filigree pumpkin - Martha Stewart Living

Supersimple Ways To Decorate Pumpkins

We’re jacked about Halloween—and these supersimple ways to decorate pumpkins.

filigree pumpkin - Martha Stewart Living

 

EASY DOES IT | This whole pumpkin-decorating thing has gotten crazy out-of-hand in the past few years, with elaborate designs like the filigree-carved jack-o’-lantern pictured here that’s posted on Martha Stewart’s website (CLICK here for more of her beautiful ideas). It’s not exactly easy to cut through a pumpkin, let alone arrive at a design like this one (can’t imagine how long look it took a pro to do it). We propose getting back to basics with quick and simple pumpkin décor like the two options offered below. At the very least, going easy on the pumpkins will give you more time to perfect your costume.

Back To Basics, Jack

Classic Jack-o-lantern - iStockWhat’s wrong with the classic? Jack Skellington, Tim Burton’s pumpkin- head protagonist in “The Nightmare before Christmas,” didn’t look a lot like this Jack, but Skellington’s smile does feel inspired by its traditional goofy-tooth grin. This is pumpkin carving that is simple, clean and quick as it gets, with the hole in the bottom of the vegetable for inserting high-intensity LED lights (protected by a Ziploc bag) rather than a candle.

Painted Pumpkins On Parade

painted-pumpkins Country Living magazineWhoever said Halloween pumpkins must always be carved? Certainly not Country Living magazine, which produced a definitive book on this subject (CLICK here to see it). The magazine’s website showcases these cool pumpkins by Savannah, Georgia, stylist Liz Demos, who ditched the carving knife and went straight for the paintbrush. Painting pumpkins is less time-consuming than carving them (unless you go for Demos’s wood-grain motif). Of her trio of bold designs Demos says: “you can make any pattern, even creepy insects, look downright chic.” (CLICK Here for Country Living’s instructions and stencils to download).

And have a spooktacular Halloween. —Ruth Rainey

Photos, top to bottom: Martha Stewart, iStock, Country Living

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