| A carved jack-o-lantern may very well be the | | | | |
| most recognized symbol for the Halloween | | | | By tracing a pattern onto the pumpkin, young |
| holiday. But using a sharp knife to carve | | | | children can "paint by numbers" to create |
| them is not exactly an activity that | | | | their own Halloween masterpiece. |
| everyone, especially the children who are the | | | | |
| biggest fans of Halloween, can do. | | | | With a bit of creative planning, scrap |
| | | | fabric, craft supplies, hats and jewelry can |
| And how many parents have stayed up late, the | | | | transform the painted pumpkin into a |
| night before Halloween, carving their | | | | character worthy of name-giving. |
| jack-o-lanterns, only to see that same | | | | |
| pumpkin collapse just days after the big | | | | The best feature of painted pumpkins is their |
| holiday? | | | | lifespan. A pumpkin, once carved, will last |
| | | | three to five days at the most before it |
| During a field trip to a pumpkin farm, I | | | | begins to collapse and rot. A painted |
| discovered a Halloween craft activity that | | | | pumpkin, when sealed properly, will last four |
| even the youngest members of the family can | | | | weeks or longer! |
| participate in. Pumpkin painting is a fun and | | | | |
| safe way to celebrate autumn and Halloween. | | | | Because of the extended lifespan, painted |
| | | | pumpkins make the perfect porch decoration, |
| This quick and easy craft is perfect for | | | | dining table centerpiece or gifts for |
| family activities, preschool or elementary | | | | teachers, friends and family. |
| school parties, Girl Scout gatherings or | | | | |
| Halloween parties. | | | | And a great way to make your pumpkin work |
| | | | double-duty is to paint one side for |
| With just a few supplies: pumpkins of any | | | | Halloween. When Halloween is over, turn the |
| size, craft paint, brushes, sealer and your | | | | pumpkin around, paint some autumn leaves and |
| imagination, anyone can transform a plain | | | | leave it on your porch for a beautiful |
| pumpkin into a whimsical, life-like | | | | Thanksgiving decoration! |
| character. | | | | |