They may start promoting fall activities and putting the Halloween decorations on display as early as August, but with everything else the autumn brings, the true spooky season has a way of sneaking up on you.
So what do you do when you realize Halloween is right around the corner, you don't have a costume and your front porch is devoid of expertly carved pumpkins? Do you have to abandon ship and settle for an array of uncarved pumpkins plucked from the bin at the supermarket? That's an option (no judgment!). But as long as you have about 30 minutes to spare, there are plenty of easy pumpkin carving ideas you can pull off in a flash.
Have a couple of cookie cutters in your drawer? Those make excellent "hole punches" for instant cool designs—especially if you have bats, ghosts, and other Halloween shapes at your disposal. Even a little paint can take you most of the way, no artistic ability needed. For example, paint a pumpkin with a variety of mismatched shapes in different colors, then freehand a few additional cutouts, and you have yourself a Terrazzo pumpkin. And if you'd like to try something a little more advanced, you could even use tools like a power drill, a lino cutter, or a Dremel to make all kinds of perfectly uniform scores.
These unique (and cute!) ideas, which range from sweet and funny (hello, Disney characters!) to evil and downright scary, are simple enough for beginners or kids and quick enough to squeeze into even the busiest schedule.
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1
Terrazzo
Paint will take you most of the way here. Then, all you have to do is cut out a few angular shapes of varying sizes to let the glowing light shine through.
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2
Terrarium
For a trendy yet Halloween-friendly centerpiece, carve a big hole into the front of your pumpkin, paint the edges, then fill it with cascading greenery.
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3
Table Numbers
If you're hosting a special event—a fall wedding or a large-scale harvest dinner, for example—carve numbers into small pumpkins. The result is a piece of decor that doubles as a guide to place settings and a centerpiece.
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4
Drilled Seahorse
Don't live adjacent to the seashore? You can recreate this cute look in any shape you want. Simply trace the shape, then use a drill to make the dotted outline and paint the whole thing to cover any pen or pencil markings.
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5
"Boo" Thought Bubble
A Mylar stencil makes it easy to precisely cut one of the most ubiquitous Halloween exclamations. Of course, you can opt for any short phrase or design your heart desires.
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6
Planter
Make your jack-0'-lantern right at home in your garden by filling it with soil and your favorite plants. It's a great option for front porch steps, too.
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7
Unicorn
Keep the carving (and resulting mess) to a minimum. To create this adorable unicorn, just cut out the eyes; paint the rest.
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8
Lantern
For a fall harvest party or an autumn wedding, carve pumpkins into lanterns that serve as the perfect centerpieces for your tables. These also look beautiful lining your walkway, lighting the way for all of those trick-or-treaters.
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9
Galaxy Pumpkin
Determined to create a pumpkin that's out of this world? A little paint, a drill, and holiday lights are all you need to bring the galaxy to life. (Pro tip: Use a sponge for a more realistic night sky effect.)
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10
Shadow Box Pumpkins
To create Halloween decor for your mantle, carve a big circle out of the front of a faux pumpkin, then assemble a spooky scene out of cardstock. Or save time by adding store-bought props instead.
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11
Polka Dots
To create this fun and colorful pumpkin, use a drill bit to cut clean holes and then add stickers for extra flair.
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12
Stenciled
Swap scary faces for an artful tile stencil typically reserved for DIY projects. The result: a more sophisticated design.
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13
Zombies
For a more eerie spin on the traditional golden glow of a candle, pop colored glow sticks into your jack-o-lantern.
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14
Skeleton Marquee
A pre-fabricated marquee sign makes quick work of this seemingly complex design. Simply cut out a space fit for the sign, then pop it in. (Pro tip: Make sure your sign is battery-operated, so you don't need to plug it in.)
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15
Black Cats
If you're not much of a carver, you'll appreciate this DIY. It only requires a few simple cuts to make the facial features—the rest of the work is in painting and assembly.
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16
Glow-in-the-Dark Teeth
Only have the skills (or the time) to carve a simple face? Make your jack-o'-lantern look much more complex with a set of glow-in-the-dark teeth. They pop right in, like toothpicks.
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17
Traditional Skeleton
Come dusk, this traditional-looking skeleton offers a cool glow, thanks to plenty of negative space.
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18
Ghost Emoji
Carve one of the most Halloween-friendly emojis (or any number of other keyboard favorites!) with a simple-to-use stencil.
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19
Mickey Mouse Face
To recreate the beloved Disney character, simply carve out his face, then add two clementines or two smaller pumpkins for ears. There's no glue required to affix them—just two toothpicks or bamboo skewers cut to size.
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20
Scary Scene
Carve out a big square, set a spooky scene, then add toothpicks to create an even eerier vibe reminiscent of a prison cell.
