Have you ever bought something just for the container? I know I’m guilty of this. Sometimes, I choose one product over another just to have the cute container. I do this with honey, various sauces, and now even bulk pretzels!
I think most of us have seen these large pumpkin shaped containers in Sam’s Club, Walmart, Amazon, and in some markets. These containers usually pop up in stores right before the Halloween season and are filled with little bags of Halloween shaped pretzels.
Is it weird that I bought this more for the container than the treats? Yeah, I know…I’m weird like that, but I don’t care. You want to know why? Because now I have a super cute pumpkin to decorate with!
I love how this former pretzel container turned into my new fall pumpkin!
Supplies – Fall Pumpkin Makeover
- Orange paint
- Black chalk paint or black paint
- Paint brush
- Chalk or chalk pen
- Leaf (came off a flower stem that I used in another craft project)
- Paper bags
- Glue gun
- White chalk paint or white paint
- fine grit sand paper
Directions – Fall Pumpkin Makeover
I didn’t take step-by-step photos, but this is such an easy project that you’ll be able to do it without photos. Also, if you don’t want to use chalk paint, regular paint is fine too. I opted for a rustic look and used chalk paint.
Step 1: Peel off the label and remove any sticky residue. My label came off easily and I was able to clean it with hot water and soap. If yours does not come off easily or leaves a lot of residue, try cleaning it with some nail polish remover. Next, wipe down the inside and outside of the pumpkin.  *If you don’t want to deal with all of that, you can probably just paint over the label. *
Step 2: Paint the inside of the pumpkin orange. Don’t worry about streaks, you’ll need to do at least 2 – 3 coats. Let the paint dry between coats.
Step 3: For the lid, you can leave it black or paint it. I choose to use white chalk paint and distress it with the sand paper.
Step 4: Fill in the oval indentation on the container with black chalk paint. Let this dry.
Step 5:Â Once the black paint has dried, prep the surface by rubbing chalk all over it. Wipe off any access. Then, draw your chalk message on it. I added the word “Fall” to the front of mine.
Step 6:Â For the stem, cut a small lunch bag sized paper bag in half. Keep the cut bag folded and don’t open it. Roll the bottom half of the bag to form a roll. Take the upper half of the paper bag and wrap it around the roll you just created. Start twisting it around the roll to form a stem. Â When you achieve the shape you like, set this aside. *You may need to add a dab of glue at the tip to hold the paper bag edge down.*
Step 7: Glue the leaf onto the center of the lid. Apply more glue and add the stem on top. 
Once the pumpkin is transformed, all you need to do is find a place to display it. I put mine in front of our mantle.
To create the other fall items, check out these posts –
Michelle James says
Love repurposing items! This is such a cute halloween project. Love it!
chellie says
That is so stinkin’ cute!!!! Yes, I have bought something just for the container before! Ha! Glad I’m not alone. Thanks for linking up to From the Archives Friday!
Erlene at My Pinterventures says
Thanks Chellie. I hope someone buys more of these pretzel buckets because I want more of these.
Erlene at My Pinterventures recently posted…Save Money – DIY Oil Change & Printable Supply Checklist
Erica says
What a fun holiday decoration! I need to make some new decor for my family room. Thanks for linking up at FTAF!
Erica
Erlene at My Pinterventures says
Thanks Erica. This would be a great inexpensive way to make new decor and recycle too!
Erlene at My Pinterventures recently posted…Save Money – DIY Oil Change & Printable Supply Checklist
Shirley Wood says
Erlene, this is so creative and adorable! I love it. I really like using the brown paper bag for the stem! I like the chalk paint too 🙂 Your Fall mantle is just so nice!
Shirley Wood recently posted…Home Matters Linky Party and Over $1,000 in Giveaway Prizes
Alli says
Glad I’m not the only one who will buy something for the container! And I love what you did with that container! It looks beautiful in front of your fall mantle.
Keitha The Bajan Texan says
This is adorbs Erlene! Thanks for linking up to Pin Worthy Wednesday. Your post has been pinned to the Pin Worthy Pinterest Board 🙂
Bonnie says
This is so cute! Thanks for linking up at the Home Matters Link Party.
~Bonnie
Kristen from The Road to Domestication says
Out of a pretzel container, I love that! And what a gorgeous mantel!!!
Amanda says
I can not believe that was a pretzel can! Great job. It looks eady enough for me to do and that’s saying something.
Amanda recently posted…20 FREE Kindle Holiday Cookbooks
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says
Super cute… I love it! I’m crazy for all things pumpkin, and this is such a clever idea. Pinned. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
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Nicole (Bellenza Party Suite) says
Very cute makeover! So creative 🙂
Erlene at My Pinterventures says
Thanks Nicole. You have a lot of great ideas on your site too.
Erlene at My Pinterventures recently posted…Fall Pumpkin Makeover
Beverly Roderick says
I love everything about this! It’s a wonderful transformation. The colors are perfect and the details like the paper bag stem are great. Oh, and I’ll admit to buying things more for the container than the product, too.
Beverly Roderick recently posted…Christmas Word Tree Printable
Erlene at My Pinterventures says
Thanks Beverly. It was fun trying to make this with things I already had on hand. I’m glad I’m not the only one that buys things for the container 🙂
Erlene at My Pinterventures recently posted…Fall Pumpkin Makeover
Jen says
How adorable!!
Erlene at My Pinterventures says
Thanks Jen.
Erlene at My Pinterventures recently posted…Fall Pumpkin Makeover