32 Easy DIY Pumpkin Painting Ideas
Create festive and unique decorations with these pumpkin painting ideas for the season.
Ready to take your pumpkins from plain to pumpkin-perfection without the mess of carving? Instead of carving traditional jack-o-lanterns this year, why not try your hand at painting pumpkins?
Not only is it a mess-free alternative, but it also allows for endless creativity and personalization. Whether you’re looking for spooky, chic, or downright adorable designs, painting pumpkins lets you get creative while keeping all ten fingers intact. Plus, it’s perfect for all ages. No knives, no problem!
From spooky designs to chic patterns, there are countless ways to transform plain pumpkins into festive works of art. So whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or simply want to add some seasonal flair to your home, these pumpkin painting ideas will help you create unique decorations that are sure to impress.
39 Creative & Simple Pumpkin Painting Ideas
1 — DIY Pun-kins
Puns?!? You know we love a good pun. This DIY “Pun-kins” tutorial will show you how to create punny, painted pumpkins that are sure to get laughs. Downloadable free stencils are included to craft these clever, word-play pumpkins a breeze, perfect for adding some wit to your front porch!
2 — Painted Mini Pumpkins
Create your own tiny works of art with painted mini pumpkins! Using white mini pumpkins as a blank canvas, you can easily bring your creative visions to life. For extra durability, an optional UV sealant is suggested to keep your designs vibrant. Because of their size, these also make for pretty DIY Thanksgiving table decorations.
3 — Painted Fingerprint Pumpkins for Kids
Let the little ones get messy and creative with painted fingerprint pumpkins. These hands-on, kid-friendly easy pumpkin ideas are perfect for letting imaginations run wild, using simple craft paint to create colorful designs.
4 — Painted Shiba Pumpkins
Dog lovers, bring some puppy love to your pumpkin patch with DIY painted shiba pumpkins! These adorable designs transform your pumpkins into Shiba Inu look-alikes, complete with cute cardboard paper ears.
5 — Popcorn Pumpkin
Turn your pumpkin into a buttery, movie-night masterpiece with DIY popcorn pumpkin. Using balls of tissue paper to replicate popcorn kernels and spray paint and craft paper, this fun and quirky design mimics a popcorn bucket without ever touching a carving knife. Side note: For something you can actually snack on, check out our flavored popcorn recipes.
6 — Poison Apple Pumpkin
Get wickedly creative with a DIY Halloween poison apple pumpkin. Using puff paint, you can recreate the iconic dripping poison apple effect straight from a fairytale. This is super easy to make but just requires a lot of paint and patience to allow each coat to dry completely. So just sip on a Poison Apple cocktail while you wait.
7 — Black & White Geometric Painted Pumpkins
Add a modern, chic vibe to your Halloween décor with black and white geometric patterns. These easy pumpkin painting designs include vertical stripes, checkerboard, horizontal stripes and growing dots. Plus, if you opt for white pumpkins, then all you need is black paint.
8 — Desert Oasis Painted Pumpkins
Bring a touch of the desert to your home with desert oasis painted pumpkins. The cacti and sunset scenes make these pumpkin designs fitting for not Halloween decor but also for all of fall.
9 — Spider Pumpkin
Creep it real this Halloween with a no-carve spider pumpkin. The eyeballs are actually made from mini pumpkins. Add some eight-legged fright to your porch with this outdoor DIY Halloween decoration idea.
10 — Abstract Free Pumpkin Painting Idea
Give your kids a brush and let them unleash their creativity. This no-rules, all-fun project idea allows little artists to paint their pumpkins however they like. It’s the perfect way for kids to express themselves and create one-of-a-kind fall masterpieces! Check out Gwen’s end result here.
11 — Mushroom Leaf Art Pumpkin
Bring a touch of nature with a mushroom leaf art pumpkin. Using real leaves glued (we recommend Mod Podge) onto your pumpkin, you can create whimsical mushroom designs that celebrate the beauty of fall. It’s an earthy, artistic way to add a unique, organic twist to your seasonal display.
12 — DIY Frankenstein Pumpkin
Bring Frankenstein to life with this Frankenstein pumpkin painting idea. When transforming the base of a large pumpkin into a completely different color, spray paint can be a much quicker method then craft paint. Craft foam make up Frankenstein’s spooky eyes and signature stitches.
13 — Terra Cotta Pumpkins
Give your pumpkins a rustic, earthy vibe with this DIY terra cotta pumpkins tutorial. By sanding down chalk and brushing it on, you can create a textured, plaster-like finish that mimics the look of terra cotta. It’s an elegant and easy way to bring warm, natural tones into your fall decor!
14 — Pumpkin Animal Family
Want something cute and quirky? Instead of spooky designs, transform your pumpkins into a DIY adorable family of animals with paint, ears, and fun accessories.
15 — Toy Story Pumpkins
Bring your favorite characters to life! Paint your pumpkins to look like Woody and Buzz for a fun, nostalgic twist on Halloween decor. Perfect for Disney fans of all ages, these playful pumpkins will take your fall decorations to infinity and beyond!
16 — Paint Splattered Pumpkins
Looking for ideas on painting pumpkins that don’t require drawing skills? Get artsy with some DIY paint splattered pumpkins. The key to this bold, abstract look is finding the perfect balance of diluted acrylic paint. Try mixing one part paint with one part water for the ideal splatter.
17 — M&M Pumpkins
Sweeten up your Halloween with M&M pumpkins. Transform your pumpkins into colorful, candy-inspired creations by painting them to look like everyone’s favorite chocolate treats.
18 — Spooky Painted Ghost Pumpkins
For a truly haunting decoration, transform your pumpkin into a ghostly apparition. Simply coat it in white chalk paint spray. Then, use a black permanent pen to draw ghostly features like eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
19 — Caramel Apples Pumpkins
For a sweet and festive twist, turn your pumpkins into delicious-looking DIY caramel apples. Caramel apples are a fall staple. So we’ve done this hack before with macarons to also look like caramel apples.
20 — Pressed Flower Pumpkin
For a natural and elegant decoration, adorn your pumpkin with pressed flowers. Paint the pumpkin your color of choice. Then, carefully arrange pressed flowers of various colors and shapes over the surface.
21 — Googly Eye Pumpkin
For SUPER easy painting ideas for pumpkins, this googly eye pumpkin requires no skills. You only need black acrylic or chalk paint, a paint brush, googly eyes in various sizes and a glue gun.
22 — Pretty Patterned Pumpkins from Napkins
Yep, you’re reading it right. These pretty patterned pumpkins get its design from napkins. So find some pretty printed napkins, cut out the pattern, and then, adhere them to your pumpkin with Mod Podge. This glue is seriously a must-have for crafts!
23 — DIY Bloody Mini Pumpkins
For a spooky and gory decoration, turn your DIY bloody mini pumpkins into bloody messes. Paint the pumpkins a solid color, then use red puffy paint to create dripping blood effects. If using large pumpkins, add details like bloody handprints or bite marks for an extra gruesome touch.
24 — Decoupage Halloween Pumpkin
This DIY decoupage Halloween pumpkin project is very similar to the pretty patterned pumpkins mentioned above. Except this time, you paint a base layer of Mod Podge. Then, wrap the pumpkin in tissue paper of your choice. And finally, you paint another layer of Mod Podge.
25 — Halloween Faces Stencils
For a quick and easy pumpkin painting solution, consider purchasing Halloween face stencils. These pre-made templates feature a variety of spooky and festive designs, from classic jack-o’-lanterns to cartoon characters. Simply trace the stencil onto your pumpkin with a pencil, then paint the design using your favorite colors. For a more textured look, try using a sponge or stencil brush to apply the paint.
26 — Painted Fall Pumpkin
For a picturesque fall scene, transform your pumpkin into a miniature forest. detailed with birds, squirrels, berries and birds (that are abstract enough for beginner painters). Don’t be scared to try. There’s step by step videos to guide you through the festive scenery.
27 — Gold Leaf & Glitter Pumpkin
For a glamorous and luxurious DIY gold leaf and glitter pumpkin, you’ll need gold leaf paint, gold leaf sheets and gold glitter. This makes for the perfect Halloween Thanksgiving decor idea!
28 — Squeeze Paint Pumpkin Art
For a fun and messy activity for kids, turn your pumpkins into colorful creations using squeeze bottles and paint. Let your kids squeeze the paint onto the pumpkin to create abstract designs and patterns. For a more controlled look, use masking tape to create shapes or stencils before squeezing the paint.
29 — Handprint Turkey Pumpkin
Looking for more ideas for painting pumpkins with kids? Try DIY handprint turkey. Paint the pumpkin a solid color, then use your child’s handprint to create the turkey’s body and tail feathers. For a fun twist, decorate the turkey with colorful feathers or glitter.
30 — Día de Muertos Pumpkin
Transform your pumpkin into a traditional DIY painted Día de Muertos pumpkin with the finishing touch of a colorful silk flower crown.
31 — Pastel Pumpkins
For a soft and feminine touch, paint your pumpkin in pastel hues. Choose colors like blush pink, baby blue, lavender, or mint green.
32 — Galaxy Pumpkin
This DIY galaxy pumpkin is truly cosmic. After painting, use a drill to create small holes in the pumpkin, and add a string of lights inside the pumpkin to illuminate the galaxy from within.
Pumpkin Round-Up
From festive decorations to delicious treats, pumpkins offer endless possibilities for fall-themed fun. Check out more ways to celebrate this versatile gourd below —
- No Bake Gingersnap Pumpkin Pie
- Spiced Pumpkin Punch
- Sequin DIY Polka Dot Pumpkin Decor
- Pumpkin DIY Place Card Holders
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