If you're tired of your jack-o-lanterns shriveling too soon after Halloween, try pumpking painting insead. If your artistic talents include Pictionary-esque stick figures at best, here's a great way to cheat...1) Print out a picture of the image you want to paint. TIP: Look for downloadable "coloring pages" on kids websites like SesameStreet.org.
2) Color the BACK of the entire image with a pencil, crosshatching (scribble left to right, then up to down) until you have no whitespace remaining on the back of the image.
3) Carefully tape the image to the pumpkin and use a pencil to trace the image. (Since you covered the back of the picture with pencil, the pressure from your tracing will "transfer" the image onto the pumpkin.)
4) Remove the paper and paint your image using acryllic craft paints. TIP: You only need to buy red, yellow and blue (to mix your colors from) and black and white (for darkening and lightening colors). Paint the lightest colors first and the darkest colors last. A small square of foil makes the perfect disposable palate for mixing your colors. Finish by using a tiny brush to outline your image with black paint.
5) Once your paint is dry (it doesn't take long) spray your image with a clear coat protectant, available at any craft store in the spraypaint section. I prefer a matte finish, but you can use glossy too. TIP: Make sure you follow the directions on the can EXACTLY. This is NOT the place to cut corners! If you cheat here, the clear coat can get funky and peel off in spots, and it will peel the paint off your pumpkin with it!
6) Once your clear coat is dry and cured (usually overnight), proudly display your pumpkins outside. A word of caution: these make great gifts, especially for kids, but don't be surprised if you get special "orders" in the coming years!
No comments:
Post a Comment