Halloween Pumpkin Decorating

Owl Pumpkins by BHG

As you gear up for pumpkin carving this Halloween, we encourage you to think outside of the pumpkin shell.

Halloween is certainly a holiday for creativity. Intricate makeup, one-of-a-kind costumes, realistic hauntings and handmade decor, Halloween screams for new ideas (no pun intended). It seems that designers and decorators are in their element during this haunted holiday. Here are some unique pumpkin decorating ideas that will guide you to showing off your creative talent and frightening the neighborhood.

1. Pumpkin Painting

If you aren't in to wielding knives, rather a paintbrush, then try painting your pumpkin instead of carving it. Make sure to get paint that will work on any surface so that your works of art don't rub off.

Subway Art Pumpkin by Tater Tots and Jello

We love this idea for several reasons:

• It's totally kid friendly - while you may not let them play with knives, painting is a different story.
• You can completely transform the pumpkin to fit your decor.
• The pumpkin lasts all season, even well into Thanksgiving. 

Contemporary Painted Pumpkins by Urbanic Paper

2. Glow in the Dark Pumpkins

This idea is just fascinating to us. Use some glow in the dark paint to turn your entire pumpkin into a lantern, rather than lighting it from the inside. It's genius and far less of a fire hazard. Any parts that you don't want to glow can be painted with black paint, carved out or even covered with black electrical tape.

Glow in the Dark Pumpkin by Wonder How To

3. Show Me Your Teeth

Around Halloween time, it's never too difficult to find vampire fangs. They are everywhere, even in your favorite local market.

Fang Pumpkin Design by Pretty Peas

4. Cookie Cutter Pumpkins

Use your cookie cutters for something other than sweet treats. By pressing the cookie cutter into the pumpkin and using a mallet, a shape is cut out of the pumpkin. This is another alternative to knife wielding that is easy to do with kiddos.

Cookie Cutter Pumpkin by Buzzfeed

5. Power Drill Designs

If you are a DIY kind of person around the house, then this idea will seem very natural to you. Avoid all of that hand cramping from pumpkin sculpting and put that drill of yours to good use. You can either freehand, if you are already a drill artist, or draw the design first. See where your imagination takes you. Create a pumpkin lantern, of sorts.

Drilled Pumpkins by Martha Stewart

6. Pumpkin Person

We have snowmen in winter, why not pumpkin people for Halloween. Purchase multiple pumpkins or various shaped gourds to make your pumpkin people.

Pumpkin Family by Martha Stewart

7. Accessories

If you are not crazy about carving, don't have a power drill and don't feel creative with a paint brush, then try decorating your pumpkin with accessories. Put those stray pieces from a Mr. Potatohead to use. Look around your house for buttons, glitter, sequins or bows that you could glue onto your pumpkin to create a look that is uniquely you.

Accessorized Pumpkin from BHG

8. Pumpkin Props

From a mouse motel...

Mouse Motel by Martha Stewart

...to Cinderella's big night...

Cinderella Carriage Pumpkin by Kinser Event Company

....make your pumpkin work for you. A pumpkin is so much more than just a jack o' lantern.

9. Decoupage

Transform your pumpkin into an art piece with some decoupage. Once upon a midnight dreary, the powen the Raven comes to life.

Decoupage Pumpkin from Jax and Jewels