Fun alternatives to pumpkin carving
While tradition tells us decorating pumpkins for Halloween means slicing them open, not everyone has the time or desire to deal with the mess. Instead, here are few festive alternatives to the average pumpkin carving.
Lyndsie Kiebert | Rawr
(From left) Cute-as-a Button, Vandal Bedazzled, Melted Rainbow and Candy Corn pumpkins
The Candy Corn Pumpkin
You will need:
• A pumpkin (tall and oval is ideal)
• Yellow and white acrylic paints
• A broad paintbrush
Directions:
Start by splitting the pumpkin into horizontal thirds.
Paint the top and bottom thirds white. After the first coat has dried, paint the top third white again to make sure the orange underneath doesn’t show through.
Paint yellow over the white on the bottom third. Having white as the base on the bottom makes the yellow more vibrant.
Wait for the paint to dry and suddenly you have a massive piece of festive candy corn.
The Melted Rainbow Pumpkin
You will need:
• A pumpkin
• Crayons (bright colors, no need for orange)
• A hot glue gun or hot glue
• A blow dryer
Directions:
Start by breaking up the crayons into smaller chunks.
Arrange and glue the crayons onto the pumpkin around the stem in any pattern you want.
Once you’re sure about your arrangement, turn your blow dryer on high heat and point directly over crayons.
Once the crayons begin to melt, watch the pattern the dripping wax makes and add more crayons as desired.
Once your ideal pattern is achieved, let the pumpkin sit and the wax will dry.
The Vandal Bedazzled Pumpkin
You will need:
• A pumpkin
• Black acrylic paint
• Gold and silver stick-on gems
• A paint brush
Directions:
Begin by painting the entire surface with black paint, adding layers until no orange is visible.
Once dry, arrange the gems in any pattern you want, starting at the stem and branching out. The gems should stick automatically, so there is no need to wait for anything to dry.
The Cute-as-a-Button Pumpkin
You will need:
• A pumpkin
• Assorted buttons
• Burlap
• Assorted ribbon
• A hot glue gun or hot glue
Directions:
Start by cutting and gluing enough burlap to wrap around the pumpkin like a belt.
Go through the same process with one type of ribbon.
Next, take another type of ribbon and “zigzag” it across the length of the burlap and first ribbon. Add a bow in the center if you wish.
Lastly, arrange and glue the buttons in rows, branching out from the stem. Get creative. You don’t have to follow the picture exactly. Let the buttons move you.
Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at