5 No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas

Any way you slice it, carving a snaggletoothed jack-o'-lantern can be a sloppy, labor-intensive task. This year, skip the monstrous mess in favor of Halloween decor that doesn't involve knife skills worthy of a top chef. Instead, try these simple pumpkins and gourds.


1. Spell-Binding: For a no-fuss fall centerpiece, heap bewitching, beribboned sugar pumpkins in a rustic bowl. To make: Attach double-stick tape to lengths of black, orange, and white patterned ribbon, then wrap around each squash.

Related: Dazzling DIY Halloween Decorations


2. Feature Creatures: These eerily familiar faces are dead ringers for carved countenances - but they're ready in less than five minutes. All you need to do is freehand the features with washable markers (just wipe off and restart if you're not satisfied with the design), then finalize the sketch with a black permanent marker. Wicked!


3. Hold Your Fire: Transform munchkin pumpkins into organic votive holders to illuminate an autumnal table. Snap off each pumpkin's stem, and position a candle in its depression. Cover with a clear glass hurricane shade. Insert floral U pins to hold the shade in place.

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4. A Little Black Magic: Let's cut to the chase: These vases do require a knife, but the celestial designs come courtesy of a spoon - not torturous slicing and dicing. Cut off the top of the pumpkin, and remove the innards. Spray-paint the rind a matte black and let dry. Use a spoon handle to scratch away paint to create stars, moons, and spirals. Add water and blooms.



5. Hearth-Warming: Instead of the usual haunts, try grouping pumpkins in a less-expected locale, like an unused fireplace. This to-die-for arrangement mixes plain and painted varieties for maximum eye appeal. For the graphic gourds, use painter's tape and self-adhesive paper to mark off stripes and circles. Spray with glossy black and white paint, then casually heap in the hearth.


What is your favorite way to decorate pumpkins for Halloween? Let us know in the comments!

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