Dress up your home in grandmillennial style with these scary and elegant Halloween pumpkins and gourds. These spooky cameos, made using polymer clay, are inspired by Wedgwood jasperware.
I’ve been a collector of blue-and-white Wedgwood jasperware for years. For our Halloween decorations this year, I was able to recreate the look of the traditional pottery using polymer clay, silicone molds, faux pumpkins and spray paint.
The look is stylish, yet scary – perfect for a Victorian inspired Halloween tablescape.
Table of contents
Whether it’s a tribute to the Legend of Sleepy Hollow or a haunted harvest feast, I love creating dressed-up, more traditional Halloween tablescapes. These DIY pumpkins and gourds, decorated with handmade jasperware-inspired cameos, are just the vibe I had in mind.
Pretty, but still a little bit creepy.
These are my favorite craft project since I made faux vintage milk glass and depression glass using resin.
And as far as Halloween crafts goes, this one is actually really easy. You can make a set of all-white cameos in just a few minutes.
The two-toned cameos do take a little more time and attention to detail to make. But their fabulousness is worth the time and extra effort.
Keep reading for step-by-step instructions, a complete supply list and tips on making these. I have also included a tutorial video at the end of the post. There, you can watch and learn as I make both types of intaglios.
This post may contain affiliate links. AttaGirlSays.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Read my full disclosure policy here.
What is Wedgwood Jasperware?
Jasperware is a style of unglazed pottery developed in the late 1700s by Josiah Wedgwood.
Wedgwood jasperware pieces feature Neoclassical relief images. These cameo-style designs are molded in a contrasting color to create a silhouette effect.
The most popular combination white and Wedgwood blue, a light bluish gray color.
Wedgwood jasperware is produced in a variety of other colors, as well, including black, navy, lavender, royal blue, sage green, pink and yellow.
Supplies to Make Jasperware-Inspired Cameos
To make your own jasperware-inspired decorated pumpkins, you will need:
- shallow silicone molds
- polymer clay (I used Fimo Soft and Sculpey III)
- wax paper
- rolling pin
- baking sheet
- parchment paper
- oven or toaster oven
- toothpicks
- plastic spoon
- cornstarch or baby powder
- small faux pumpkins and gourds
- spray paint primer
- spray paint
- hot glue gun and glue sticks
What Types of Molds to Use
I experimented with several different types of molds for this Halloween craft.
I found that smaller, shallower silicone molds worked better than deeper ones. I tried the ice cube trays I used for these treat jars and Halloween swizzle sticks. But the clay was difficult to unmold from them.
The molds I bought for the Jasperware inspired cameos are designed to be used with polymer clay or resin in jewelry making or for fondant work.
Most are pretty small in size, measuring just a few inches wide and high. So the finished cameos look best when used to decorate smaller faux pumpkins and gourds.
These are the specific molds that I used:
How to Make a Halloween Cameo in a Single Color
- To make an all-white or single-color cameo, begin by kneading the polymer clay to soften. I used FIMO Soft oven-baked clay for the single-color intaglios. But you could also use the Sculpey Soft for this.
- Place the softened clay between sheets of wax paper. Use a rolling pin to roll flat and thin.
- Next, press the flattened piece of clay into the mold.
- Press until the mold is filled, removing any excess clay. (See the video below for my technique for doing this.)
- Turn the mold over and gently press with the rolling pin to ensure a smooth, flat back.
- Gently release the cameo design from the mold.
- Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake clay pieces in the oven, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Allow to cool and harden completely before removing from the pan.
The bake time for FIMO Soft Clay is 30 minutes at 230 degrees F.
Other types and brands of polymer clay may have different baking times and temperatures. Please check the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to Make a Two-Tone Halloween Cameo
I used Sculpey III oven-bake clay in Sky Blue and white to make the two-toned Jasperware-inspired pieces.
The Sculpey III clay was softer and was easier to use for detail work than the FIMO clay.
The Sculpey III clay was also stickier. So, I recommend dusting your fingers lightly with cornstarch before working with it.
- Tear off small pieces of softened clay and press them into the mold. I found it helpful to use a toothpick when working with smaller, more intricate parts of the design. The back of a spoon was also useful for smoothing out the clay.
- Once you’ve filled in all the details with white clay, press a flatted piece of blue clay into the mold to complete the design.
- Turn the mold over and gently press with the rolling pin to ensure a smooth, flat back.
- Gently release the cameo design from the mold.
If you see any mistakes that need fixing once the cameo is unmolded, you can correct those.
Take a thin piece of softened clay and place it where you need to do the touchup.
Use your fingers, a toothpick or the back of a plastic spoon to smooth the slip of clay into place.
It can be helpful to wet your fingers slightly when smoothing the clay into place.
Continue smoothing out the clay slip until it is well blended, then transfer the cameo to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake clay pieces in the oven, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Allow to cool and harden completely before removing from the pan.
How to Bake Polymer Clay
The baking temperatures and times will vary based on the brand or type of polymer clay you use, as well as the thickness of your molded pieces.
- Bake FIMO Soft clay pieces for 30 minutes in a 230 degree F oven.
- Bake Sculpey III clay pieces for 15 minutes (for every 1/4″ of thickness) in a 275 degree oven.
After baking, allow the pieces to cool and cure completely before handling them.
How to Add Clay Moldings to Pumpkins
Once you make Wedgwood jasperware-inspired intaglios, it’s time to decorate some pumpkins with them.
I used miniature plastic gourds and pumpkins from the craft store.
To give them the look of ceramics, I first painted them with spray primer, which adds a slight texture.
Next, I added two coats of spray paint in Wedgwood-inspired colors.
I like Montana Cans spray paints because they’re available in a variety of different finishes and hundreds of colors. I knew I would be able to find colors that would match the colors of jasperware.
- To replicate Wedgwood blue, I used Montana Cans Black 400 ML Spray Paint in Lenor.
- For the dark blue pumpkins, I used Montana Cans Gold 400 ML Spray Paint in Deep Sea.
- And for the black pumpkins, I used Montana Cans Black 400 ML Spray Paint in Black.
Once the painted pumpkins dried, I used hot glue to attach the cameos to them.
I just love how they turned out.
The blue and white ones are my favorites because they really do look like scary pieces of Wedgwood jasperware.
But there’s also something striking about the black-and-white and navy-and-white pumpkins, too. I love the contrast with the white clay intaglios.
After making the pumpkin above, my son and I figured out that the image on the cameo is meant to be Slash from Guns ‘n Roses!
I was a big GNR fan in high school. Who says you can’t be granny chic and a rocker chic, too!
Variations
- Glue cameos to painted, unglazed blsque or ceramic pumpkins.
- Paint terracotta saucers with chalk paint or matte spray paint and add cameos to them for a Halloween tablescape.
- Use the clay castings to make spooky jewelry
How To Video
For step-by-step instructions on how to make these Wedgwood inspired Halloween decorations, watch the tutorial video below. It includes instructions for making both types of cameos and tips and tricks for working with polymer clay.
More Halloween Ideas
If you liked these Wedgwood inspired pumpkins, check out these other Halloween craft and decorating ideas:
- Dollar Tree DIY Crystal Balls
- Halloween Cocktail Stirrers
- Printable Halloween Treat Bags
- Spooky Halloween Specimen Jars
Pin This! Wedgwood Inspired Halloween Pumpkins
Sara
Love these so much! The colors are spot on!