11 Ways to Decorate a Pumpkin

I've been keeping a Pin Board on Pinterest for Harvest items (you can follow me on Pinterest too). My pins are mostly personal: things I would wear, recipes to try or organization tips I need to work on. Your basic stuff. Many of the pins are inexpensive too so just about any budget can be inspired by what they have seen and take action. Just don't check my Wanna Buy board because that's my “wish list” intended for my husband and friends so they know what to get me..ya know if they are going to buy me something…anytime…soon.

Back to these pumpkins!

Our decorating philosophy is about simplicity (sadly nothing like my closet or shoe collection :-). With Holiday decorating, I tend to keep it simple. Lots of decorations to put up means lots to take back down. It's a never ending cycle that just creates more work and for such a short period of time.

Halloween or Harvest is no exception. You won't see ghosts, goblins or any other ghoulish characters on our lawn. What you will find are pumpkins, hay and cornstalks. Yes, simple items that can be purchased from a local farmer. They last a few months rather than just the one month that people are begging for candy.

The boys have already carved (and destroyed) our pumpkins this season. We may purchase a few more but we won't be carving them again. We will be decorating them just like you see below. I think the mummy is cute. And that candy corn pumpkin? Give me a can of spray pain and let's call it a day, ok? :)

Here are some of my favorite ways to decorate a pumpkin. And, yes, there are some edible pumpkins in there too (of course). All of these ideas are inexpensive and look simple enough if ya ask me. Cheap and easy is my kind of dec-o-rating!

{1} Soda Bottle Pumpkin
Could this get any easier? I think not. There should be no reason you do not have at least one jack-o-lantern soda bottle in your house now is there? I'll keep an eye out for coupons :)

{2} Candy Corn Pumpkins
So, I'm sorry I shared this with you. If you are like me, candy corn is a weakness during this time of the year. Now you can eat it whenever you want. Again, I'm really sorry.

{3} Marshmallow Pumpkins
Again, I'm sorry on this one. Marshmallow + chocolate + pumpkins = BOOtacular!

{4} Veggie Pumpkin
This is adorable. Make a homemade ranch dressing too to save on a few calories!

{5} Clementine Pumpkins
This looks so unbelievably easy. Get out the Sharpie and call it a decorating day..well, after you eat it of course.

{6} DIY Candy Corn Pumpkins
These make me wanna go to Michael's with my 40% off coupon and grab some paint. Who's with me?

{7} Thumb Tack Pumpkins
This could be a face, a letter as shown above or even a pumpkin shaped pumpkin (on a pumpkin..I'm dying).

{8} Cookie Cutter Pumpkins
Use what you have at home to make your shapes. I think I even have a star cookie cutter. There's an eye for ya!

{9} Tin Can Pumpkins
Grab a few old coffee cans and make this one. Wait, do they even make coffee cans anymore…?

{10} Mummy Pumpkin
Seriously, how cute is this? I already have the googly eyes. Yes, I do. What mother does NOT keep googly eyes in the craft drawer? A mother who doesn't love her children, that's who! (kidding, of course)

{11} Mason Jar Pumpkins
I have a few mason jars on the house and this looks extremely easy!

Another “bonus” edible you will want to check out is this great post from Happy Housewife on How to Cook a Pumpkin. I've never cooked one (and don't envision I will anytime soon) but it's good to have in your cooking arsenal :) If you try it, let me know!

How do you decorate your pumpkin? Carve it? Dip it? Paint it? Spill it!