“What kind of paint did you use on the pumpkin?” · theresa
Author Water soluble acrylic paint.
The story behind it
By TurkeyMom · October 2013
Ages3–8 yrs
Prep10 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class
Paint a small pie pumpkin in rainbow stripes, then let kids squeeze dabs of white glue onto it and stick on colorful candy bits, matching each candy to the stripe of the same color. Candy that won't stick turns into a fun glue slide.
⚠️ Safety first
- Small candy pieces are a choking hazard. Supervise closely, especially with children who still put things in their mouths.
- This is art, not a snack: don't eat candy once it has been near glue or on the painted pumpkin.
- Check candy labels for allergens. Many candies contain food dyes, and some contain wheat, gelatin, dairy, soy or nuts.
- Acrylic paint can stain clothes, so use smocks or old shirts.
Before the kids arrive
- Paint the pumpkin in rainbow-colored sections with acrylic paint (an older child can do this) and let it dry completely.
- Pour a small amount of white glue into a squeeze bottle for each child.
- Set the dry painted pumpkin and the candy pieces out in a tray as an invitation to create.
Steps
Paint the pumpkin in rainbow stripes and let it dry.
Set the painted pumpkin and a tray of colorful candy bits out on the table.
Squeeze small dabs of glue onto the pumpkin.
Stick a candy piece onto each glue dab, matching the candy color to the pumpkin stripe.
If a candy won't stick, smear on more glue and let it slide down the pumpkin.
Turn the pumpkin and decorate the other sides.
Let the glue dry, then display the finished candy pumpkin.
Tips
- Pour a small amount of glue into a squeeze bottle for controlled, precise gluing. Occasionally giant puddles of glue get made anyway!from the author
- Not all candy sticks. The gummy (gelatin-based) candy had a hard time staying on, and so did the Sweetarts.from the author
- The children made the non-sticking candy the highlight: they smeared glue and played glue slide with the candy bits, and it was oh-so-fun.from the author
- Painting the pumpkin in rainbow colors is so much fun that you can have an older child do it.from the author
- Plan to use candies your child isn't very interested in. Ours turned into a hunt for all the colorful candy bits.from the author
- Starting with a painted pumpkin really adds to the finished product.from readers
Make it your own
- Skip the art goal and set it up as a glue slide: smear glue all over the pumpkin and let the candy bits slide down.
- Have an older child paint the rainbow pumpkin themselves before decorating.
Questions readers asked
What kind of paint did you use?
Water-soluble acrylic paint.
What readers say
💬 5 comments ✍️ 1 answered by the author
Answered by the author
🎉 Worked for us
Painted pumpkin base makes it shine
A fellow blogger loved starting with a rainbow-painted pumpkin, saying it really adds to the finished candy creation.
“I love how you started with a painted pumpkin - it really adds to the finished product.”
Read all 5 comments
theresa · Oct 2013
What kind of paint did you use?
TurkeyMomAuthor · Oct 2013 · replying to theresa
Water soluble acrylic paint.
Jen @ Mama.Papa.Bubba. · Oct 2013
This looks like so much fun! I love how you started with a painted pumpkin - it really adds to the finished product. :)