For an easier time making the
holes, first fill each pail with
water and then freeze it.

• 5-1/2-inch high rusty tin bucket
• DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint: Burnt Sienna (BS) #DA63, Burnt Umber (BU) #DA64, Evergreen (EG) #DA82, Honey Brown (HB) #DA163, Olive Green (OG) #DA56, Light Buttermilk (LB) #DA164, Soft Sage (SS) #DA207, French Vanilla (FV) #DA184, Pumpkin (PK) #DA13, Golden Straw (GS) #DA168, and Terra Cotta (TC) #DA62
• Paintbrushes: 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, and 1-inch flat; 1/2-inch worn stiff bristle flat; and #1 liner
• Tracing paper
• White transfer paper
• Large plastic freezer bag
• Awl and hammer
• Matte-finish spray sealer

1. Download the free pattern for this project (Downloading requires Adobe Acrobat software.)

Pumpkin pattern

Adobe Acrobat

2. Place a large plastic freezer bag in the bucket. Fill the bag with water to the top of the bucket. Place the bucket in a freezer until the water is solidly frozen.

3. Trace the pattern from the pattern sheet to tracing paper. Center and position the pattern on the front of the bucket. Use white transfer paper to transfer the dots to the bucket.

4. Place the bucket on a sturdy surface. Use a hammer and awl to pierce holes in the bucket at each dot. Allow the ice to melt until the plastic bag can be removed. Let the bucket air dry.

5. Refer to the photograph for shading and details. Follow the outlines created by the holes for the shapes of the stars, pumpkin, stem, and features on the jack-o'-lantern, Base-coat and shade with flat brushes, using the size that best fits the area. Dry-brush highlights with the worn stiff bristle flat brush. Outline with the liner brush.

6. Base-coat the stars GS. Mix PK and TC; use the mixture to base-coat the pumpkin and face area. Base-coat the stem EG. Let the paint dry.

7. Float BS shading along the outer edges of the stars. Mix HB and BS; use the mixture to float shading along the outer edges of the pumpkin and to divide the pumpkin in three sections. Let the paint dry.

8. Shade the edges and section lines of the pumpkin again using BS. Float EG shading on the stem next to the pumpkin.

9. Mix FV and GS. Use the mixture to dry-brush highlights and on the star centers. Mix TC and FV to highlight the pumpkin sections; then use only FV. Mix OG and LB to highlight the stem.

10. Use GS to paint the eyes, nose, and mouth. Float HB shading on the left and bottom edges of each eye and nose and along the bottom edge of the mouth. Dry-brush FV highlights on the center of each eye and the nose and along the top edge of the mouth. Strengthen the highlights with LB.

11. Use BU to outline the face, stars, and the lower part of the stem. Lightly outline the pumpkin and paint curved section lines on the pumpkin with BS. Let the paint dry.

12. Spray several light coats of matte finish on the outer surface of the bucket, allowing ample drying time for each coat before applying the next coat.