This is Halloween. This is Halloween. Halloween, Halloween, Hall-o-ween. Now that I have made that song stick in your head, it is probably a good time to introduce the topic for this post – my favorite pumpkin carving ideas for Halloween. I don’t like anything too difficult. After all, I am not a master food carver. So, to make up for my lack of carving skills, I try to go for the unique – like Mr. No Eyes, here.
Pumpkin Carving Ideas for Halloween…
Before we get started with our pumpkin carving ideas, I just want to remind you that it is best to wait until the week of Halloween before actually cutting into your pumpkin. If you need more tips on how to make your pumpkin last, you can read my post on that.
A good idea to add some depth to your carving is to black out the raw areas. This can help to camouflage the natural rotting process that will eventually occur. But, onto the ideas.
Pumpkin Carving Ideas:
If you are into the sort of gross, sort of funny pumpkins, this one is different. No candle needed. All you really need to be able to accomplish is cutting a round hole. Now, that’s my kind of jack o ‘lantern!
I like the idea of utilizing the stalk into the design. I mean, some of the pumpkins out there have some really large and really weird looking stalks. Why waste that.
To get this look, only carve through the first few layers. The eyes are whited out and the teeth colored in with food coloring.
For those mini pumpkins, it can be hard to figure out how to decorate them. But, this is a really cute idea – toothpicks and vampire fangs. I also love to make mini pumpkins out of Cuties for snacks.
You may have seen something like this floating around on Pinterest. I love this idea because it is right up my alley. Use a drill to create artwork on your pumpkin. These luminary pumpkins come from Crafty Nest.
My favorite way to style a pumpkin carving is to go for adorable. I love these stacked pumpkins from Better Homes and Gardens. The idea is to use a different variety of pumpkins in different sizes.
If you are planning to create a tower like this, try to find pumpkins that will balance on top of each other. Leave the stem holes off all but the top pumpkin. Wooden skewers can help to hold them in place.
Another super cute idea is this lollypop pumpkin from Woman’s Day. To get this look, use an awl or an ice pick to create holes in the top of the pumpkin. Then insert lollypops. A cute smile carving is the final touch.
If carving a pumpkin is not really your cup of tea, you can make cute little pumpkins like these. To see how I did this, check out my post on mason jar lid pumpkins.
To make my Halloween treats memorable, I like to craft some treat boxes from card stock, like these treat boxes. This is a great project for the kids to make, and it is a great way to offer party favors.
Anyone can make the templates for these, or if you are a newsletter subscriber, you can grab my freebie from my printable gallery! Check out the details for making this on my post for Halloween treat boxes.
Final Thoughts…
So, what type of pumpkin design do you like best – scary, artistic, or cute?
