Finger Painting Pumpkins

Yesterday was a day for the books. After Lenna’s first nap, we headed off to the pumpkin patch..because, Fall. But also because I’ve challenged myself to complete a ​Fall Bucketlist. It’s a list I created myself of all the things that make Fall my favorite season of all.

When we first arrived at Stuckmeyers Farms, Lenna was very observant. She stood quietly and took it all in. It only lasted a few minutes and then she was ready to explore! We first headed over to the animals, where she saw her first live turkey and little chickens. Then we headed inside to the ‘already picked’ pumpkins, where she saw her first giant pumpkin.

We walked the pumpkin patch, explored the field of sunflowers, and waved at the people on the hayride. If you follow me on Instagram, you saw Lenna trip over a pumpkin vine and then hit the pumpkin’s leaves in frustration. It was adorable.

Lenna and I each came home with a white pumpkin. I knew I wanted her to decorate her own pumpkin this year, and white would be the perfect canvas for the vibrant paint I bought. I didn’t quite make it to mine, but I’ll get there. 

How do you decorate a pumpkin without carving it?

My daughter is 15 months and hasn’t quite uncovered her fullest potential of artistic abilities. Naturally. So I thought painting would be something she could absolutely do. The biggest challenge was to make sure she didn’t eat it. And to my surprise, she didn’t try even once! Once she found out that she could make a mess of it all over her body without getting in trouble, she was all about it.

​What kind of paint do you use on pumpkins for kids?

I opted for finger paint because I wanted to avoid any paints more harsh in case of a skin irritation. Of course kids can react differently to all things, but I specifically have sensitive skin. And since we’re still learning about Lenna and the way her body reacts, I thought we’d be better safe than sorry.

​Will finger paint work on pumpkins?

I feel the better question may be, ‘Will painted fingers work on pumpkins?’. Once Lenna discovered the freedom she had during our art project, her fingers painted more of her body than the pumpkin. So while she didn’t exactly decorate the pumpkin as I had hoped, the experience made for some pretty great photos!

​Can you use washable paints on pumpkins?

I used washable finger paint on my daughter’s pumpkin for many reasons. I didn’t want it staining her skin was a big one. And I wanted to be able to quickly remove it, should he have a reaction to it. But will it stick? My answer is yes, finger paint definitely sticks to pumpkins. And to my surprise, it dries pretty quickly too! I haven’t gotten it wet yet, so I’m not sure exactly how it’ll hold up in a rainstorm, but I do plan to bring it to shelter when we’re expecting storms, just in case.

​Will paint on pumpkins last?

It will last a decent amount, but to help it last longer, I would seal it with a spray on polycrylic, or mix your paint 50/50 with glue so that it doesn’t begin to flake when it dries. Lenna’s doesn’t seem to be flaking yet, but I’ll be keeping a close eye on it.