Painting pumpkins is a well-loved Halloween tradition. If you are looking for a fun activity in which to engage your children, consider painting pumpkins as an alternative to carving jack-o-lanterns. The process of carving pumpkins can be difficult, even dangerous, for young children, so painting Halloween pumpkins provides a safe and fun alternative.
Utilize your child's creativity by letting him or her pick whatever design he or she wants whether it be a silly face with a big nose or a picture of a favorite super hero. Halloween is all about having fun – so enjoy yourself while painting pumpkins with your kids!
How-to Guide for Painting Halloween Pumpkins
Choose Your Pumpkin Carefully
When choosing a pumpkin to paint it is important to find one that is smooth, not bumpy, and does not have many lumps, dents, or scratches. You may choose whatever size pumpkin you like – keep in mind your design when choosing a pumpkin and that will help you pick the right size. Also, try to find a pumpkin with a flat bottom so that it will sit upright.
Prepare Your Pumpkin for Painting
The next step is to get your pumpkin ready to be painted. Once you get it home, take care to wash it and to remove any dirt or dust that may have accumulated on the surface. Use a damp cloth rather than a stiff brush which may damage the skin. You can use a paper towel to blot the surface, but it is best to allow your pumpkin to air dry.
Put Down a Layer of Sealer (Optional)
If you want to make sure your pumpkin lasts and if you want the paint to stick to the surface a little better, you might consider coating it with a layer of sealer or varnish. Most types of acrylic medium or general purpose sealer should work, but do a test patch on the bottom of your pumpkin before you paint the entire thing.
Pick Your Color, Design, and Materials
The final step before actually beginning to paint your pumpkin is to settle on your design, the colors you want, and what kind of paint you will use. If you are painting a face on your pumpkin, utilizing the pumpkin's entire surface, you may want to use its natural color as a background. If, however, you want to paint the entire pumpkin you should choose a color that suits your design and paint your Halloween pumpkin in sections so that you do not have to hold it while it is wet. For example, if you wish to paint a ghost face on your pumpkin you might choose a white background or, if you are painting a witch's face, you might choose gray or green.
Acrylic paints are generally the best material to use when painting pumpkins because they will stick better than poster paints and they will not wash off easily. If you do not have paint available or do not want to risk making a mess, you can also use a permanent marker or a paint marker to create your design. If you are feeling extra-creative, try using some pipe cleaners or cardboard to add accessories to your painted Halloween pumpkin!
Paint Your Halloween Pumpkin
After choosing your design, colors, and materials you are ready to actually paint your pumpkin. If you want to, you can transfer your design onto its surface using a pencil or stencil to ensure that the design looks right. Then, simply paint your pumpkin as you would any other surface being sure to paint around the edges, not just on the part of the pumpkin directly in front of you. Every few minutes, step back to take a look at your pumpkin to make sure that all areas are being painted evenly and that your design is turning out how you want it.
Protecting Your Pumpkin
Again, you have the option of putting a layer of sealer or varnish over your painted design to protect it. If you choose to do so, make sure you let the paint completely dry before you brush on any sealer or varnish - if you do not wait long enough you may end up smearing your design. Spray-on varnish is a great option that makes this final step very easy but be sure to follow the safety instructions on the can.
Painting Halloween Pumpkins is Easy and Fun
After following all of these steps you will find yourself rewarded with a great homemade Halloween decoration. Painting Halloween pumpkins is so easy that you may find yourself painting on everything from gourds to squash, maybe even other vegetables! This Halloween craft is a great project for kids, too, especially when using the type of mini pumpkins which can often be purchased at grocery stores in the weeks before Halloween. Take advantage of the opportunity to utilize your creativity and to engage in a craft project with your kids – paint Halloween pumpkins!
Katherine Barrington - Katherine has loved reading and writing for as long as she can remember. When it comes to reading one of her favorite authors is Tamora ...
