There are many ways to decorate pumpkins without carving. You can draw faces and designs, paste objects to create visually appealing patterns, or strategically peel pumpkin skins to create shapes and images. These methods are especially useful for anyone who wants to try something different or is hesitant about carving pumpkins. Here are some suggestions and guidelines to follow when choosing alternative ways to decorate your next pumpkin.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Drawing or Painting
Step 1. Draw a traditional Jack-o-Lantern face
Sketch a traditional Jack-o-Lantern's face using triangles for the eyes and nose, and a simple smile for the mouth. Fill the shapes with black acrylic paint.
As a variation, you can also draw different expressions on the pumpkin. You can draw “angry” eyes or a mouth with jagged teeth, for example. Just keep using black paint to give the impression of a traditional Jack-o-Lantern
Step 2. Draw a not so traditional Jack-o-Lantern face
Use acrylic paints of various colors to draw cartoon faces on the pumpkins.
- Create white eyes with colored irises and black pupils. Consider drawing eyelashes or eyebrows on the pumpkin. Draw a red mouth and a skin-colored nose, if desired.
- Faces can be drawn with any expression you want. You can make friendly and happy faces, angry and threatening, sad, scared, or any other emotion you can imagine well enough to sketch.
Step 3. Create another Halloween themed face
Use acrylic paint to decorate pumpkins as Halloween themed creatures.
- Make the cat black by painting the entire pumpkin black. Give your cat green or gold almond-shaped eyes, a pink nose, gray whiskers, and a gray or pink mouth. Draw triangular ears near or at the top of the pumpkin.
- Make the bat black by painting the entire pumpkin black. Sketch the outline of the bat wings along the sides of the pumpkin with gray paint and give the bat white eyes and white fangs.
- Create a ghost face by painting the whole pumpkin white. Give the ghost dark circles for the eyes and mouth. The mouth can be a circle or a smile.
Step 4. Use a stencil
Look for interesting themed paper or cardboard stencils. Attach the stencil to the pumpkin with painter's tape and fill the design with acrylic paint or spray paint.
- Look for stencils that inspire Halloween.
- Consider general designs, such as leaf patterns, hearts, or geometric shapes.
- Purchase stencils at a store or look online for free stencil patterns that you can print yourself.
- As a feminine variation, use a paper placemat (doily) to create an intricate lace-like design by filling the gaps in the paper placemat with black or dark brown acrylic paint.
Step 5. Sketch the geometric shapes
Geometric shapes are quite easy to make even without a stencil.
- Create a checkerboard pattern by drawing squares across the entire surface of the pumpkin, connecting the squares only at the corners.
- Create a polka dot pattern by drawing large circles all over the surface of the pumpkin.
- Give the pumpkin vertical stripes of alternating colors.
Step 6. Use the autumn theme
Use acrylic paint to create an autumn look on the pumpkin.
- You can make a tall skinny pumpkin look like candy corn by painting the bottom yellow and the top white, leaving the center orange.
- Create a Halloween mood by drawing a ghost, bat, bone skeleton, witch, or black cat on a pumpkin.
- Draw leaf shapes on the pumpkin with red, yellow, and brown paint to mimic the look of autumn leaves.
Step 7. Choose your color scheme wisely
You can use black paint, fall colors, or metallics.
- The black paint on the orange pumpkin makes use of the traditional black-and-orange color scheme associated with Halloween.
- Fall-themed colors include orange, yellow, red, and brown. Using those colors allows you to keep pumpkins after Halloween as a general fall decoration.
- Metallic colors, such as bronze and gold, create a uniquely elegant effect that provides an interesting contrast when used with something as simple as pumpkin.
Method 2 of 3: Adding Surface Decoration
Step 1. Use stickers
Both regular stickers and scrapbook stickers can be used.
- You can use geometric shapes, such as triangles and circles, to create faces or patterns.
- Eye, mouth, and nose shaped stickers can be used to make faces.
- Fall-themed stickers, such as leaves, can be used to create designs that will be appropriate for the entire season.
Step 2. Use gold leaf
Apply clear craft glue to the surface of the pumpkin before attaching the gold leaf sheet to the surface. Smooth the leaf on the surface with a soft cloth.
You can also use gold and silver leaf pieces to create a visually appealing mature contrast
Step 3. Glue the paper cutouts
Use construction paper to cut out pictures or shapes and stick the pieces to the pumpkin with craft glue.
Alternatively, you can print a Halloween drawing or fall design from your computer and stick it on the pumpkin, instead of making your own from construction paper
Step 4. Attach the hat or wig to the top of the pumpkin
If you're drawing or making a face on a pumpkin, you can buy a cheap Halloween wig or hat to decorate the top of the "head."
- Many wigs are available in stores that sell Halloween costumes.
- You can use a "witch" hat to emphasize the Halloween theme, or use a regular hat or knit hat for a more casual look.
Step 5. Decorate with mod podge glue
Apply mod podge paste to the surface of the pumpkin before decorating it with layers of tissue paper.
- Cut the "leaves" from the tissue paper to the height of your pumpkin, measuring from the base to the stem. Leaves should be cut from tissue paper in various patterns and colors.
- Apply a thick line of mod podge glue to the pumpkin and attach the tissue paper leaf.
- Continue working with mod podge glue and tissue paper. Alternate the pattern and color of the tissue paper when working the entire surface of the pumpkin.
Step 6. Glue the flowers on the surface of the pumpkin
Glue chrysanthemums or other autumn flowers to the pumpkin, covering the entire surface of the pumpkin.
- You can use real or fake flowers.
- Make a hole in the side of the pumpkin with a wooden awl or other sharp tool. Insert the stem of a flower into the hole. Repeat the procedure until the entire surface of the pumpkin is covered with flowers.
Method 3 of 3: Peeling
Step 1. Create a design
Determine the pattern or design you want first. Use a pencil to lightly sketch the design on the sides of the pumpkin.
- Instead of making your own, you can also print a pattern from the internet or use a stencil. Trace the design on the pumpkin with a pencil.
- If using a printed pattern, cut the paper so that there is a 1.27 cm border around the design. Glue the pattern onto the pumpkin before starting to trace.
Step 2. Scratch the outline of the design with a small, non-serrated kitchen knife
Trace the pencil marker on the pumpkin with the tip of a knife. Slice deep enough to penetrate the skin but not deep enough to cut through the flesh of the pumpkin.
Step 3. Peel the skin inside the outline
Insert the tip of the knife under the skin of the pumpkin in the outline stroke. Carefully continue to slide the knife under the skin until the skin inside the outline is completely peeled off.
Step 4. Coat the exposed pumpkin flesh with petroleum jelly
To help prevent the pumpkin from rotting faster, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or craft sealant to the exposed flesh of the pumpkin. This will act as a shield against harsh weather conditions.
Step 5. Create the face
You can use this technique to create a traditional Jack-o-Lantern face. Instead of cutting through the pumpkin, just draw the face design as usual and just peel off the pumpkin skin.
Step 6. Create a design
Scattered leaves are perfect for fall, but you can also create curved lines, geometric shapes, hearts, or other common patterns.
Step 7. Create the scene
If you're feeling really bold, you can create a simple silhouette scene.
- Create a Halloween scene by sketching out silhouettes of a black cat and bat.
- Make the scene more general by sketching out the silhouette of the house, mimicking the appearance of housing.
