There’s no complicated carving required to create these gorgeous gourds and shockingly easy pumpkins.
Any way you slice it, carving a snaggletoothed jack-o-lantern can be a sloppy, labor-intensive task- from hacking through the toughened rind to scooping out all the pulp and squishy seeds to contending with the near-instant onset of rot. This year, skip the monstrous mess in favor of Halloween décor that doesn’t involve knife skills worthy of a top chef.
Instead, try these simple pumpkins and gourds, which can be tricked out in mere minutes with inexpensive crafts-store supplies, including ribbons, spray paint, permanent markers, and glass hurricane shades. Best of all, the no-hassle how-tos are so foolproof, even the littlest goblins can participate in the cleaver-free crafting. So get ready to scare up some fiendish fun- fast.
Spell-binding
For a no-fuss centerpiece, heap bewitching, beribboned sugar pumpkins in a rustic bow. To make: Attach double-stick tape to lengths of black, orange, and white patterned ribbon, then wrap around each squash.
Feature Creatures
Photo by Karin Lidbeck-Brent
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!
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.
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.
Photo by Karin Lidbeck-Brent
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 variations 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.
Get more boo for your buck with affordable, long-lasting décor that brings the Halloween spirit to life
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