Pumpkin painting
Turn a small paintable pumpkin into a portrait, pattern, or character, then give it a name card while the paint dries.
Activity steps
- Set out a little studio,Cover the table and put one small pumpkin suitable for painting at each place. Choose pumpkins locally or use suitable ones you already own, and test the paint on their surface before the party. Share acrylic paint pens among each group of six. If you want brushed backgrounds or dots, put out a little bottled acrylic paint and craft brushes, using an old washable plate or palette and a rinse cup from home. The grown-up helping can wear an apron. Kraft paper can sit over the waterproof cover for an easy-to-remove top layer.
- Find your pumpkin’s personality,Sketch a face, dots or stripes on scrap paper or colored card. Draw with paint pens, or brush on a little acrylic color first. Let a brushed base dry before adding pen details; follow the paint label and allow extra drying time as needed. Keep craft paint and brushes separate from food supplies.
- Give your pumpkin a name,Write a name and one surprising fact about your pumpkin on a blank card. Leave the pumpkin on its table cover until the design is completely dry. Once fully dry, group a few finished pumpkins on a tray for their gallery entrance.
Use real mini pumpkins or artificial pumpkins specifically suitable for painting, and test the chosen paints first. Paints and brushes offer an optional technique alongside paint pens; use suitable supplies from home. Uncoated paper alone does not protect the table from wet paint. Drying time varies, so keep wet work on the covered table.
Shopping list for 6 people
- Small pumpkins suitable for painting — 6 pumpkins
- Acrylic paint pen assortment — 1 set
- Blank cards for messages, names and votes — 6 cards
- Washable marker assortment — 1 set
- Wipeable table cover — 1 cover
- Kitchen towels or cleanup cloths — 3 towels
- An apron for the grown-up paint-table host — 1 apron
- Kraft paper for the craft-table surface — 2 m
- Colored cardstock — 6 sheets
- Wood tray for finished pumpkins — 1 tray
- Acrylic craft paint assortment — 1 set
- Craft paintbrushes — 12 brushes
Use supplies you already have. Enable JavaScript to adjust guests and mark what you need.