{"id":12165,"date":"2022-10-27T06:50:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-27T12:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/?p=12165"},"modified":"2022-10-19T16:12:52","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T22:12:52","slug":"the-best-paints-to-use-for-decorating-pumpkins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shieldagency.com\/blog\/the-best-paints-to-use-for-decorating-pumpkins\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Paints to Use for Decorating Pumpkins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Marthastewart.com<\/a> | By\u00a0Blythe Copeland<\/a> | Updated August 17, 2022 | Decorating Pumpkins<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From spray paints to acrylics, experts weigh in on the top tints for every Halloween Decorating Pumpkins project. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decorating\u00a0pumpkins may be a traditional Halloween activity<\/a>, but trading your X-Acto knife for a paintbrush has its benefits:\u00a0Painting pumpkins<\/a>\u00a0is easier and safer for young kids, presents more design freedom for adults, and leaves you with an\u00a0autumnal decoration<\/a>\u00a0that lasts until you trade your fall d\u00e9cor for holiday lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“When we carve pumpkins<\/a>, if we get a week out of it, that’s pretty good\u2014but a painted pumpkin can last months,” says Marc Evan, founder and co-owner of Maniac Pumpkin Carvers<\/a>. “A carving is going to rot in as soon as three days, sometimes even quicker. The nice thing about a painted pumpkin is it could theoretically last the entire season and look great through Halloween.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But choosing the best type of paint to use when\u00a0decorating your pumpkin<\/a>\u00a0matters. Some are too translucent, while others are too oily, making them take longer to dry. Here, experts convey the best paints for decorating pumpkins so you can have a festive final product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Pick a Pumpkin to Paint<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step in designing a painted pumpkin is looking carefully at its shape. “Painting a rounded surface is a little more difficult than a flat surface like canvas,” says Becki Thomas, art manager at Painting with a Twist<\/a>. “Try and choose a pumpkin with the smoothest surface possible, and plan your design, keeping the pumpkin’s natural ridges in mind.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, clean your pumpkin so that the paint will stick to the surface. “It’s a good idea to wash the pumpkin and dry it really well,” says Evan. “That way, you’re not putting paint on a fine layer of dirt\u2014you’re putting paint right on the skin of the pumpkin.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Acrylic Paint for General Decorating Pumpkins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

“I love to paint pumpkins with chalky acrylic paint,” says Roma Stiff, senior creative project designer for Michaels<\/a>. “The coverage is good, and the matte finish gives an updated home d\u00e9cor look and feel. The paint comes in a variety of home d\u00e9cor colors and is just enough to do a project!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choose Acrylic Over Oil Paint for Decorating Pumpkins<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Thomas agrees and recommends acrylic paint instead of oil-based when painting pumpkins. “It’s quick-drying, easy to use, and clean-up is a breeze,” she says. “Because acrylic is water-based, if you mess up, you can wipe it off with a rag and start over! Oil-based paint takes a long time to dry and can be fumy. [With oil,] you’ll also need paint thinner to clean the paintbrushes<\/a>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Work in Layers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most acrylic craft paints will require more than one coat to prevent the bright orange of the pumpkin rind from showing through, but acrylic’s fast-drying properties\u2014and low cost\u2014let you layer several applications for solid coverage in the shortest amount of time. “It’ll work for big shapes and tiny stencils,” says Thomas. “Have a few different brush sizes ready to go, and you’ll be able to paint anything with acrylic.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wear Protective Clothing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One caution from Thomas: “It does stain clothing, so make sure to wear an apron or an old shirt and to protect the table you’re painting on.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Spray Paint for All-Over Color when Decorating Pumpkins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Click here for the rest of the story…<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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