Painted Pumpkins 🎃🎨

Last year, my two daughters and I had a blast painting our favorite characters on pumpkins, and we can’t wait to do it all over again this year!

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to paint pumpkins using stencils for character designs:

### Materials:

- Pumpkins (real or artificial)

- Base paint (acrylic or spray paint)

- Character stencils (or printouts)

- Graphite pencil

- Paintbrushes (various sizes)

- Acrylic paints (in the colors of your characters)

- Painter’s tape or masking tape

- Clear sealant (optional)

Steps:

1. **Prepare Your Pumpkin:**

Clean the pumpkin’s surface and let it dry completely. If you’re using a real pumpkin, make sure it’s smooth and free of dirt.

2. **Apply the Base Color:**

Paint the entire pumpkin with your chosen base color. This will be the background for your character design. Let it dry completely before moving on.

3. **Position the Stencil:**

If you’re using pre-made stencils, tape them securely to the pumpkin. If you’re using a printed character, lightly trace around the design with a pencil or cut out the shape to use as a guide.

4. **Trace the Design with Pencil:**

Once the stencil is in place, use a graphite pencil to trace the character onto the pumpkin. Press lightly to avoid denting the surface but ensure the lines are visible after removing the stencil.

5. **Remove the Stencil:**

Carefully take off the stencil or paper, leaving behind the pencil outline of your character.

6. **Paint Inside the Lines:**

Using fine brushes, fill in the character design with acrylic paints. Start with larger areas and work your way to smaller, detailed sections. Allow each color to dry before applying additional layers or adjacent colors to avoid smudging.

7. **Add Details:**

Once the main colors are dry, use a smaller brush for details like facial features, outlines, or shading.

8. **Optional: Seal the Design:**

After the paint is completely dry, spray a clear sealant over the entire pumpkin to protect your artwork and make it last longer.

Now you're ready to display your pumpkin masterpiece!

#paintingpumpkins #holidaydecor #fallvibes🍂 #fall2024