During the month of October, one can just look around and see all of the magnificent colors. You will note brilliant yellows, oranges, and browns in the leaves, along with radiant reds that add just that burst of color to the landscape. Fall is certainly a painter's paradise.

Pumpkin carving has become a tradition for many families to do during the month of October; however, painting pumpkins by using a variety of fall designs such as black cats, spiders, ghosts, goblins, witches, or black crows would also be another great way to create a one-of-a-kind, no-carve creation. Templates and stencils can either be purchased at your local craft store or search the web to download other patterns to trace onto your pumpkins.

To begin with, you will need to clean your pumpkin gently with soap and water to remove any dirt or residue. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a piece of cotton and gently rub the area you want to trace your pattern onto. Let it dry before you begin. After you traced on the pattern, you can simply fill in your designs by either using a fine-tip brush with black acrylic paint or using stencil paints with the appropriate stencil brush that you purchased at your local craft store for pouncing on the design. Let the pumpkins dry for at least one hour and, if desired, spray them with a sealant so that your design will not weather as quickly once you place your finished pumpkins outdoors.

Glow in the dark paints, which come in a variety of colors, can also be used instead of the black acrylic paint which gives your pumpkins an iridescent glow. Before beginning this or any other painting project, however, be sure to check the manufacturer's suggested use for the paints and information on how to clean the brushes. Most acrylic paints are washable and should come off readily with just soap and water. If you want to be sure you have gotten all of the paint off your brushes, be sure to purchase a brush cleaner. This can be found in the paint section where you purchased the paints for your project.

Remember to have fun while painting your pumpkins and enjoy the final results.