# Pumpkin Gelatin Paint
> Mix unflavored gelatin with hot water, orange food color and pumpkin pie spice to make a runny, strongly scented paint. Kids use it to paint pumpkin drawings or paper-plate jack-o-lanterns.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-paint-recipe-pumpkin-gelatin-paint/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 20 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 2 kids
- Skills: process-art, sensory-exploration, fine-motor, colors
- Cautions: food-dye, ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 6 envelope Unflavored gelatin
- 4 cup Hot water (near boiling) (household)
- Orange food color
- Pumpkin pie spice
- 1 piece Heat-safe mixing bowl or pitcher (household)
- 1 piece Spoon or whisk for mixing (household)
- 2 piece Jars or bottles for the paint (household)
- 1 sheet Heavy construction paper
- 1 piece Paintbrushes
- 1 piece Black marker (optional) (household)
- 1 piece Paper plates (optional) (household)
- 1 piece Paper or plastic table cover (household)

## Safety
- Adult handles the near-boiling water and mixes the paint. Let it cool until just warm, and check it before handing it to kids.
- It smells 'yummy', but it is paint, not food. Don't let kids drink or eat it, and supervise at all times.
- Pumpkin pie spice can sting eyes. Remind kids to keep painty hands away from their faces, and wash hands after.
- Food color can stain hands, clothes and surfaces. Cover the table.
- Glass jars can break. Use plastic cups for younger kids or a big group.

## Before you start
- Draw a big pumpkin outline on heavy construction paper for each child who wants one.

## Steps
1. Adult: empty 6 envelopes of unflavored gelatin into a heat-safe bowl.
2. Adult: pour in near-boiling water, about 1/2 cup per envelope (we ended up with 4 cups), and stir until the gelatin dissolves.
3. Add pumpkin pie spice until the fragrance is as strong as you like.
4. Add a few drops of orange food color and mix well.
5. Adult: pour the paint into jars and check that it's only warm before handing it out. Use it right away so it doesn't set.
6. Paint inside the pumpkin outline with the runny paint.
7. Or paint free form and explore the texture of the paint.
8. Paint paper plates orange to make jack-o-lanterns.
9. Spread the paint evenly for a smooth, speckled finish.

## Tips
- This paint can be made as thick or as thin as you and your children prefer. Ours was runny, and it was fun to spread it around.
- It does get thicker as time goes by. After all, it has gelatin in it! Make the paint and use it immediately, because you don't want it to set.
- Use heavy construction paper, since the paint is a bit thicker than regular paint.
- Add the spice until the fragrance is pretty strong. The kids were very excited to try out this 'yummy' paint.
- My 5 year old had me draw a pumpkin to paint, while my 3 year old chose to paint free form.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

We sure are on a pumpkin kick when it comes to all things edible! I did not really enjoy "pumpkinifying" everything in sight during October. This year however I'm really loving the pumpkin flavor in everything, especially pumpkin bread! How about extending pumpkin more in our everyday play activities. [ More [**pumpkin activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/pumpkins/) here] We came up with this super simple homemade paint with a big dose of pumpkin flavor. My 5 year old had me draw a pumpkin and she was very excited to try out this "yummy" paint. We used a heavy construction paper since the paint is a bit thicker than regular paint.
 My 3 year old chose to draw free form and adored exploring the texture of the homemade paint.  The best part is that this homemade paint can be made as thick or as thin as you and your children prefer. Our was runny and it was fun to spread it around.  It does get thicker as time goes by- after all it has gelatin in it.  The children also wanted to paint a few paper plates to make Jack-0-Lanterns.  This is how the paint looks if spread evenly.   **Materials for homemade paint:** ( makes 2 bottles pictured above)

1. Unflavored Gelatin - 6 envelopes
2. Orange Food Color
3. Pumpkin Pie Spice
4. 4 cups of hot water

Each envelope you add, needs about 1/2 cup of near boiling water. I added extra and ended up with 4 cups of hot water in the gelatin. Add pumpkin pie spice according to your preference - I added the spice until the fragrance was pretty strong! Few drops of food coloring go in and then it is time to mix. The mixture will be watery and will spread easily. Make the paint and use it immediately- you don't want it to set. For more **[art recipes,](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/art-recipe/)** check out category page by clicking on the blue link.

Thanks for reading