Do you like cleaning up the mess from Halloween pumpkin carving? Neither do we. Carving pumpkins is a beloved Halloween tradition, but let’s face it – it’s messy.
But you can still get into the spooky spirit of the season and create a unique decoration for your home. That’s why we’ve put together a list of easy and fun ways to decorate Halloween pumpkins that don’t involve any carving at all.
We’ve gathered ideas from the best and craftiest bloggers on the Internet to share with you. And we think you and your kids will have a great time making them!
These designs involves decorating the pumpkin without having to cut it or scoop out the insides. You can use stickers, markers, or paint to create a fun and festive design. This is a great option for younger children who may not be ready to handle a knife.
With these easy and fun ideas, your home will be spooky in no time. So, gather your supplies, put on some Halloween music to get in the mood, and get ready to create the perfect pumpkin (or pumpkins) this Halloween season.
When you’re ready for pumpkins, whether you’re carving them or not, here are the Best Pumpkin Patches in SoCal.
Easy Ways Kids Can Help Carve or Decorate a Halloween Pumpkin
DIY Easy Paint Pour Pumpkins
From The DIY Nuts
Are you looking for a pumpkin decorating idea that all of your family members can participate in — even the littlest ones? These cool paint poor pumpkins might just be the answer!
Three Easy No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas for Kids
From Ruffles & Rain Boots
One of the Halloween activities most kids love to help with each year is pumpkin carving, but wielding a knife isn’t usually a good idea for smaller children. As an alternative, why not have them decorate a pumpkin using one of these terrific ideas?
Related: Halloween Pumpkin Crafts for Kids
Amazing Pumpkin Painting Ideas & Other No Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas
From Easy Peasy and Fun
If you aren’t great at carving pumpkins for Halloween, you could try decorating one in a different way. Check out these ideas that don’t involve cutting a design into your pumpkin.
Related: Easy Halloween Crafts for Kids
No-Carve Nature Pumpkins
From Fireflies & Mud Pies
You don’t have to buy a bunch of craft supplies or carving tools to make these pumpkins for Halloween this year. Instead, look around your yard or neighborhood to find everything you need to create a nature-inspired pumpkin to add to your décor.
Black Cat Pumpkins
From Crafts by Amanda
These pumpkins are simple yet fun and decorative. You and your children can make lots of cute kitties for Halloween in different shapes and sizes.
Related: Delicious Halloween Treats for Kids
Melted Crayon Pumpkin
From The Best Ideas for Kids
Melted crayon pumpkins are colorful and fun, not to mention a simple way for your kids to help decorate their pumpkins this year. Plus, what a great way to recycle broken crayons!
Succulent Pumpkins
From Delicious Table
Do you or your kids love plants? If you do, these succulent pumpkins might be a great choice for your fall table this year. They would also make great gifts for friends.
Related: Fun Halloween Events in Los Angeles
Mummy Pumpkin Halloween Craft
From Mombrite
Your kids can make these decorated pumpkins easily without you having to worry that they’re using a sharp knife and may cut themselves. Just grab tape, glue, and googly eyes and they’re good to go!
How to DIY the Easiest No-Carve Monster Pumpkins for Halloween
From Creatively Beth
Are you searching for a less messy way to create faces on pumpkins than carving them would be? Look no further than these monster pumpkins. With just a few supplies your kids can make cute pumpkins without the use of a carving tool.
Colorful Mummy Pumpkins
From Dream a Little Bigger
Kids can use a variety of different materials to cover their pumpkins with this idea. Gauze is one idea, but they could also use scrap fabric, old t-shirts, strips of paper (glued on), tissue paper, or crepe paper streamers.
Pumpkin Painting Ideas: Simple Gold Leaf Pattern
From Sustain My Craft Habit
If you’re looking for a more elegant way to decorate pumpkins for fall that doesn’t include messy carving techniques, check out this idea.
The Paranoid Man Pumpkin Craft
From The Boondocks Blog
Here’s a fun way to decorate a less-than-perfect pumpkin this year. If your pumpkin has a few dings or ugly spots, nobody will know!
Minion Pumpkin (No Carve)
From Fun Money Mom
Most children like the various movies with the beloved Minions, so why not make pumpkins that look like the cute yellow characters this year? These easy instructions will help to make it a breeze.
Harry Potter Pumpkin (No Carve)
From Fun Money Mom
Kids who are Harry Potter fans will love making this pumpkin for Halloween. And parents will love that there’s no messy carving involved in the making of it!
Tape Resist Painted Pumpkins
From Mama of Minis
Even very young children can help make these pumpkins for fall or Halloween. Another thing that makes this project a great choice is that you’ll need very little in the way of supplies.
DIY Candy Corn Pumpkin
From Mommy Evolution
Another great way for kids of all ages to decorate a pumpkin is by gluing fall or halloween themed candies or other items to it. This one happens to be covered in candy corn, which looks absolutely sweet, in our opinion!
Nail Polish Pumpkin Craft
From Living Life & Learning
This pumpkin decorating idea is a good way to use fingernail polish that may be sitting around your house unused. Kids can use whatever colors and combinations of polish they like, and parents don’t have to be concerned about any accidental cuts from using a carving tool or knife.
Hocus Pocus Witch Mini Pumpkins Craft
From For the Love of Food
If you’re in need of a cute Halloween pumpkin decorating idea and it’s getting down to the wire, we think these adorable witch pumpkins will be a hit with your kids. They aren’t hard to make and only take a few craft supplies.
DIY Painted Princess Pumpkins and Halloween Recap
From For the Love of Food
Do you have a little girl that loves Disney princesses? Then she’ll most likely love decorating these princess-themed pumpkins.
40 Book Character Pumpkins (Clever and Fun!)
From Fluxing Well
Kids who like to read might just jump at the chance to create pumpkins that look like their favorite story characters. Use these ideas for inspiration or choose one to recreate.
And a Couple of Ideas for Carving a Halloween Pumpkin!
DIY Mickey Mouse Pumpkin From Main Street {+ Free Stencil!}
From A Country Girl’s Life
If your kids love Disney characters, this Mickey Mouse Pumpkin is the perfect choice for your porch this year. Use these instructions and the free stencil to make it.
31+ Easy Free Printable Pumpkin Carving Stencils
From A Country Girl’s Life
Here’s a whole host of pumpkin carving stencils you and your kids can use to create the perfect Halloween Jack-o’-lanterns this year. Just choose your favorites, print them out, and start carving!
Jeanne Sloan is a farm wife, mother of two, and grandmother of two who was born in Las Vegas, Nevada but was transformed into a country girl at the age of eight when her parents moved the family to Kansas. You can read more from Jeanne Sloan at mid-lifemusings.com where she writes about whatever strikes her fancy, including advice, recipes, and more.
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Acknowledgment: This round-up of recipes and photos from other bloggers was made with their full and express permission to share. We’re grateful to them for sharing their creativity and talent and we encourage you to visit each of their websites for many more recipes like these.
