Whether your family is hosting a party this Halloween or bringing a dish to a potluck, you’ll have a blast creating this Spooky Spoons Halloween centerpiece for your table.

Painted pumpkin spoons hanging on branches in kitchen

I have to admit, Halloween isn’t my most favorite holiday. When my kids were growing up we did the bare minimum. Trick or treating around the neighborhood and/or attending a fall festival at our church.

The next day I would also go to a local store and buy candy half off if the kids didn’t get much of a haul. Ok, it might have been so mama could have her own candy, but I’ll never tell!

A couple of years ago I created this Spooky Spoons Halloween Centerpiece for Farmhouse Style Magazine and I just can’t resist sharing it with you! There’s a little bit of work involved but the result is adorable and unique!

How to make a Spooky Spoons Halloween centerpiece

Who celebrates Halloween and why?

Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31 and has its origin in an ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.

Over time, Halloween has evolved into a day of activities to delight children and adults alike. This includes trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, fun gatherings, donning costumes and eating candy!

Pumpkin holding painted pumpkin spoons on branches

When should you start setting up for Halloween?

Just like in decorating, there are no right and wrong answers to this question. I have neighbors who spend weeks decorating their front lawn like a graveyard and then host a neighborhood party with trick or treaters outside. Even though I’m not a big fan I have to admit it’s impressive!

Halloween decorations such as decorating the front entrance to your home will help you achieve the most impact. I’ve always just decorated for fall and called it good but maybe your family enjoys the holiday with a bang.

One neighbor brings their fire pit to the front yard and hands out candy from there. Halloween decorations like lanterns, ghosts, ghouls, spiders and maybe tamer ones like pumpkins and gourds are ideas to consider.

Halloween centerpiece in pumpkin with painted pumpkin spoons hanging on branches

How do you set a Halloween table?

There are all sorts of levels of intricacy and fun when creating Halloween table decor, especially if you’re hosting a party with guests. Think through fun ideas for serving food and decorating the front entrance to your home to achieve the most impact.

If you have children try to let the kids come up with fun crafts so all of you can share in the fun of the holiday. Simple ideas may include mason jars filled with floating candles, candlesticks with black spray paint and wax drippings over them or even a graveyard spooky scene on a smaller table in your home.

How do you make a homemade centerpiece?

This DIY project is definitely for those of you who enjoy crafts. I used my dinging table for the display area with the focus definitely on the spooky spoons centerpiece.

Materials:

(I’ve included some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)

Old spoons (these can be vintage, yard sale or from the dollar store!)
Black Gesso
Orange acrylic paint
Green puffy paint
Black puffy paint
Acrylic paint brush
Black thread or string
Small branches
Small foam pumpkin

Instructions

Step 1. Paint black gesso on the back of the spoon (not the handle).

Gesso prepares (or “primes”) the surface for painting, making the surface slightly textured and ready to accept acrylic paint.

Apply as many coats as necessary to get good coverage. I used three coats, drying in between coats.

Step 2. Apply at least three coats of orange acrylic paint over the black.

Apply as many coats necessary for a smoother surface and to keep the black from showing through. Doesn’t need to be perfect, though. This IS Halloween!

Step 3. Squeeze green puffy paint onto the spoon for a stem.

I like the puffy paint because the tip replaces a paint brush and allows for a neater finish!

Using paint to draw pumpkin face on spoons

Step 4. Use black puffy paint to add eyes, nose and mouth for a pumpkin face.

You can either use a detail paint brush or the tip of the bottle. I did it both ways with equal success.

I did practice a bit to see what type of smile worked best. To be honest, I think I actually googled “how to draw a spooky smile!”

Painting pumpkin face on vintage spoons for Halloween

Step 5. Once spoon is dry, bend it behind the pumpkin face with your hands.

Depending on the type of metal this could be easy or hard! Cheaper spoons will bend easier than a heavier construction.

Step 6. Attach pumpkin base to a small piece of board with a screw from the underneath side for stability if desired.

Can use real or fake pumpkins to hang the spoon “tree.”

Pumpkin stuffed with branches with painted pumpkin spoons

Step 7. Hang spoons on branches with black thread or string.

Halloween centerpiece made from spoons, paint and branches

I used a woven table runner to ground my Halloween centerpiece and I love how it turned out with the rustic barn door in the background.

Halloween Centerpiece Printable Instructions

Print Pin