I’m always looking for fun new crafts to do with my kids, their friends, and my nieces and nephews. Even though it can be messy, paint always seems to be a fun medium that gets everyone involved. Have you ever tried painting with produce? It’s sure to be a hit for everyone, young and old.

To paint with produce, choose veggies and fruit with interesting shapes and sizes. I look for vegetables and fruit that are a little less juicy (and therefore a little less messy). Broccoli, cauliflower, sliced peppers, carrots, apple slices, cucumbers, corn cobs, mushrooms, grapes, strawberries, sliced or wedged lemons and limes are all good options. Don’t forget to use both the fun shapes and textures created from the inside of your produce, as well as the outer skin and foliage.

potatoes are especially fun because you can cut them in half and carve them into homemade stamps if you want. After washing, drying, then slicing or preparing your veggie and fruit stamps, be sure to wipe off any excess water or juice that may have developed so you don’t water down your paint.

To paint, dip your vegetable or fruit into the paint and dab onto the paper. It’s that simple. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Just have fun and be creative! When you’re done, set aside your masterpiece to dry and get another paper to start again.

Have fun painting with nature and a happy summer!