August 22, 2025 ·

Fall Moo'd: DIY Painted Cow Gift Bags (with Tracing Printables for You!)


This afternoon I was working on a fun little project, and with fall approaching soon, I thought it was the perfect time to get creative again.

I pulled out some plain brown paper gift bags and painted cows on them and oh my goodness, they turned out so cute!

One of them even says “Fall Moo’d.” 


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It was such a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

Life has been busy lately with family and farm chores, and I realized I really needed a little creative break.

Painting is one of those things that helps me slow down and recharge, and this project was the perfect stress reliever.

And here’s the fun part!

I love seeing other people being creative too, so I thought: how can I share this idea so you can paint your own cow bags for fall?

Then it hit me, printable coloring pages!

I recently published a farm animal coloring book and have been working on individual coloring sheets for my Etsy shop already. 

So why not turn these cow designs into coloring pages too, along with a step-by-step blog post on how to trace and paint them?

You can grab the designs in my Etsy shop, trace them onto gift bags (or any surface you like), and paint right along with me. 

Below I’ll share the colors I used and how I painted mine, but please be creative and use whatever colors you love. 

Supplies I Used


Brands and colors I used

Apple Barrel: Limeade, White, Pavement, King’s Gold, Bright Yellow, Kelly Green, Admiral Blue

DecoArt Americana: Cinnamon Stick

FolkArt Multi-Surface: Pure Orange

Step 1: Print & Trace Your Design

Once you purchase the cow design from my Etsy shop, you can print it at home on regular printer paper. 

It fits perfectly on an 8x10 surface (just like my gift bags).

To transfer the image:

  • Use graphite paper for nice dark lines (my favorite method).



  • Or, rub pencil or crayon on the back of your printout, flip it over, and trace. 




The photo shows how the pencil method looks on paper.

I didn’t want to waste a bag for the demo since I actually used the graphite paper method on my bags.


Either method works and once you trace your image you are ready to paint.

Step 2: Start Painting

Think of this like coloring but only with paint.

Use small brushes for more control, but don’t overthink it. 

There are no rules here, just have fun. 

Kind of stay in the lines to keep the cow’s shape and trust me, you’ll thank me for this tip later.

Here’s how I painted mine:

  • Pumpkin: Pure Orange and King’s Gold, alternating sections. While still wet, blend the opposite color into each section for a shaded look.


  • Flowers: Admiral Blue for the outlines, then White inside the petals. 


Let the two colors mix slightly for a soft, rose-like effect.

  • Leaves: Limeade first with touches of Kelly Green for depth.



  • Cow: Cinnamon Stick on the outer ears, body edges, and parts of the face, and pavement black for the eyes and nostrils.


While still damp, add white into the ears and blend white and cinnamon into the body. 

I like to make rounded strokes from face down toward the center on both sides of the body as I blend.


Mix the cinnamon and white to make a soft color for the lower lip and nostril area.


I ended up using that nose color up in the ears too, the white was too bright.


And a little for highlight on the cow's body.

  • Lettering (“Fall Moo’d”): King’s Gold first and then some dabs of the Bright Yellow.

  • Finishing Touches: Go back over your traced cow lines with a marker.



Add cute eyelashes and pop in a little White highlight in the eyes.



Step 3: Optional Shine

For an extra polished look, lightly spray the finished bag with varnish. It gives a pretty sheen. Just don’t over-saturate the paper.

And That’s It!

Ta-da! 

You’ve got a hand-painted cow gift bag that’s perfect for fall.

These would be so sweet for gifting small treats, homemade goodies, or even as seasonal décor.

If you’d like to make your own, you can grab my Fall Cow Coloring Page Designs in my Etsy shop. 

They are instant download files so you can start painting right away.

Please note: they’re for personal use only (so no reselling painted bags). 

The designs I created and own as an independent small artist, I thank you so much for respecting that. 

But feel free to make them for yourself, friends, or family. 

Imagine giving someone a gift inside one of these, they’ll be so impressed!

I mean, my cat Dell is! 



Thanks so much for stopping by Farm Dust and Paint.

I hope you give this project a try, and most of all, I hope it brings you the same creative joy it brought me.

XOXO

Emily

Garb My Printable Fall Cow Coloring Pages HERE.


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