I was scrolling through Instagram the other day and saw a fun reel where the woman was using cookie cutters to cut out shapes in her pumpkins. Thinking about it, it seems like one of those ideas that any one of us should have come up with, and yet, my first thought was, “How clever!” Think about the different themed pumpkins you could have…A Valentine’s pumpkin with different sized hearts; A gingerbread man pumpkin; A pumpkin with cut outs of fall leaves. The options are only as endless as the amount of cookie cutters there are out there.

And it got me thinking about what other unique and festive ways there are to carve and decorate your fall pumpkins. I also got a good chuckle thinking about the sharp kitchen knife I used to “borrow” from my mom to cut out triangle eyes, an upside down triangle nose and some semblance of different sized teeth in my Halloween pumpkins each year. Curiosity got the best of me and I found some fabulous ideas!

Pumpkin Carving Kits

Specifically made to carve pumpkins, you can buy these kits at home décor stores like Michael’s or online at Amazon. They include scoopers and special tools to create numerous designs.

Pumpkin Etching

A softer, more delicate look, etching pumpkins generally don’t break the core. The design is etched on the outer layer of the pumpkin using a carving gouge or a rotary tool and makes for a lovely alternative to carved pumpkins. For more details, check out this article from Better Homes & Gardens!

Painted Pumpkins

Whether you are using pumpkins to spruce up your front porch or your dining room, painted pumpkins are a fantastic way to decorate for fall. If going outside, be sure the paint you use is waterproof. If you’re a talented artist, multiple size paintbrushes will help you create some beautiful painted pumpkins. If you’re a beginner, you may want to look for painting pens. There’s some gorgeous ideas in this article from The Pioneer Woman!

No Carve Pumpkin Ideas

From Real Simple, there’s a plethora of ideas to get you started with your fall and Halloween pumpkin décor. However you pick your pretty pumpkin, have fun and enjoy!