enhancing the charming Fall Decor vibe in the background.

It isn’t necessary to cover the entire bottom of your pumpkin with circles. You won’t see them, and it will help your pumpkin to sit flat on the surface of your table.

Be careful not to burn your fingers as you use the glue gun. It’s always a good idea to use finger protectors when working with hot glue.

A hand holds a circle pumpkin adorned with overlapping circular cutouts in shades of orange, pink, and brown, resembling scales. In the background, similar colored paper pieces enhance the DIY fall decor's charm.

After the first row of circles is complete, add the next layer and then the next until you’ve worked your way up and reached the top of the pumpkin.

A close-up of a DIY metallic pumpkin shaped like an apple, adorned with overlapping scalloped discs in shimmering shades of gold, copper, and bronze. The scales glisten like fish scales as a stem protrudes from the top, resting beautifully on a neutral background—a perfect piece for fall decor.

Your pumpkin is all finished, and now you’re ready to display your fun fall creation!

A DIY metallic pumpkin covered in colorful scalloped paper sits on a white mantel, adding glam to your fall decor. Behind it, a potted plant with vibrant red leaves completes the autumnal charm of the scene.

I love the way the pumpkin looks on our mantel styled with a fall arrangement!

A decorative DIY pumpkin, embellished with colorful, overlapping scales crafted from metallic paper, rests on a mantel next to a TV. A vase of pink and red flowers with lush greenery is placed nearby.

Now it’s your turn to shine!

Ready to get started? Grab your supplies and let’s transform your plain pumpkin into a metallic masterpiece.

Happy Fall Crafting!

A pumpkin craft made from easy DIY metallic paper circles sits on a shelf, surrounded by plants with red leaves. Text on the image says "DIY Metallic Paper Pumpkin" and "fall decor, Perfecting Places.

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