articles

No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating

By Christel M. Hoydic October 17, 2013
Don't like the mess of carving a pumpkin but looking for some eye-catching outdoor decor? Here are SIX no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas that use materials found around the house.

All of the examples shown have been completed on the small pumpkins, but each idea is easily scalable to the size of pumpkin you have.

1) Potato Head Pumpkin
No need to buy the special holiday themed potato head kits. Just dig out the ones you have in the play room and create your very own pumpkin. The pieces go in easily by twisting back and forth.

2) Alphabet Pumpkin
Have a package of foam alphabet letters laying around? If not they are less than $1 at the craft store and can be used in vairous patterns to decorate a pumkin. It's perfect for even the miniest of macaronis and is also a fun way to play letter games with your little one.

3) Glitter Pumpkin
Let your mini macaroni go to town painting glue all over the pumpkin or in a specific design, sprinkle with glitter and allow it to dry. Who doesn't love a little sparkle?

4) Glow-in-the-dark Puff Paint
Decorating with puff paint is always fun! Decorating with glow in the dark puff paint is a blast! Create the typical jack-o-lantern, dot patterns, spider webs, or whatever crosses your mind.

5) "Carve" the paint Pumpkin
Paint your pumpkin with any black paint. When it is dry use a skewer, chopstick, or even a pencil end to "carve" your design.

6) Melted Crayon Pumpkin
Take those old crayons, a drop cloth, and a blow dryer and create a pumpkin that will turn out different every time. Simply hold the crayon over the pumpkin with one hand, and turn the blow dryer on high, holding it close to the crayon with the other. Allow the crayon wax to melt onto the pumpkin. Move slowly around the pumpkin, alternate colors, and your creation is complete.

Which one is your favorite? Use the commenting function on this article to let us know which "no carve" pumpkin option you plan to try this year!