9 No-Carve, All-Fall Pumpkins

Carving pumpkins for Halloween is a fun tradition, but it’s also nice to decorate some that will still look good at Thanksgiving. Here are a few design ideas!

Check Mate

Buffalo plaid (pictured above) is such a popular pattern, and it’s easy to paint on pumpkins thanks to their vertical lines, which are called ribs. Just paint vertical and horizontal stripes in gray, then apply black paint where those lines intersect. This pumpkin looks lovely in classic black and white, but this technique works on any color pumpkin.

Warm Welcome

What a lovely way to greet visitors! Simply painting “Welcome” and “Friends” on two large pumpkins and displaying them in a wagon with gourds, bittersweet, and other greenery makes a display that will last all season. If your penmanship isn’t quite this nice, try vinyl lettering.

Scratch Art

Scratch painting is design by removal. First, paint your pumpkins black. Then, use a sharp object like a toothpick, vegetable peeler, or knife, depending on the effect you want, to create stripes, zig-zags, flowers, or any design you like.

Shaker Style

These pumpkins are painted and displayed simply on an antique bench for a classic country look. Dots, diamonds, squares, and leaves are as fancy as gets. Hollowing out a couple of pumpkins so they can hold a vase of flowers is a nice touch.

Nevermore!

This raven design is spooky enough for Halloween, but inspired by nature to last all autumn. Use a stencil or freehand the bird, paint it black, add a gem for an eye, and place the pumpkin upon a nest of branches resting in a birdbath.

Flower Power

Drilling or poking small holes into pumpkins then inserting flower stems is an easy way to really add texture to a centerpiece. Of course you can use any color, but tones of orange and gold trick the eye from a distance.

Sew Cute

Anyone who enjoys sewing, quilting, embroidering, knitting, or any kind of crafting can use their notions and supplies to decorate pumpkins! Here, buttons, zippers, measuring tape, and rick rack make an adorable display.

Cast a Spell

Spell out the word “Fall,” your last name, or your house number, and display on cake stands as a centerpiece or down the steps of your porch. Another idea is to paint the first initials of everyone in your family, or spell out your favorite football team.

Petite Pumpkins

Not all pumpkin-painting projects have to be big! These miniature pumpkins are perfect to craft with the kids. The designs can be as simple as dipping the bottom half into a contrasting color of paint, or as involved as splattering with many different colors. Use an old toothbrush to splatter paint, but put on old clothes and do this one outside!