5 Easy Ways to Decorate with Pumpkins

Go beyond the jack-o-lantern this year with creative ideas for pumpkins in your fall decor.

1) Adorn Them
Photo: Helen Norman























These flower/pumpkin combinations add a festive touch to tabletops.

Materials
carving or soft-skinned pumpkins
awl (pointed tool)
mum plants or cut mums

Instructions
1. Poke a hole in the pumpkin using the awl.
2. Cut a stem from the mum plant, and place in the hole.
3. Repeat until pumpkin is covered.

Tip: To help extend its life, keep it in the refrigerator until party time.

Related: 31 Halloween Pumpkins

2) Paint Them
Photo: Helen Norman























Group painted pumpkins by the fireplace for some added shimmer or use instead of carved pumpkins on your front porch.

Materials
smooth, flat-skinned pumpkins
rectangular and round stick-on labels
metallic and/or acrylic paint paintbrushes

Instructions
1. Stick labels on the pumpkin and trace the shape of the labels onto the pumpkin, and paint inside the traced shapes.
2. Or, place labels on the pumpkin in a pattern and paint the areas around the labels. When paint is dry, peel off the labels.

Related: Printable Pumpkin Carving Patterns

3) Stack Them
Photo: Helen Norman























Topped with silver serving pieces, pumpkins add interesting height and color to your buffet.

Materials
heirloom pumpkins with flat tops
small saw
serving pieces

Instructions
1. If necessary, remove the pumpkin stems with a small saw 2. Balance plates and trays on flat tops of pumpkins

Tip: Choose from both tall and squatty pumpkins for a variety of heights.

Related: 15 Spooky Halloween Treats

4) Tack Them
Photo: Helen Norman























Upholstery tacks easily give a graphic look to plain white pumpkins.

Materials
white pumpkins
awl (pointed tool)
upholstery tacks in assorted shapes and sizes

Instructions
1. Map out your design by pricking the pumpkins with an awl. 2. Stick the upholstery tacks into the pumpkin in the desired pattern.

Tip: Mix up the sizes and shapes of the tacks to create different patterns. Also try creating numbers or your monogram.

Related: Where to Find the Best Fall Color

5) Etch Them
Photo: Helen Norman























Announce your address in style by cleverly etching your house number (or your initials or name) into a pumpkin.

Materials
carvable pumpkins
number stencils or house numbers
pumpkin carving/etching set
petroleum jelly

Instructions
1. Trace the shape of the numbers onto the pumpkin.
2. Using pumpkin-carving tools, etch out the numbers by removing layers of the pumpkin, being sure not to cut all the way through the shell.
3. Rub the design with petroleum jelly to seal the cut skin and keep the design looking fresh.

Tip: Pile a combination of traditional and heirloom pumpkins on your front steps, and top with your etched design.

See more pumpkin decorating ideas!

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