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Pumpkin Fizzy Art

Oct 3, 2016134,137 views
Science
Fall Art Activities: Pumpkin Fizzy Art for Kids Save
all-happy-pumpkins-art Save
jack-o-lantern-fizzing-art Save
bear pumpkin Save
pumpkin-fall-art Save
fizzing-pumpkins-art-science Save

by TurkeyMom in Science

Ages3–8 yrs
Prep25 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Paint card-stock pumpkins with baking soda paint, then drip or splatter orange, yellow and red citric acid solution so they fizz into colorful textured pumpkins. Add googly eyes once dry.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Citric acid stings eyes and cuts. Use small amounts and wash hands afterward.
  • Splatter painting sends drops flying, so keep faces back from the splatter.
  • Googly eyes are small parts. Supervise young children who might put them in their mouths.

Before the kids arrive

  • Cut pumpkin shapes from white card stock.
  • Mix the colored citric acid solutions (citric acid + water + food color) in orange, yellow and a little red.

Steps

  1. Mix 2 tbsp baking soda with 2 tbsp water to make baking soda paint.

  2. Paint your pumpkin cutout all over with the baking soda paint.

  3. Dip a brush in the colored citric acid solution and gently touch it to the painted pumpkin. Watch it fizz!

  4. Use orange, yellow and a little touch of red to color your pumpkin.

  5. Try the splatter and drip method: dunk your brush and splatter the solution onto the pumpkin.

  6. Let the pumpkins dry.

  7. Scrape off any leftover baking soda and gently brush with a little water to bring the bright color back.

  8. Add googly eyes and draw the black pumpkin lines back on.

Tips

  • Science and art go hand in hand here: the kids learn and observe while they create.from the author
  • My 7 year old added 3 different googly eyes and created a bear!from the author
  • After drying, if the baking soda residue lingers, it can easily be scraped off and gently brushed with a little water.from the author
  • No citric acid? Vinegar works.from readers

Make it your own

  • Make a Jack O' Lantern with orange citric acid solution.
  • Let the pumpkins dry and string them into a garland.
  • Use three googly eyes to turn a pumpkin into a bear.
  • Try the same technique on apple cut-outs (Fizzing Apple Art).

Questions readers asked

Is there a substitute for citric acid?

Yes, vinegar (a reader's answer). The author's related fizzing apple art post also uses colored vinegar.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · October 2016
pumpkin-cutouts
Use card stock paper to cut out pumpkins. We start by painting the pumpkin cutouts with baking soda paint: 2 tablespoons of baking soda plus 2 tablespoons of water.
1 / 10

Pumpkin Fizzy Art: the original post

You can’t help by smile looking at these pumpkin fizzy art. How about a bright and vibrant dose of orange to brighten up our homes to fight the loss of sunshine during this fall season? Our fizzing apple art project was super popular in our home { and on Pinterest } and that encouraged us to start working on this gorgeous pumpkin art for our mantle. Science and art goes hand in hand in this fabulous fall art activity that the kids are learning and observing while creating this gorgeous pumpkin art.

Use card stock paper to cut out pumpkins.

pumpkin-cutouts

Instructions for creating happy Pumpkin Fizzy Art

Like our fizzing apple art we would start with painting the pumpkin cutouts with baking soda paint first {2 TBSP baking soda +2 TBSP water} Then prepare colored citric acid solution { food colors + citric acid +water} and dip your paint brushes and gently place them on the baking soda solution. I recommend reading the fizzing apple art post to get the detailed instructions.

pumpkin-art-project

The vibrantly colored fizzes on the pumpkin creates a wonderful effect. { All our baking soda experiments here}

fizzing-pumpkin-art

My child tried out multiple processes like here she tried splatter and drip method. She would dunk her brush in the citric acid solution and splatter it on the baking soda painted pumpkin.

autumn-art

Here we tried making a Jack O’ Lantern with orange citric acid solution.

jack-o-lantern-fizzing-art

The kids tried using orange, yellow and a little touch of red citric acid solution to create their happy pumpkins. Once they tried we tried adding googly eyes to add some personality.

all-happy-pumpkins-art

How cute is this pumpkin fizzy art guy!

pumpkins-art

My 7 year old added 3 different googly eyes and created a bear! Once the pumpkins dried you can add back the black lines to finish off the pumpkins.

bear pumpkin

A good dose of science and art for this fall season.

pumpkin-fall-art

You can also let the pumpkins dry and string them along and make a garland.

fizzing-pumpkins-art-science

After drying if the baking soda residue lingers, it can easily be scraped off and gently brushed with little water to bring the bright color back.

happy-pumpkins-art

Thanks for reading

all fall activities sneeze page

Feel free to pin this

fizzing-pumpkins

Pin this for future

fall art

amazon-screen

What readers say

💬 2 comments

🍎 In the classroom

Planned for a preschool class

A preschool teacher planned to make these pumpkins with her class and asked whether something could replace the citric acid.

“Look forward to making these adorable pumpkins with my preschool class!”
Jen Nivison, Oct 2019

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 2 comments

  1. Jen Nivison · Oct 2019

    Is there a substitute product that we can use instead of citric acid?? thanks! Look forward to making these adorable pumpkins with my preschool class! :) Thanks! Jen

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