Painting Pumpkins With Your Kids - Cleverly Simple tips for painting pumpkins with toddlers, babies, kids, and pumpkin painting project for young kids.
Carving pumpkins may be a traditional Halloween activity, but trading your X-Acto knife for a paintbrush has its benefits: painting pumpkins is easier and safer for young kids, presents more design freedom for adults, and leaves you with an autumnal decoration that lasts until you trade your fall décor for"When we carve pumpkins, if we get a week out of it, that&aposs pretty good, but a painted pumpkin can last months," says Marc Evan, founder and co-owner at Maniac Pumpkin Carvers.A carving is going to rot in as soon as three days.A painted pumpkin can last the entire season and look great on Halloween.
When decorating a pumpkin, it's important to choose the best paint to use.Some are translucent while others are oily.Two experts show you how to decorate pumpkins with the best paints.
The first step in designing a painted pumpkin is looking at its shape.Painting a rounded surface is more difficult than painting a flat surface, says Becki Thomas, art manager at Painting with a Twist.Pick a pumpkin with the smoothest surface possible, and plan your design keeping the pumpkin's natural ridges in mind.If you want the paint to stick to the pumpkin, you have to clean it.Evan says it is a good idea to wash the pumpkin and dry it.If you put paint on the skin of the pumpkin, it will not be on a fine layer of dirt.
The senior creative project designer for Michaels loves to paint pumpkins.The coverage is good and the finish gives an updated home décor look and feel.It's just enough to do a project with the paint that comes in a variety of home décor colors.
Thomas recommends using an oil-based paint for pumpkins.She says that it is quick-drying, easy to use, and clean-up is easy.If you mess up, you can wipe it off with a rag.Oil-based paint can take a long time to dry.You will need paint thinner to clean the paintbrushes.The bright orange of the pumpkin rind will not show through if you layer several applications for solid coverage in the shortest amount of time.Thomas says it will work for big shapes.If you have a few different brush sizes ready to go, you will be able to paint anything.It does stain clothing, so make sure to wear an apron or an old shirt to protect the table you are painting on.
You will want to start with multiple coats of all-over color to turn your pumpkin into a cheery sun, white ghost, or pale yellow decorative centerpiece.Thomas says spray paint is the most durable and will get you a full coat of paint in a matter of seconds."Make sure to mask off any areas you don't want painted."Evan uses spray paint to create pumpkins that are different shades of the same color, to paint the stems of pumpkins in contrasting shades, and to set a base coat for more detailed work.Montana Gold spray paint is recommended by him.He says spray paint is versatile.It works great for solid colors and decorative work.
Creating intricate patterns is easier with paint than with a knife, and paint pens or markers are some of the easiest ways to add thoughtful design elements to your finished product.Evan likes brands including Montana, Molotow, and Krink, which are acrylic-based paint markers.They adhere well to the pumpkin's skin.Paint pens are recommended by Thomas.Thomas says that you can do some nice detail work with the pens.They are great for small designs and facial features.Another option would be to paint the whole pumpkin white and then use paint pens for designs and detail work.It's adorable!