Carving pumpkins is an age-old obligatory tradition in many households. But let’s get real, do we really want to clean up the sticky gooey pumpkin gut mess? There are tons of ways to decorate a pumpkin that don’t involve sharp objects; I can’t promise it won’t be messy, but it will be fun!
I’ve gathered some of the cutest and most creative designs to give you inspo on your next pumpkin decorating project. All you need is some paint, eager kiddos, and this guide!
1. The Teal Pumpkin Project
The Teal Pumpkin Project is a new project that raises awareness of food allergies through the addition of non-food trinkets and toys to your treats, in an effort to make Halloween safer and more inclusive for all trick-or-treaters ( Teal Pumpkin Project ). If you’re considering participating this year, make sure that teal is the focal point, so your design doesn’t detract from the message. My favorite is a cute teal witch with a cauldron holding non-food items in front of her. See other ideas here.
Fun option: Since the cooler temperatures most likely won’t reach us here in the good ol’ Coastal Bend by October, what better way to pay homage to Halloween than Corpus Christi style! Coastal themes will not only showcase the teal color of your pumpkin but also pays homage to the Sparkling City by the Sea!
2. Yer’ a pumpkin, Harry
Where are my Potterheads? These DIY Harry Potter Pumpkins are the absolute cutest. The tutorial video shows how to make a Gryffindor pumpkin, but you can always tailor the colors to suit Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff! You can even make the Golden Snitch! Ridikulus!
Not a Harry Potter fan? Try other characters from your favorites from Star Wars to Batman. Stage your favorite scene on the front porch and let the trick-or-treaters flock to your house!
3. Superheroes
Kids love superheroes and often look up to them. They would jump at the chance to don the pumpkin-shaped likeness of their favorites on their porch. I love hearing my 17 year-old-son geek out about Peter Parker and Spiderman and how important the character is to the Marvel Universe. This makes me feel that every kid needs some superhero pumpkins. Try a girl-power theme and decorate pumpkins with Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and Batgirl, or try a Justice League theme with Batman, Spiderman, The Flash, Aquaman, just to name a few. The great thing about a superhero theme is there are multiple universes to choose from, so let your creativity flow!
4. Glam Pumpkins
We can all agree that Halloween is for kids, right? But who says moms can’t get in on the decorating fun? I love anything that sparkles, so my go-to décor style would consist of glam pumpkins! Give me allll the bling! BRB Going to Hobby Lobby! For more glam pumpkins, click here.
5. Dinosaurs
I once heard that adding a dinosaur to a failed Gingerbread house makes a great Christmas prop, but what about Halloween? Jurassic Park was one of my favorite movies as a child, and I remember being so fascinated by the egg hatching and watching a dinosaur come out. So, I thought, why not create a pumpkin that resembles a dinosaur egg hatching? Of course, I’m not very crafty, so I turned to Pinterest for inspo, and I was not disappointed. The T-Rex Dinosaur Pumpkin is one every dinosaur enthusiast must try!
Check out these other cute ideas, courtesy of my 13-year-old daughter:
And, of course, check out all of our Halloween posts in the archives!
