Do you prefer a traditional or non-traditional approach to your fall decorating? If it's the latter, then here's an idea for making non-traditional stacked pumpkin topiaries with faux pumpkins and copper elements to flank your front door.

No worries if you can't find black & white large foam pumpkins because I'll be showing you how easy it is to change the color with paint. It's your choice whether your stacked pumpkins are all white, all black, or a mix of both like I did.

Non-Traditional Faux Pumpkin Topiaries

The options for how you embellish the stacked pumpkins are endless. For the non-traditional stacked pumpkins I'm sharing today, we'll be adding unique copper elements. So let's get started.

Another option for the stacked pumpkins is instead of keeping the foam stem on the pumpkins, you can replace them with large preserved real pumpkin stems. I share tips on how to preserve real pumpkin stems further down in the post.

What You'll Need To Make It

These are the supplies you'll need to make the stacked pumpkin topiaries. The supply list contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Supply List

4 Large Foam Pumpkins (2 per topiary)
16 Gauge Copper Aluminum Wire
Large Artificial Maple Leaves
Copper Metallic Paint
Black & White Chalk Paint
Brown Wax (or glaze)
Hot Glue Gun
Natural Raffia Ribbon
Wooden Dowel
Chip Brush
Black & White Ribbon (optional)
Self-adhesive Letters (optional)

How To Make Stacked Faux Pumpkin Topiaries

Painting Large Faux Pumpkins

You will need two large faux pumpkins per topiary, preferably in different shapes. Unfortunately, there was only one style available so mine are made with similar pumpkins. You'll need two large pumpkins for the bottom and two slightly smaller ones for the bottom.

To paint the foam pumpkins, use either matte chalk paint, spray paint, or multi-surface craft paint. Again, it's your choice whether you paint both pumpkins white, black, or a combination of both like I did.

Adding Depth To Painted Pumpkins

To add depth to the white pumpkins, brush brown wax into the pumpkin ribs and wipe away the excess with a lint-free rag. A tip for applying wax in tight spots like this is to cut the bristles on an inexpensive chip brush 1/2 inch high.

In the photo below you can see the difference between the unwaxed pumpkin in the background and the one with dark wax in the foreground. See how it highlights the ribs and adds a more realistic look to the pumpkin.

Large Copper Painted Artificial Maple Leaves

Paint large faux maple leaves along with the pumpkin stems (if you chose to keep them) with metallic copper paint (link in the supply list). I used leftover copper paint from the repurposed door flower planter with oxidized tin panels project.

Pumpkin Stems

Before we go further, it's your choice if you keep the stubby foam stem on the top pumpkins or replace them with either realistic-looking large faux pumpkin stems or preserved real pumpkin stems.

I chose to keep the stubby foam stems on my top pumpkins but I've included instructions for how to preserve real pumpkin stems below. 

How To Preserve Real Pumpkin Stems

1. After Halloween, carefully cut along the base of the stem of the pumpkins with a craft knife.
2. Remove any meat from the base of the stem.
3. Store the stems on newspaper in a dry location for about eight weeks.
4. Once completely dry they can be stored in a plastic food storage bag.

Copper Wire Pumpkin Tendrils

To make the tendrils use 16 gauge aluminum copper wire (link in the supply list).

Simply coil the copper wire tendrils around a large dowel or handle. The handle of a potato masher worked really well because it stands upright.

With a craft knife, cut small slits into the pumpkin stems and slip the tendrils inside, securing them with a few dabs of hot glue.

Loosen the curled copper wire tendrils to your liking.

Assembling Stacked Pumpkin Topiaries

1. Attach the smaller pumpkin on top of the larger one with a bead of hot glue.
2. Layer the copper-painted leaves between the pumpkins and secure with dabs of hot glue.
3. The choice is yours how far you let the leaves cascade down the pumpkin.
4. Attach a few painted leaves around the stem of the top pumpkin too.

This step is completely optional but you could also embellish between the pumpkins with ribbon. I used a narrow black  & white grosgrain ribbon that I had on hand. Striped or plaid ribbon would be lovely too.

This step is also completely optional and one I did at the last minute. But to be completely honest, I'm not 100% certain doing this was necessary.

Attach letters onto the front of each pumpkin spelling the words F A L L and A U T U M N. The letters I had in my stash were silver metallic so I painted them with the copper paint and attached them with dabs of hot glue.

How To Secure Stacked Foam Pumpkins So They Don't Take Flight

Fill the top of your flower pots with a generous amount of raffia ribbon or straw, letting it trail down the sides of the pots. Mine looks rather sparse because I ran out and didn't have time to pick more up before this post was due to publish.

To secure the pumpkins so they don't take flight from a gust of wind, insert wooden dowels into the dirt and slip your stacked pumpkins over the dowels. Enjoy your stacked pumpkin topiaries!

Every couple of years I like to change my fall decor so this is actually the second look for my stacked pumpkins. They were originally these traditional fall pumpkin topiaries.

Large foam pumpkins are expensive to buy. When you decide to change your fall decorating scheme, instead of replacing your pumpkin topiaries, give them a budget-friendly makeover instead.

Update: They got the third makeover in 2020 and this time I added a third pumpkin to the top of these rust-activated abstract pumpkin topiaries.

For more pumpkin inspiration you may like these 12 DIY pumpkin ideas that are easy on the wallet. Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I'd love to hear which of the three stacked pumpkin topiary versions you like best.

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