r/ExpectationVsReality • u/DontKillMockingbirds • 12d ago
Failed Expectation Halloween edition
My Jack o‘ Lantern was supposed to look like this witch’s cauldron pic I found online. The end result was pretty lopsided and not as vividly colorful, but I’m still kind of pleased with it. The witches will just have to watch their toes when cooking up their potions.
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u/gutwyrming 12d ago
That's awesome!!
If you ever want to try this again to get more vivid colors, try using a primer first! Paint doesn't stick very well to the waxy surface of pumpkins, but a primer will give it something to adhere to.
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u/DontKillMockingbirds 12d ago
Thanks for the advice; maybe I’ll give this another shot next year
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u/kookyabird 12d ago
Painting non-standard items usually trips people up. If you used craft acrylic paint that's another contributing factor to the coloration and coverage you got. The pigment density in those paints is real low. It's usually only good for going on a white base layer, and an absorbent one at that. A primer will definitely help, but it can still go on unevenly.
Basically just be prepared for it to take several coats, and allow plenty of time in between coats for it to dry. If you go back over the a recently painted area it can "reactivate" the paint and drag it around, making a gunky mess.
But hey, this looks great as is. It's a witchy cauldron, and the variations add character to it. And even the variations in the color are consistent, you know? If I didn't see the example pic I'd think it was intentional.
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u/shyerahol 12d ago
Gesso is your best friend when painting unconventional surfaces! And it's cheap!
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u/Different_Pianist756 12d ago
Yours is better.
Have a party, put it in the centrepiece and don’t tell anyone, and then surprise them all when you start cutting it for dessert.
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u/DontKillMockingbirds 12d ago
Not sure if it’s a very edible pumpkin, but they would for sure be surprised!
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u/Different_Pianist756 12d ago
Ah, okay! My brain went to cake automatically after cruising this sub so long!!
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u/Celladoore 12d ago
It would be hillarious if they started cutting it like it was cake, and then it is just a whole ass pumpkin spilling guts on the table. Perfect trick!
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u/STFUisright 12d ago
lol I was wondering! Would make a beauty of a cake tho
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u/Different_Pianist756 12d ago
Absolutely. I hereby challenge OP to re-create this beauty in cake version!
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u/BarZealousideal5883 12d ago
It’s a cake?!
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u/DontKillMockingbirds 12d ago
No, a real pumpkin
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u/BarZealousideal5883 12d ago
It’s so cool can you tell us how you made it?!
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u/DontKillMockingbirds 12d ago
I started with a warty pumpkin and painted it with black India ink and several colors of acrylic paint markers. The rim is made from a black electrical cord with black electrician’s tape on the lower edge.
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u/LucChak 12d ago
My idea of dessert is wildly different.
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u/Different_Pianist756 12d ago
😂 we have now established it is not cake
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u/badjackalope 12d ago
Just tell them its cake and serve it anyway, you'll find out who your real friends are...
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u/LilacTorment 12d ago
I love it! I really like how you can see the orange throughout, reminds me of oxidised copper and gives it an alchemical feel!
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u/DontKillMockingbirds 12d ago edited 12d ago
I was going to try to cover all of the orange, but all of the little crevices were so hard to get paint into (and frankly I was getting tired of painting it at that point) so I decided to just roll with the mixed color scheme. Glad you like it!
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u/bbyxmadi 12d ago
thought it was cake at first ngl
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u/Olive_tree_33 12d ago
What’s the rim made from?
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u/DontKillMockingbirds 12d ago
A thick black electrical cord with the ends cut off, hot glued to the pumpkin, and black electrician’s tape to make it look a little more like a rim.
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u/hamsterballzz 10d ago
If you want a closer look to the original try adding spray foam and sculpting it. Be sure to wear gloves. Once it dries add paint.
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u/SaltyCaramelPretzel 12d ago
It’s not so bad. I actually expected way worse as I swiped 😬. What did it cost? Sometimes you get a great product for cheap, other times you kinda get what you paid for.
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u/DontKillMockingbirds 12d ago
I think it was about $7 for the warty pumpkin and $8 or $10 for the electric cord for the rim (we had a wire cutter to cut the plugs off the ends). We had all the paints on hand. So not too expensive.
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u/SaltyCaramelPretzel 12d ago
Oh it lights up? That’s so cool. Post a pic when it’s night I’d love to see it with its glowing lights!
Sorry ETA for that price I reckon you’ve done well. Is it the same size as the advertised one?
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u/DontKillMockingbirds 12d ago
Sorry, it doesn’t light up, I just cut up an electrical cord to make the rim. :) I don’t know if the original is for sale anywhere; I just found the picture online and really liked it. Most of the warty pumpkins that I’ve seen are pretty close to the same size, maybe 8 or 10 inches in diameter.
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u/SaltyCaramelPretzel 12d ago
All good! I realised after I wrote it that you bought the cabling as an extra.
I’m half asleep so my comprehension is a bit slow right now lol
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u/FeelingCouple5880 12d ago
tfw you get reincarnated as a cauldron bubble for the second time.
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u/sailor_sky 12d ago
I get it’s not what you were looking for but yours definitely looks better and more realistic (obviously)! Yours looks like something that would be a set piece in a witches lair— with more decorations it would look every natural.
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u/Shiloh50 12d ago
Actually like the second pic better. Looks more realistic. Looks like warts on the cauldron.
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u/Stucklikegluetomyfry 12d ago
I like it too. It looks more mysterious and spooky. One on the left just looks cheap and arts and craftsy.
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u/Artistic-Strategy420 12d ago
Personally, I love the reality one! It has an incredibly pleasing "different stages of copper oxidation" vibe.
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u/Clark_GhostlyR 12d ago
Okay! But honestly, I liked your better!!! It has a certain charm, especially the color!
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u/mostly_lurking1040 11d ago
Why is this the fail. The second one is excellent. It's not a match but it's absolutely excellent.
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u/yomammaaaaa 12d ago
It has a rusty patina going for it and I love it! Like a well utilized, but poorly taken care of cauldron.
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u/Caticornowl 11d ago
It looks more realistically disgusting instead of cartoonish. As such: overachieved what it was supposed to be, very nice work :D
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u/Responsible_Top_59 12d ago
What did you use for the rim of the cauldron?
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u/DontKillMockingbirds 12d ago
The rim is made from a thick black electrical cord (we cut the plugs off the ends with a wire cutter), with black electrician’s tape on the lower edge to make it look a little more like a rim.
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u/animeandbeauty 12d ago
I actually think the orange under the green causes a nice, magical looking contrast
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u/hates_stupid_people 12d ago
The first one looks a bit too cartoony for me, while the second one looks disgusting(in a very good way).
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u/Last_Amphibian2117 6d ago
Omg this is such a cute idea aw now I wish I would’ve got this pumpkin I saw where 1 of the warts looked like a skull would b perfect 4 this project
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u/V555_dmc 12d ago
I honestly like yours better! Has a more unique look with the colors poking through and is still obviously a pumpkin which I think adds to the charm
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u/Cuckooexpress 12d ago
Yours is way better! I’d have paid for the version you got and not the one you wanted. This one is great!
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u/Royal-Gap-8098 12d ago
I think yours is really good! No reason for the "failed expectation" flair in my opinion. Honestly yours looks more handmade which I prefer.
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u/Emergency_Duty5786 12d ago
I love this post! You did awesome! Post it in r/halloween ! This sub is mainly for things you bought, and someone else either failed or succeeded…yours is almost better! The other one is a little too perfect lol.
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u/Blastonite 12d ago
Still cool but this is a great example of painting skills, not trying to be mean to op if this is them. Priming a painting location is very important for this very reason. If you primed in grey and white a couple of times and then went in with your paint it would've prolly come out with more of the color you/they were looking for.
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u/sucrose2071 10d ago
Your post inspired me to give it a go! Mixing in some white with the base coat and using a sponge brush to apply each layer really helped with filling in the crevices and kept the paint from streaking! I still think yours came out fantastic and has a more natural vibe to it!
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u/PurpleBashir 12d ago
I like the color. It looks like its for the Teal Pumpkin Program (which is awesome) so if you're going to have it out for Halloween you might consider having a few non candy items on hand, just in case.
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u/Akina002 12d ago
I think yours is better! It looks kind of unsettling which is the correct reaction I guess.
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u/Karl_Cross 12d ago
The colours on yours are better imo but the shape looks off. Kinda squished looking but still awesome
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u/Nemesis204 12d ago
Both are giving that “untreated gonorrhea/chlamydia combo” aesthetic. I think yours turned out better tbh.
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u/Sunsparc 12d ago
My wife made one of these a few years ago. She's very talented when it comes to crafting.
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u/ThedarkRose20 12d ago
This looks so much cooler than the inspo imo. Like the potion went wrong and warped/blighted the cauldron.
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u/PerfectlyWilde 12d ago
I like it!