Easy Last-Minute Pumpkins

When my kids were little, I wanted to make sure they could celebrate the coming of Fall without turning their backs on our beliefs.

We carved crosses in pumpkins, we painted pictures that said: “God made the pumpkins”, we had parties, and we baked lots of yummy goodies. My kids have fond memories of those times.

Now, I love a lit-up pumpkin lantern as much as anybody, but I really don’t like the mess or the raised possibility for injuries (sharp knives and candles). I once lit my curtains on fire by putting a lit pumpkin in my window.

Here are some ideas for pumpkins that celebrate the beauty of God’s creations.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Pumpkins
Craft paint and a palette
Sharpies or paint pens
Paint brushes
Waxed paper and paper towels

INSTRUCTIONS:

Pick out pumpkins at a farm or grocery store. Wash the dirt off of them and let them dry.

Lay down a piece of waxed paper. Pour paint into the wells of your palette. The round palettes you find at any craft store (or the dollar store) work perfectly. Have paper towels nearby for blotting.

For the cats:

Dip your pointer finger in black (or any color) paint. Press it horizontally in a haphazard pattern on your pumpkin. (NOTE: it helps to blot your finger a bit on paper towels first, so the paint doesn’t run). With a small paint brush, move some of the paint up into cat ears. Let dry. Use the tail end of a paint brush (the handle) to add eyes and a nose. Add whiskers and pupils with a Sharpie.

For the pumpkins:

I made white pumpkins on my orange pumpkin, but wouldn’t orange on a white pumpkin be cute? Dip your finger in the paint, blot, and press either vertically or horizontally (or both) around your pumpkin. Let dry. Add a stem and vines with green paint or a sharpie. Add “ribs” with a pen, if desired.

For the mushrooms:

Dip into red paint, blot and press your finger horizontally on the pumpkin. Let dry. Add vertical pinky finger stems in beige. Use the end of your paint brush to add white dots.

For the flowers:

Press your pointer finger in brown, blot, and press in a pattern around your pumpkin. Let dry. Press your pinky finger in yellow and make six “petals” around each center. Add green leaves, if desired.

The hardest part of this craft for us was waiting for the paint to dry. It would be the perfect time to read books about Fall, bake something with autumn flavors, or take a nature walk.

And, there you have it! Cute pumpkins that won’t light your curtains on fire. Seriously, I am more of a hazard than the kids are.

God created this beautiful season and I love celebrating that.