More Coco’-lanterns

This week Milan and I painted coconuts and created our own island style versions of Halloween jack-o-lanterns or coco'-lanterns.  We used the coconuts we found on the beach over the weekend and some non-toxic, washable finger paint.  It was a nice change to finger paint on something other then paper, and making a big mess on the deck was an added bonus!  The best part was watching the coconuts roll everywhere when she discovered that they were easier to roll then to carry.  Thankfully, it all washed away quite easily.  These are our masterpieces displayed in our dining room (it's outdoors).  

We started with quite a few coconuts.  Some we found whole and heavy, while others were hollow with a hole on one end creating a nice flat bottom for the coco-lanterns to stand.  I just worked with what we found. 

 

I played and experimented in hopes of creating coco-lanterns just as cute as my carved coco-lanterns from years past, but easy enough for my almost 2 year old to get in on the fun. 

After throughly washing and drying the coconuts, we finger painted a few.  It was fun but the finished product was...well let's just say unremarkable.  Perhaps if we had used neon or better yet glow in the dark paints & markers they would have stood out more?  However, Milan is still too young for these and quite honestly I couldn't find them on island :-)

During naptime, I spray painted a couple of coconuts a glossy white.  After two coats they were really pretty and shiny.  I left some of the ends unpainted and exposed to give them extra drama.  They look almost sculptural and the white paint really makes our artwork standout.   I love this look so much that after halloween I'll wash off the paint and repurpose these to decorate or to grow orchids.

During naptime I also spray painted a couple others with chalkboard paint.  That's right, chalkboard paint!  This took the coco-lanterns to a different dimension.  After spraying (twice) and drying, I placed them on the kitchen island with some chalk and let Milan at them.  She loved using the chalk to scribble and I loved the mess free fun!  

The chalkboard coco-lanterns will definitely become permeant residents in our home.  We're all having way to much fun with them!  They've only been around for a few days now but already we're use them to write notes and to teach Milan her ABC's.  These are really cool! 

Warm Wishes,
CC