Make Pumpkin Pals!

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

06 Oct 2006 05:30 AM

Okay, so you're not big on breaking out the butcher knife to carve a pumpkin and you don't feel like dealing the messy insides. Who can blame you? This is especially true if your kids are really little. Still, you want them to have fun and enjoy some holiday decorating. Just make pumpkin pals instead of regular jack-o-lanterns.

Instead of carving pumpkins, pick up some in different sizes. Let your kids draw faces with indelible marker or paint pens, or paint on faces with washable craft paint. It might still get a little messy, but if you spread out some newspaper first, it won't be too bad. It's still not as sloppy as dealing with gooey pumpkin innards, and there are no sharp tools needed.

For a more dimensional look, glue on acorns for eyes and twigs for mouths. You can also cut out designs from Styrofoam, paint them, and glue them in place. Try gluing on some googly eyes. Make a cute face and then give your pumpkin pal a hat. A baseball cap, a cowboy hat, or a straw hat will work great.

There are all kinds of things you can do. Tie on a bandana or glue on some sunglasses. You'll most likely have to remove the arms unless the pumpkin is small, or pick up a pair of those funny giant sunglasses.

You can also give your pumpkin pal some hair. Glue on some grasses, raffia, or lengths of yarn or twine, or pick up a wig from the costume section. Little girls can also add barrettes and hair accessories so their pumpkin pals have some style. Don't forget to add earrings too! Glue some lace to the bottom of the pumpkin to imitate a lace collar.

*Another good thing about choosing these options is that your pumpkins will last much longer than carved pumpkins.

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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AnitaH9 (318) 17 Oct 2006 06:29 AM

This is a great idea, especially in the South! My kids want pumpkins the moment they are in the stores, but here in Georgia, if you cut a pumpkin one day, it starts rotting 2 days later. Decorating them like your example would be a fun "delaying tactic" until we get the official jack-o-lanterns on October 29. Thanks for the tip!

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 17 Oct 2006 10:23 AM

Sure, Anita! I'm glad you like this idea. We have the same problem here in Arkansas, so this makes pumpkins last a little longer. :o)

beannie842002 (1396) 26 Oct 2006 09:55 AM

My kids wanted pumpkins too, but i am not really good at carving pumpkins even with the carving kits. My husbands is really good at it but he works so much that i don't want to ask him when he gets home. So this year i bought some pumpkins and i let my kids draw on them and they loved it. My daugher go a hair clip and tied it around the stem to make it look like a girl.

Sherry Holetzky (11404) 27 Oct 2006 06:07 AM

Cute, Beannie!