We've heard many stories to support a particular painting project but none really resonated with me or my kids enough to create a well rounded experience. To honor that, I chose to write my own story to follow along with a somewhat traditional pumpkin painting experience. The painting part doesn't begin right away so if you choose to share our story with your children, read it ahead so you can get a feel for where and when you can prompt your kids to begin to create their little pumpkins.
I felt Kiki was bit young for this project so I set up a pumpkin project similar to our
Shamrock Window Transparency.
~ You will need some orange paper to cut into a pumpkin frame
~ some bits of tissue paper
~ a blue piece of paper to frame your pumpkin on
We used the wet on wet watercolor technique for the pumpkin painting. It's such a magical experience to watch and participate in. To see your littles' eyes light up when they see the colors change or the pumpkin face come shining through......it really is quite sweet.
~ You will need some wet watercolor paper
~ Blue, red, yellow watercolors
~ A cup of plain water
~ Brushes for the paint and water
Enjoy ~
Once upon a time a Little Seed lived in the earth. He was
waiting and waiting until the time was just right for him to begin to grow. He
waited until the soil was warm enough…….and on that day he burst open and a little
green tendril began to uncurl from Little Seed’s body. With so much strength and persistence
he pushed through the earth above and followed the trail to the ever glowing
light.
As days came and went he kept growing his long green
tendrils all along the garden floor. Leaves began to sprout along the curly vines
and then little flower buds began to pop out between the leaves. Now, our Little Seed friend knew that these
flowers were very special because it was from the “Queen” flowers that a round,
orange, pumpkin would grow. All day long, Little Seed would call for the bees,
telling them that a feast would await them in just a short time. This would be
a once in a lifetime day for everyone. It was on this one day that Little Seed
would push his flowers open to welcome the bees for the afternoon feast. These blossoms would begin to unfold
by early dawn and by late morning they would be in full bloom. They would be
open and waiting for the bees to come and share their pollen with all the flowers
along the vine but especially with the “Queen” flowers atop their globe shaped
thrones.
That day had arrived and the bees were humming so loudly.
They were happy and full of pollen, dropping little bits into each “Queen” as
they sipped on the sweet nectar within the flower. Little Seed could hear and see the symphony of
miracles that was happening all around him. By dusk the bees had gone off to their
hives and all the flowers had begun their final bow. The flowers closed and the
pollen within each “Queen” had begun to create magic within the round thrones
below her. Little Seeds dream was coming true and the pumpkins he so anticipated
were beginning to grow.
~ First, a golden ball began to appear. (Paint a yellow
sphere on your paper)
~ Then, as the summer light began to shift these little yellow
balls began to take on an orange hue. (Add some watery red to your yellow and watch
as the color changes from yellow to orange).
~ The magic and wonder was more than Little Seed could bear. He felt so much satisfaction for the birth of the pumpkins because he knew
that they would bring such joy and happiness to many little children who would
come one day to pick those pumpkins. The sky above them was so blue but could
not match that of the bright burst of orange that shone from the pumpkins below.
(Paint blue all around your pumpkin but be mindful not to mix the blue with the
orange in an effort to keep the colors separate).
~ After the sweltering heat of summer had come and gone and
the leaves started falling from their tree homes, Little Seed knew it was time.
The pumpkins that had started from little green globes beneath the most
beautiful flowers had finished growing. They were ready to be taken from their
curly, green, vines and brought home to a loving and appreciative family that
would use this pumpkin for a lovely celebration. Little Seed knew that these
pumpkins would provide nourishment, fun, beauty, and then would return to
the Earth and begin anew. (Combine a bit of the orange and blue to encourage a
stem (greenish) somewhere along your pumpkin).
~ As the children danced along Little Seed’s long tendril
and chose the perfect pumpkin to take home, Little Seed felt very proud. He had
worked very hard for a very long time. He was sad to see his treasures go but
knew their life would be so meaningful to so many. As the pumpkins were
carried away Little Seed saw the smiling faces of each one glowing back at him;
their eyes, their smiles, their teeth, their noses. (Now paint faces on your pumpkins with some
fresh water. The clean water will wash away any color that is there and a face
will shine through. You can use a clean cloth to dab the paper with and help pull the color away. After
it dries a bit paint your eyes, smile, nose with some yellow paint. This gives
your pumpkin a nice glowing face).
It had been a busy time for Little Seed and he found he was ready
to retire for the winter. He knew that he would be taken care of by the Winter Fairies
and Gnomes and other woodland creatures. They would tuck him in for the long
cold winter and prepare him for what lie ahead.
The winter winds began to blow, Little Seed could hear that
he was being called away. He drifted gently from the cold, barren earth and
danced among the snowflakes and ice to discover where it is he was to go next.
Little Seed didn’t know where he would land but trusted that it would be just
as amazing as where he had been.
KiKi's finished pumpkin
Charlotte asked to make her painting our new Welcome sign on our front door (the screen comes through in the photo, kinda neat looking I thought!).
I think it's perfect, don't you? :)
* This post was shared on
Frontier Dream ~ Keep Calm Craft On
