How to Throw a Pumpkin Painting Party

*In exchange for my honest opinion, Paperless Post provided me with coins toward an invitation of my choice. Please understand that I will only give my honest opinion, and all favorable opinions are 100 percent my own. Some of this post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosures here.

Fall is the perfect time of the year for gathering. On a recent grocery store trip with my children, we purchased a lot of fun pumpkins. In the art of gathering I decided to put those fun pumpkins to use and throw an impromptu pumpkin painting party so my friends and family could have an excuse to get together, use our imaginations and enjoy Fall flavors.

So today, I wanted to share some essentials for an impromptu pumpkin painting party.

1) Invites:

The first step to an impromptu pumpkin painting party is getting the word out. Paperless Post graciously provided me with coins so I could purchase a very cute, Fall appropriate invitation to email out to my friends and family.

Paperless Post was the perfect online invitation resource, because: 1) It was very customizable. Everything from the background, to the envelope color and liner, to the faux stamp are all customizable making it the perfect invitation for any party or special occasion whether that is a pumpkin painting party or a thank you card. The possibilities are endless. 2) I am not tech savvy, and Paperless Post’s online platform is very easy to use. I created and sent out a card to my friends and family in minutes. I could also easily tell when guests opened, confirmed, or regretfully declined the event. Paperless Post’s online platform also gave me prompts to communicate with my guests as a reminder to RSVP, or if I forgot to include some information in the original invitation. 3) Paperless Post was perfect for my last-minute event. It provided all of the convenience without losing any of the necessary charm!

2) Food and Drinks:

A party is not a party without pretty sustenance. I let the colors and flavors of Fall direct my food and drink choices. Since the party was slated for 4:30 PM (after school), I provided light snacks that could easily be brought outside as people painted their pumpkins.

My menu consisted of: pig-in-the-blankets, pumpkin cookies, sugar cookies, grapes and cheese board, and candy corn for the sweets lover. A Fall party wouldn’t be complete without some warm Apple Cider. In addition to the Apple Cider, I included warm Hot Ruby Cranberry Cider (always a crowd favorite around the holidays).

To keep hands safe from the warm drinks and to avoid spills, I provided coffee cups with lids for guests to write their names on.

I also provided festive plates, napkins, and Pioneer Woman Fancy Plastic Cutlery inside a charming Dru cast iron enamel pot that you may recognize from a recent Thrifting Adventure from my Instagram Stories.

Finally, I love adding flowers as the final touch to decorated tables. Here is a full tutorial for the pumpkin floral centerpiece that I made for the party.

3) Pumpkin Painting Essentials:

Pumpkins

Kwik Stix tempera paint. I love using these paint sticks for all art projects with my children. They made pumpkin painting so fun for children and adults alike.

Kraft Paper. I have used this roll of Kraft Paper for almost three years to protect the surface during my children's messy projects and for my Christmas wrapping.

Painter's Tape to attach the Kraft Paper to the work surface to keep it clean

Baby Wipes or Damp Cloths to help with clean up

Scissors to cut the Kraft Paper

Find a flat, clean surface outside. Roll out the Kraft Paper, and secure it to the ground with painter’s tape. Then place the pumpkins on the kraft paper along with the Kwik Stix and have your painting friends and family choose their favorite pumpkin and spot. Then watch as friends and family use their imaginations to decorate their pumpkins to their hearts’ desires.