How to Marble a Pumpkin with Nail Polish

Marbling a pumpkin with nail polish is a fun and creative DIY project that can add a unique touch to your fall decor! To achieve this look, simply choose a selection of nail polish colors you like, fill a container with water, and drip the nail polish onto the surface of the water. Swirl the colors together with a toothpick and then dip your pumpkin into the water, creating a beautiful marbled effect. This technique allows for endless possibilities of color combinations and patterns, making each pumpkin a one-of-a-kind piece of art. So gather your favorite nail polishes and get ready to create some eye-catching marbled pumpkins that will surely impress your guests this season!

Pumpkin Marbling Supplies

• Mini pumpkins – Look for pumpkins that have a stem, it makes it easier to dip them. I found mine at Trader Joe’s. If you can’t find white, just spray paint some orange ones. I like this white flat spray primer.
• Nail polish – I used Sally Hansen Extreme Wear Nail Polish. Not all nail polish brands will work. The Sally Hansen brand is known to be one of the best brands when it comes to nail marbling which uses a very similar technique. The Sinful Colors brand also works great.
• Water Container – Make sure it’s deep enough to fully submerge a mini pumpkin.
• Room Temperature Water (Distilled Water Works Best!!!)
• Toothpicks
• Q-Tips
• Gloves (optional) – these are good to use if you can’t find pumpkins with long stems).

Marble a Pumpkin With Nail Polish: Step by Step Directions

1. Fill a Container With Water

Fill a container with room temperature water. It’s important the water is room temperature so the polish can spread easily.

2. Open Nail Polish

Open the polishes that you’ll be using. You need to work fast. I used 3-4 colors on each pumpkin.

3. Safety Precautions

Make sure the room you’re working in is well ventilated!!

4. Use Brush to Add Nail Polish to Water

With the nail polish brush close to the water, shake the brush and let the polish fall into the water. Be sure the brush is close to the water otherwise the polish will sink to the bottom.

5. Repeat With Additional Colors

Add additional colors and work quickly before the polish can dry.

6. Dip the Pumpkin

Holding the pumpkin by the stem, submerge the pumpkin into the water. It’s best to dunk the pumpkin sideways if you can otherwise most of the polish will end up on the bottom of the pumpkin.

7. Remove the Pumpkin

Once the pumpkin is covered, remove it from the water. You can wipe away any excess polish that is hanging off the pumpkin with a Q-Tip.

7. Let Dry

I dried my pumpkins on a piece of foam board I had but you could use wax paper with cardboard underneath. It took about an hour for them to fully dry. The bottom of the pumpkin took the longest.

8. Clean the Water

To clean the water before you marble the next pumpkin, simply take a Q-Tip and move it around the surface of the water to collect any leftover polish.