YOU WILL NEED:
STEP 3:
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DIY NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS INSPIRED PUMPKINS – TIM BURTON STYLE
One of the things I love most about Tim Burton is that if you’re watching one of the films he’s directed or produced you can instantly tell it’s his work without even knowing, one of the classic traits are those swirly spirals that sometimes pop up in his films and I absolutely love them in Nightmare Before Christmas! I thought it would be fun to create some no carve pumpkins with these spirals on as a little nod to the classic Halloween film (it’s one of Em’s favourites!). These would look fab sitting out on the porch or displayed on cake stands at a Halloween party!
YOU WILL NEED:
Spray paint in the colours of your choice (we went for white, a shade of berry and lilac. All from Rustoleum) // Black acrylic paint // A pencil // A small paint brush //
STEP 1:
Spray paint each of your pumpkins the colours you have chosen and allow to fully dry. You’ll want to make sure you do this two or three times to make sure that the pumpkins are completely covered.
STEP 2:
Using a pencil, draw the outline of the spiral on one side of your pumpkin, stopping when you get half way. Don’t worry if it’s wobbly, it will be tricky with the texture and surface of the pumpkin but that’s ok, I think it adds to the whole ‘Tim Burton’ feel! Once you’ve done one half of the pumpkin, repeat on the other half.
STEP 3:
Now it’s time to start filling in the spiral, grab your paint brush and your black paint and simply fill in where you drew the pencils mark, making sure to smooth over the edges as much as you can.
STEP 4:
Allow the black paint to fully dry and go over any rough edges if you need to. I found that only one coat of black was fine, but if you feel you need to add two then go ahead!
And that’s all there is it to it! So fun right?! I love how they turned out! Be sure to check back tomorrow too where we’ll be sharing all of the photos from our murder mystery party on the weekend! xx
Why We LOVE Tim Burton Style
There’s something irresistible about the Tim Burton style. It’s whimsical, it’s eerie, and it’s unmistakable. Whether it’s the iconic spiral hills in The Nightmare Before Christmas or the gothic charm of Edward Scissorhands, Burton’s aesthetic speaks to a part of us that loves the intersection of the macabre and the magical. But what exactly is it about his style that we love so much?
First of all, the Tim Burton style is both dark and quirky, creating a world that feels surreal but oddly comforting. His characters, often pale and slightly awkward, resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider. Burton takes these misfits and puts them at the center of the story, making them heroes in worlds that don’t always understand them.
In a way, this is what makes his films so relatable. You see a character like Jack Skellington, desperately wanting something different from his life, and you can’t help but root for him—even though he’s the King of Halloween Town. He’s odd, but he’s endearing. And that’s a big part of what draws us into the Tim Burton style: it’s a celebration of the weird, the offbeat, and the misunderstood.
Tim Burton Style is a Unique Blend of Fantasy and Horror
Another reason we love it is his unique blend of fantasy and horror. Burton has this knack for creating visuals that are both haunting and beautiful at the same time. Take the setting of Sleepy Hollow, with its twisted trees and eerie fog. It’s creepy, but there’s also something captivating about it. He knows how to turn dark, shadowy landscapes into places of wonder. This combination of light and dark, of beauty and the grotesque, is a key element of the Tim Burton style and keeps us coming back for more.
Then there’s the use of stop-motion animation, which adds an old-world charm to his films. There’s a tactile, handcrafted feel to movies like Corpse Bride that makes them stand out in a world of glossy, hyper-realistic CGI. The imperfections in the movements make the characters feel more alive, more real in their awkwardness.
In short, we love the Tim Burton style because it taps into our love for the strange and the wonderful. It’s a world where the oddballs are the heroes, and the dark corners are where the magic happens.
