Supplies you’ll need for this craft:

• Three Dollar Tree plastic jack-o’-lanterns
• Spray paint for a base coat (I used orange, black, and cream)
• Acrylic or chalk paint in orange, soft black, and cream
• White acrylic paint
• Baking soda
• Paintbrushes, including a wider brush and a stiff chip brush
• Painter’s tape
• Scrap kraft paper or any other paper
• Water and a spray bottle
• Paper towels
• Matte clear spray sealer
• Battery-operated candles, optional
  *EXACT paint colors I used: FolkArt Terra Cotta in Clay Pot, FolkArt Matte in Wrought Iron and Vintage White, and BEHR Chalk Spray Paint in Chiffon Cream. You can use paints you already have and mix colors you like.

Step 1. Watch the video.

Watch the video located above right here in this blog post to see how I build up the texture and adjust the whitewash on each color.

Step 2. Prep the pumpkins.

Cut off the tags and remove any stickers. On the orange jack-o’-lantern, I covered the little light bulb with painter’s tape so I could keep its light.

I pulled the battery packs out of the ghost and black pumpkins; a paint-can opener helped pry out the stubborn one. The black pumpkin also had a frosted panel behind its cutout, so I tucked crumpled kraft paper inside to keep paint off it.

Step 3. Spray-paint the base colors.

In a well-ventilated area, spray the pumpkins orange, black, and cream, then let them dry. Think of this as a base coat for the textured paint.

I used what I had on hand, and the orange spray paint’s coverage wasn’t perfect, but that was fine once the next layer went on. Feel free to use whatever spray paint you have on hand, even if the colors don’t match perfectly.

Step 4. Paint around the faces.

Before adding texture to the jack-o’-lanterns, use plain paint and a small pouncing motion to cover the narrow raised edges around their cutouts. Those little rims are much easier to reach without baking soda in the paint.

Step 5. Build the terracotta texture.

Mix a little baking soda into your orange paint on a paper plate. Brush it around the face, then use a wider brush to make long vertical strokes down the pumpkin. Work in sections, mixing more paint and baking soda as needed.

Repeat with soft black paint on the black pumpkin and cream paint on the ghost. Once dry, add a second coat anywhere you want more texture. I also brushed a little extra baking soda over the black pumpkin while its paint was still wet, for a different technique. Play around to see what works best for you.

Step 6. Whitewash each pumpkin.

When the textured paint is dry, mix white acrylic paint with water and brush it on using vertical strokes. A stiff chip brush works well for catching the texture.

Use a very thin whitewash on the black pumpkin, a moderately watered-down mixture on the orange one, and less water on the cream ghost so the white will show up. If a section looks too heavy, dab it with a paper towel or mist it with water and brush it out.

Step 7. Add a little more distressing.

Let the first whitewash dry and take a look at all three pumpkins. I went back with more white in selected spots on the orange pumpkin and pounced a thicker white mixture onto parts of the ghost. Keep adjusting until you like the uneven, weathered finish.

Step 8. Seal and reassemble.

Once the paint is completely dry, spray on two light coats of matte clear sealer. Remove the painter’s tape and kraft paper, then put the battery packs back in. Mine flashed bright colors when lit; for a softer glow, you can leave the packs out and use battery-operated candles instead.

A Quick Note on the Distressed Finish

I tested sprinkling baking soda over wet paint for a dusty white finish, but the white effect disappeared when I added clear sealer. Watered-down white paint gave me the look I wanted and held up after sealing.

Finished Terracotta Jack-o’-Lanterns

I love how different these Dollar Tree pumpkins look with a little texture and whitewash. The orange feels classic, the soft black is a little moody, and the cream ghost might be my favorite of the three.

There’s no need to make every brushstroke perfect. The uneven finish is what gives them that handmade terracotta look. Pop in the original lights if you like their colorful flash, or use battery-operated candles for a softer glow. Which color would you make first?

PIN this Halloween Pottery Barn Dupe for Later: