How to Paint Jack-O'-Lantern Faces on Rocks

Jack-o'-lanterns are one of the quintessential elements associated with Halloween. While they are commonly carved or painted onto the surface of a pumpkin, these faces can also be featured on other materials for a festive touch during the Halloween season. For a permanent jack-o'-lantern decoration that can be displayed in a garden, on a doorstep or perhaps on a shelf, consider painting one of these faces onto the surface of a rock.

Things You'll Need

• Rocks
• Newspaper
• Orange tempera paint
• Black tempera paint
• Paintbrushes

Instructions

1. Choose a rock that has a smooth surface for this craft. A smooth surface is easier to paint than a lumpy one and the features of the jack-o'-lantern face will be easier to see. The size rock you choose depends on your intended use for the decoration. For example, a large rock would be ideal for a garden or doorstep decoration, while a smaller rock would be better suited for a shelf display.

2. Cover the surface you will be working on with newspaper to protect it from the paint.

3. Paint the top and sides of the rock with orange tempera paint. Set the rock aside until the paint is completely dry.

4. Dip a thin artist paintbrush into black tempera paint. Paint two right-side-up triangle eyes on the rock.

5. Paint a right-side-up or an upside-down triangle in the center of the rock, just below the eyes, for the nose.

6. Use the paint and the paintbrush to create an opening, smiling mouth with one tooth on the bottom and one tooth on the top of the mouth.

Tips & Warnings

• Create several jack-o'-lanterns on several rocks or create different faces on each of the rocks for a more varied display. Rearrange the direction of the eyes and nose. Make different types of mouths -- for example, mouths that feature fangs, circle-shaped mouths or a squiggly-lined mouth.