Painted Pumpkins

Design options: swirls, polka dots, bat, lady, spider

You’ll need: • paintbrushes • acrylic paint • sparkles • marker • glitter glue (optional)

Steps 1. Wash and dry pumpkin thoroughly.

2. Draw design on pumpkin with marker.

3. Create an area for painting. Protect surfaces with newspapers and dress artists in old clothes.

4. Brushes can be cleaned between colours in old yogurt containers filled with water — just add a drop or two of liquid dish soap. Use paper towels to squeeze excess water from brushes.

5. Sprinkle sparkles over the paint before it dries. Another option: Paint on glitter glue after the paint is dry.

Helpful Hints • Acrylic paint adheres well, but will run if it gets wet. Sets of acrylic paints are a good option, but if you’re painting several pumpkins, consider buying paint in small bottles (available in craft stores and some dollar stores). Metallic sheens are very popular with kids.

• Orange and yellow paint will be hard to see on the pumpkin’s orange skin. Layer them over contrasting colours such as blue, red or black. Or outline the paint after it’s dry with glitter glue.

• For best results, allow thin coats of paint to dry between layers rather than using one heavy coat. A hair dryer can help speed up the drying process.