You know the drill:
- You look for the little pumpkin carving kit that you bought last year, but can’t for the life of you remember where you put it.
- You run out to the store to buy another one and vow to put it in a “safe” place where you know you’ll be able to find it next Halloween.
- You grab a marker and haphazardly draw some triangle-shaped eyes, a nose and a toothy open mouth on your biggest pumpkin.
- You recruit the kids’ help to scoop out the seeds and gunk from the inside, remembering too late to cover the table and floor with newspaper.
- The kids find something better to do as you clumsily cut the design with the skimpy serrated knife.
- Insert lit candle, place pumpkin on porch.
- Repeat next year.
While that’s all fine and certainly festive once the pumpkin is done, this might be the year to take your pumpkin up a notch. In an age where social media pictures rule, you can have the most Instagrammable pumpkin among all your friends. And why not? The ideas below actually won’t take much time, and all are completely picture-worthy. So have a little fun — your kids might even hang out for the entire time.
Turn It into Fruit!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/526569381410718215/
A pineapple is probably the most recognizable fruit to cut into a pumpkin, so it might be your best bet. (An apple or orange might just look like a circle, and a banana presents an entirely different issue.)
Use a Drill
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/270145677621424954/
If you absolutely hate the idea of manually carving a pumpkin, this is an easy way out (and it looks really cool). One fun idea is to just cover the entire pumpkin in different size holes. When you put the candle inside you’ll have a beautiful end result.
Flower Power
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/470415123569032678/
There is no rule that says your pumpkins need to be spooky or creepy. If you love flowers and want to take that route, your pumpkin is a blank canvas!
“Eye” Spy a Cool Pumpkin
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/182958803589167259/
This might take a little more focus (no pun intended), but with some effort you can create a cool eyeball design. Bonus points if you can do two pumpkins with eyeballs — the effect will be pretty cool when they’re lit up at night.
Put that Butternut Squash to Use
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/90564642485917698/
Let’s face it, you hate peeling and cutting butternut squash in order to cook it. This option gives you an excuse to skip prepping it for soup and use it for something much more festive. Your kids will absolutely love to be involved in this one.
Minion Time!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/97108935695148206/
With just a few fairly simple cuts, you can make as many minions as you want. They’re adorable, everyone will recognize them when they come to your door for trick-or-treating, and your kids will go wild.
No-Carve Donuts
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/249527635579939048/
Carving isn’t for everyone. If you have come to accept that you’re more dangerous with a knife near a pumpkin than you should be, then maybe this option is for you. Just grab some paint and go to town! Don’t they look yummy?
Give a Mouse a Home
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/107242034855357767/
You’ll get so many “likes” on social media if you do this simple design. Just cut a bunch of holes in your big pumpkin and put little rubber or fur mice in them. Voila! It’s adorable, it’s kind of creepy, and it’ll be the talk of the block.
No-Carve for Baseball Fans
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/198299189825653586/
Here is another no-carve possibility for those who love baseball. Is your team doing particularly well as the World Series approaches? Let the world know (or at least your neighbors) by turning your pumpkins into baseballs.
Poor L’il Guy
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/733101645564831629/
If your kids are like mine, then you aren’t ever allowed to buy just one big pumpkin. If you have a little pumpkin or gord, work it into the design of your big one!
Baby’s First Halloween
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/25262447888830316/
This super cute trick is pretty easy to do. Just trace your baby’s hands and feet on some paper, and use that paper to trace where you’ll carve. What a beautiful way to celebrate a first Halloween!
Spidey’s Pumpkin
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/224124518927151731/
Turning your pumpkin into Spider-Man might take slightly more effort, but you don’t have to be a superhero to pull it off. Plus the Spidey fans in your house will love you to pieces for it.
Adult Humor
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/112801165642420133/
If you have pumpkins that tend to enjoy late nights out partying, then you should definitely consider this idea. The neighbors might have something to say, but hopefully, everyone will just have a good laugh right along with you as your pumpkin endures his hangover.
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