Create the ultimate design this fall with this list of pumpkin ideas. Time is winding down, so get in here and get the inspiration you need to make 2019 a success.
To get the ideas flowing, first let's go over the different types of designs you can do. To make the most of this list, run through it and pick which type interests you the most, and go from there.
Find Pumpkin Ideas For Everyone
Halloween
There are so many possibilities! Really, any of the ideas you see below will serve as good inspiration. Glowing designs and character cutouts are two of the most popular ideas this year.
Spooky Tree
Found at:entertainmentmesh.com
Once you've mastered traditional jack-o-lantern faces, why not try a more detailed scene like a tree with it's own face? To make your tree stand out you'll want to cut out an open backdrop to let light accent all of your trees limbs
Mummy
Found at:womansday.com
Create a fun mummy this year by doing something different. Rather than cutting complex or difficult edges, you can cut in horizontal slices, creating layers that when offset a bit creates a fun visual effect. A white pumpkin will really make your mummy stand out. Use dry beans as eyes and tongue.
Haunted Diorama
Found at:apumpkinandaprincess.com
This design can be a very unique way to decorate a halloween pumpkin. A porcelain pumpkin was used to make this professional looking pumpkin-diorama, but a diorama setting would look great in a live one.
THANKSGIVING
Pumpkins are an awesome decoration for all of fall, and not just Halloween. You can do fall designs by gluing watercolored leaves to your pumpkins. Or spray paint them metallic for a more sophisticated decoration that shines in light, and would work great as a centerpiece for your thanksgiving dinner table.
GLOW-IN-THE-DARK
One of the biggest trends in pumpkin designs involves using glow in the dark paints to create a candle-less design. Krylon has a spray paint that glows, and there's also phosphorescent fabric paints that work great too. By using your own stencils you can create intricate multi-colored pumpkins that will surely impress.
Inspired design
Found at:theswelldesigner.com
The pattern gives it an aztec look - as if it came from an ancient civilization, appearing only over halloween, like a mysterious relic. Ok, maybe that's a bit much of a description, but it sure is neat!
Try Traditional
Found at:frugalcouponliving.com
Rather than use a textured fabric paint, this idea uses a phosphorescent paint that was brushed around the pumpkin. The eyes and mouth were left untouched, and outlined for emphasis.
Try more colors
Found at:blogspot.com
Starting off with a colorful base coat can really make your glowing patterns stand out in different ways. With such an array of phosphorescent colors available to paint with you can create a color scheme that can truly stand out and impress.
STACKED
Stack those mini pumpkins on top of each other to create a sophisticated piece. Some people do atypical designs like snowmen. Others will do characters or paint elongated objects like trees.
Stack-O-Lantern
Found at:cookingclassy.com
Stacked Family
Found at:casasugar.com
Stacked Owl
Found at:womansday.com
Stacked designs are a fun way to make larger-than life displays for halloween. This one takes 3 pumpkins, and no carving at all. It's great for kids because they get to cut out the eyes and ears and fold paper plates - all things little ones can do. When it's done they'll be whoo'ing in celebration of the creation they helped design.
SPRAY PAINT
This carve-free alternative allows you to have pumpkins that look stylish with little mess. Apply a coat of paint to your pumpkin and let it air dry. Next, tape on a stencil of your choosing and use a contrasting paint to create a spooky silhouette.
Candy Corn
Found at:blogspot.com
Black Cat
Found at:allyou.com
Wacky Minions
Found at:familymaven.io
Mason jar lids are used to create the goggles on these spray painted Minions. Pipe cleaners as hair and grommets for the overalls. The little design aspects and use of spray paint makes this a great looking but easy option for those of all abilities.
HAND PAINT
You can paint a number of designs using a brush and paint. The only thing limiting you here is your level of interest and creative talent. Paint faces you would normally carve out, or try patterns such as stripes or zig-zags.
Letters also work great if you have enough pumpkins to spell something out. Fun, season specific words like "Boo" and "Trick or Treat" work well, as do your families last name as a seasonal welcome sign.
Neon Drip
Found at:anightowlblog.com
Bubblegum Machine
Found at:blogspot.hk
Sugar Skull
Found at:ideastand.com
UNIQUE
The easiest ways to make your design unique and your own is to bridge the gap between the pumpkin world and an outside influence. Look to other designs done in other crafting hobbies, and draw from it inspiration you can use to make yours unique. Ideas like turning it into a creature with it's own skin are interesting. For instance, you can glue feathers on it and turn it into a type of chicken. Any texture you can apply to it will make it different than the standard old boring design. Try off-brand colors unusual for Halloween. Add a hat or hair by gluing on strips of costume hair. Or, add legs and turn it into a spider.
Wire Spirals
Found at:blogspot.com
Crayon Melt
Found at:frugaledmontonmama.com
Drill Lots of Holes
Found at:witandwhistle.com
NO CARVE
No carve designs typically involve pinning or painting. Pinning is when you add a pre-made design to your pumpkin by pinning it to it. Some people have crafted metal swirls that are then stuck into it. You can also apply strips of material to it as a design, or tattered material to create a mummy. Drawing on eyes or designs with colored sharpies is a great way to do what many would carve into their pumpkin -but without the mess.
Golden Doily
Found at:17apart.com
BOO
Found at:apumpkinandaprincess.com
Bats
Found at:itallstartedwithpaint.com
CUTE
Squinty eyes and big smiling grins work for cute. Other lovable things like dogs and cats work too. Paw prints tracking around your pumpkin is something worth considering. Or, how about a Disney character or silhouette of a cute scene? A bow can go a long way if your pumpkin is female. Coveralls over a stack of pumpkins with the head of a happy farmer works great too. A smiling face is a big part of pulling off a cute design.
Sunflower
Found at:thegardeningcook.com
Pumpkin Babies
Found at:suindependent.com
Cozy Carriage
Found at:bhg.com
FUNNY
For laughs, try anything that captures a funny human emotion or situation if you want to go so far as to create a set or theme. Everyone has a different sense of humor, so some ideas may not be best if you want mass-appeal. Things like sticking out tongue is relatively safe, while a pumpkin munching on a fake human leg or arm will fit others sense of humor. Overly large teeth or eyes can give your face a comical appearance.
Hamburger
Found at:extremepumpkins.com
Ron Swanson
Found at:huffingtonpost.com
QR Code
Found at:qrcartist.com
KID-FRIENDLY
Sometimes you just need something simple the kids can do. For those times, try the easy to apply things - like colored sharpies and glow in the dark fabric paints. These things can be applied easily, even by a kid. You can also try gluing on googley eyes using a child-safe glue like elmers glue.
Painted Smiley
Found at:northtexaskids.com
Winged Bug
Found at:blogspot.com
Peek-a-boo
Found at:bhg.com
Character
How about a silhouette of your favorite movie or tv character? Memes also make a great option, as they are more easily translated to carving design. Character designs will take smaller knives to work the edges of your design.
Monsters
Found at:craftymorning.com
Minions
Found at:instagram.com
Bert And Ernie
Found at:funny-potato.com
SMALL
Small pumpkins take less time to carve and come with less mess. You can drill holes into these to make letters, or carve out tiny faces. A bundle of them can be used to create a fun set or theme. To make a set with these you will need a centerpiece or focal point for them to react too. The focal point could be a giant pumpkin scaring off the smaller ones.
EASY
The easiest pumpkin design idea is spray painting one. This takes no time at all to do and looks great. Black and white are two colors that fit Halloween best.
Easy Eyes
Found at:aboutfamilycrafts.com
Creative Glass Marble
Found at:abeautifulmess.com
The creativity and simplicity of this design is one those looking for something unique and easy to do this year can appreciate. Drilling holes the size of marbles is all it takes to create this design. Smaller marbles will be easier to drill holes for, while larger ones may require larger and harder to find drill bits.
Spiderweb Pumpkin
Found at:womansday.com
If you have a spare doily that you won't miss then this is a simple way to repurpose it into a creative pumpkin decoration. Spray painting it silver makes it sound out, and cutting lines around the edges will allow it to lay flat on the surface of your pumpkin. Attach a spider and you've got a spider web. This simple design doesn't take long at all.
BREAST CANCER
With all that foot traffic coming to your door, why not take advantage of the opportunity to spread a message by supporting a cause like breast cancer awareness? A simple ribbon cutout will do. There are a lot of causes you could bring attention to other than breast cancer, so if you are passionate about something, consider searching for a matching cause to dedicate your pumpkin design to.
Breast Cancer Hope
Found at:wordpress.com
Breast Cancer Ribbon
Found at:etsy.com
Fight Like a Girl
Found at:worldlifestyle.com
