Do you love pumpkins but you hate the mess of scooping out all of that gunk? No need to worry, there are some great alternatives to carving pumpkins that will add more color to your Halloween décor. The following crafts can be done using real or decorative pumpkins.
Crayon Melting – This craft has been on the rage lately and it is super easy to do. All that is needed for this craft is a box of crayons, glue and a blow-dryer. Select the color of crayons you want to use and peel off the paper around the crayon. To make the crayons stay securely on the pumpkin while melting them, it is recommended to glue the crayons in place. Glue the crayons around the stem of your pumpkin. Place your pumpkin on an old newspaper or cardboard near an outlet. Using your blow-dryer, aim the hot air at your crayons and melt them down your pumpkin. Make sure your blow-dryer is on the highest temperature but at a low speed. At the low speed, your crayons will take longer to melt but it will give more control over the direction of where the wax drips. Melt until there isn’t any thick wax of where your crayon was glued. When finished, let dry until no longer wet. Place your new colorful pumpkin anywhere in your home and enjoy!
Painting – Painting your pumpkin is another great way to avoid a mess. This is particularly a great craft for those who are artistically talented. Using any type of paint, you can create a master piece on your pumpkin. Even if you are not very good at drawing, you can place a traceable pattern on your pumpkin, trace it lightly with a marker or pen and then paint over it. Voilà! You have a Van Gough of pumpkins.
Glitter Pumpkin – A great way to brighten up your home for fall is to create a pumpkin sparkling with glitter. For this craft, you will need glitter of your choice, spray adhesive, a spoon, old newspapers and construction paper. Using the spray adhesive, spray the top half of the pumpkin avoiding the stem (if you don’t want glitter on the stem). While the glue is still wet, use a spoon to sprinkle the glitter on your pumpkin. After your pumpkin has been sprinkled with glitter, lightly shake off any excess glitter onto the construction paper. Set the pumpkin aside and fold the construction paper into a “U” shape to funnel the excess glitter back into the container. If you want to put glitter on the rest of the pumpkin, pour a good amount of glitter on the construction paper. Next, pick up the pumpkin by the stem and spray the adhesive on the bottom portion of the pumpkin. While the glue is still wet, roll the pumpkin around in the glitter that is on the construction paper. Shake off excess glitter and again, pour the excess glitter on the construction paper back into its container. Allow the pumpkin time to dry and then again lightly shake the pumpkin to rid it of any excess glitter. Your pumpkin is now ready to brighten up your home!
Have fun with these alternatives to carving pumpkins and make your home bright and colorful this Halloween!