How to Paint Happy Halloween on a Pumpkin
Few craft projects embody the spirit of Halloween like pumpkin carving. Unfortunately, carving a pumpkin is also messy, requires sharp knives, and once cut, the interior rots quickly. But a hatred for scooping pumpkin goop and chasing slippery seeds shouldn't limit your creativity during this festive holiday tradition. Using other decorative mediums, such as painting, affords a greater variety of colors and designs without all the frustration and mess. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Paper towels
- Latex or acrylic paint pen
- 2-inch wide paint brush (optional)
- Polyurethane
- Pencil
Instructions
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1
Wipe down the pumpkin with a water-dampened paper towel. Painting over the dirt, soil and grit traps the debris inside the paint, giving your design an uneven, gritty appearance.
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2
Test your painting pen on the bottom of the pumpkin, or another inconspicuous area, to make sure the paint sticks to the surface. Acrylic and latex paints adhere best to the naturally waxy skin of a pumpkin.
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3
Draw the outline of each letter in the phrase "Happy Halloween" with a pencil on the pumpkin surface. Choose a flat side of the pumpkin or make your letters small enough to fit one curved half of the pumpkin surface.
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4
Draw over the pencil lines with your acrylic paint pen. Color in the negative space inside the letters after you complete the outline. Avoid smearing the paint by letting each letter dry completely before starting the next one.
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5
Apply a thin coat of polyurethane over the entire pumpkin surface once the letters dry. The polyurethane protects your paint from drying and flaking while giving the entire pumpkin an appealing sheen.
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Tips & Warnings
Give your Happy Halloween pumpkin additional coloring by painting the entire surface one color before completing the lettering. Wait until the background color dries completely before beginning the lettering.
References
- Photo Credit Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
