Oh My Gourd These Are Fun Ideas

Take your pumpkin carving to the next level with a few creative add ons that are sure to win any contest or impress the neighbors.

Snail Pumpkin

Tools: serrated vegetable knife, spoon/ladle, hot glue gun, scissors

Materials: ping pong balls, googly eyes, pipe cleaners

Use a hollowed out pumpkin with the stem facing you to trace and cut out an inch wide spiral around the stem. Then lay a butternut squash next to the pumpkin and attach googly eyes and pipe cleaners to ping pong balls before inserting them into the squash. Voila! It's Gary the snail!

Elvis Pumpkin

Tools: scissors, hot glue gun

Materials: sunglasses, pins, black paint, craft fur, duct tape, cardstock, glitter

No need to carve up a pumpkin in order to make it shine in the spotlight. Cut and glue the craft fur on top of the pumpkin and paint the stem black. Pins can be used to hold up the sunglasses and Elvis pumpkin can be balanced on a roll of ductape covered in glitter. Also apply the glitter to cardstock, glue to the pumpkin and flare out to look like a collar. For extra flair add a little disco pumpkin nearby.

Sweet Tooth Pumpkin

Tools: serrated vegetable knife, spoon/ladle, hot glue gun

Materials: candy corn, jelly beans, licorice rope, square gum

Carve your pumpkin leaving large holes for the eyes and an upside down heart for the nose. Next use your hot glue gun to stick candy corn, jelly beans, licorice rope, and square gum to put the finishing touches on your pumpin's face. A white pumpkin works great and you have some leftover candy to enjoy afterwards.