These no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas are scary good!
1
/
71
Metallic-foil pumpkin
A little glitz and glam can make almost anything look sophisticated, and these gilded metallic-foil pumpkins are so gorgeous, people will think you bought them to decorate your home or a pumpkin patch for fall. After painting your faux pumpkins with chalky paint, coat each pumpkin with adhesive and press on a metallic foil sheet for the chicest DIY decoration.
2
/
71
Mickey Mouse pumpkin
From costumes to decorations, Halloween is the perfect time to do all things Disney. Attach two smaller craft pumpkins to a larger craft pumpkin using bamboo skewers to serve as ears. Paint on a face and form leaves out of polymer clay to complete this pumpkin decorating idea.
3
/
71
Beauty and the Beast pumpkin
It may be based on a tale as old as time, but this Beauty and the Beast pumpkin is definitely a new twist on a pumpkin decorating idea. After painting your craft pumpkin yellow and allowing time for it to dry, add glitter, stick-on rhinestones and artificial red roses.
4
/
71
Stranger Things pumpkin
If you binge-watched every season of Stranger Things, you need this pumpkin in your life on Halloween (and maybe beyond). While the TV series doesn’t feature all the Halloween monsters, it’s still spooky nonetheless. To recreate Joyce Byers’s Christmas-light Morse code, paint a foam pumpkin with the alphabet, then affix colorful string lights.
5
/
71
Monster pumpkin
Your little monsters will love making these adorable monster pumpkins. To make this frightfully fun craft for kids, you need mini pumpkins, craft paint, glue, gauze and markers. Then let them go wild!
6
/
71
Emoji pumpkin
Recreate your favorite emoji on a pumpkin this Halloween season. All you need is yellow spray paint, craft felt, glue and creativity to make your texting fave come to life. We give these pumpkins a thumbs up!
7
/
71
Pizza pumpkin
Got a pizza lover and a pumpkin lover in your house? Look no further than the pizza pumpkin that would also make a fun Halloween party game. It’s a cinch to put together using a faux craft pumpkin, paint and foam sheets. Customize it with your favorite toppings for a kitsch pumpkin that you certainly won’t see everywhere.
8
/
71
Captain Marvel pumpkin
This Captain Marvel pumpkin is as awesome as the superhero it represents. Use masking tape and a printout to outline the shape of Captain Marvel’s suit. From there, color in using red and blue spray paint and gold craft vinyl.
9
/
71
Baby Groot pumpkin
“I am Groot.” If you’re a Guardians of the Galaxy fan, what more is there to say? Simply cover a craft pumpkin with brown tape, then draw on the wood-grain details. Use green tape to add leaves at the top, and make eyes and a mouth with black tape.
10
/
71
Lace pumpkin
These decoupaged lace pumpkins can work as a fall centerpiece—or even autumn wedding decor. All you have to do is cover the pumpkin with overlapping strips of lace, then layer that with the glue.
11
/
71
Stack o’ pumpkins
To create this clever jack stack, you’ll need two different-size pumpkins (fresh or craft), black and white paint, hot glue and a grapevine wreath. Remove the stem from the larger pumpkin, glue the grapevine wreath on top and then glue the small pumpkin on top of the grapevine wreath. Paint and decorate.
12
/
71
Forky from Toy Story 4 pumpkin
Forky approves of this no-carve pumpkin tutorial! After painting the craft pumpkin white, form Forky’s eyebrow and mouth using modeling clay. Attach two googly eyes and use a pipe cleaner as hands to create the character. Watch to see if it comes to life. (Kidding!)
13
/
71
Princess Leia pumpkin
The Force is stronger than ever with this pumpkin decorating idea. After painting the pumpkin white and allowing time to dry, glue on the space buns made of yarn and strips of lace for a sophisticated yet simple decorative finish.
14
/
71
Porg pumpkin
Chewbacca’s little sidekick in The Last Jedi comes to life on your front porch as a little porg pumpkin. To create your very own porg using a clever no-carve pumpkin decorating idea, paint your pumpkin gray and white—the orange is the natural pumpkin color, obviously. Next, paint a pair of eyes with matte black to replicate the giant eyes of the adorable creature, and use a hot-glue gun to secure them in place.
15
/
71
Poison apple pumpkin
Up the scare factor at home with this poison apple pumpkin that provides an extra spooky surprise when the sun goes down: It glows in the dark! To achieve this effect, paint a craft pumpkin bright red, and then once it dries, drip oodles of glow-in-the-dark craft paint on top of it. Throwing a Halloween party? This one would go great next to an apple bobbing station.
16
/
71
Coco pumpkin
Celebrate the Day of the Dead with a Coco pumpkin inspired by the beloved Disney film. Recreate this look with black lace, faux flowers and a mini sugar skull. Paint a craft pumpkin white, and hot-glue the rest on top.
17
/
71
Toy Story alien pumpkin
Bring the Toy Story aliens from the claw machine to your front porch this Halloween. Just paint a craft pumpkin lime green and fashion proper alien ears with matching lime green foam. Large wiggle eyes and a mouth made of black foam complete this no-carve pumpkin decorating idea.
18
/
71
Woody and Buzz pumpkins
Calling all serious crafters: It’s time to show off your skills with this Woody and Buzz pumpkin combo. For this no-carve pumpkin decorating idea, it’s all about hand-painting. Adding a toy sheriff’s badge on Woody is the icing on the pumpkin.
19
/
71
Monsters, Inc. pumpkin
Good ol’ Mike was everyone’s favorite serious monster in Monsters, Inc.—and now he can be your very own monster this Halloween. Paint a craft pumpkin lime green, and once it’s dry, hot-glue a singular large googly eye, a black foam smile and white mini pom-poms for teeth to complete the look.
20
/
71
Glitter unicorn pumpkin
To turn your pumpkin into a sparkly glitter unicorn, you’ll need a craft pumpkin, white spray paint, chunky and extra-fine white glitter, polymer clay, pink and white felt, glue, silk flowers and a gray sharpie.
21
/
71
Cinderella’s carriage pumpkin
Bibbidi bobbidi boo! With the right supplies and a little Halloween magic, you can make this carriage fit for a Disney princess. Attach apples at the base of an oval pumpkin with toothpicks to act as wheels, and paint a door and windows on both sides. Use the gold paint to add detail to the wheels and door, tie a red bow on top and the transformation is complete!
22
/
71
Fortnite pumpkin
Fortnite is one of the most popular video games out there, so obsessed tweens (and adults) will go wild over this Drift pumpkin. All you need is paint, glue and some paper to create the iconic character in the bunny mask.
23
/
71
Spider pumpkin
Sometimes, the cutest pumpkin decorating ideas are the easiest to make. Insert four extra-long pipe cleaners on each side of the pumpkin, then glue on eyes and a mouth made from black and white craft paper.
24
/
71
Winnie the Pooh pumpkin
Bring sweet, gentle Pooh Bear home for a visit without having to travel to the Thousand Acre Forest. After painting the bottom half of the craft pumpkin yellow, wrap red chenille around the top half of the pumpkin using a hot-glue gun. Glue two yellow pom-poms on top to finish this honey-loving bear.
25
/
71
Turkey pumpkin
Pumpkins can gobble with this fun turkey pumpkin decorating idea. Paint teardrop-shaped wood cutouts in fun colors for the tail, and paint a cute little face on one cutout for the head. Gently tap the pointed ends into your fresh pumpkin, and your turkey is done!
26
/
71
Glitter pumpkin
You can’t go wrong with a little—or a lot—of glitter. To recreate the striped look, use painter’s tape to section off the parts you don’t want to spray. Or for polka dots, use a dot stencil to paint in the circles. Better yet, douse the whole pumpkin with glitter spray paint for the ultimate glitz and glam.
27
/
71
Abstract-art pumpkin
Unleash your inner artist with this simple drip-art pumpkin. After painting a pumpkin white and allowing time for it to dry, drip one color at a time and let it dry slightly before you add the next to avoid muddling the colors.
28
/
71
Veggie-face pumpkin
Head to the fridge to gather the ingredients you need to create these goofy and Halloween meme-worthy pumpkins. Affix carrots, winter-squash slices, nuts and more using toothpicks to create eyes, a nose and eyebrows on your pumpkin face. Then use a knife to slice in a silly smile.
29
/
71
Flower-power pumpkin
Turn your pumpkin into a pretty, seasonally appropriate vase. Remove the top of the pumpkin, scoop out the middle, and place a wet piece of floral foam in the cavity. Use fall flowers like mums and ornamental cabbage to create a simple yet elegant floral arrangement that will be the perfect focal point for a foyer or dining table.
30
/
71
Thankful pumpkin
This is the perfect no-carve pumpkin painting idea for either Halloween or Thanksgiving. Using a Sharpie, have family members write what they’re thankful for until the pumpkin is filled.
31
/
71
Red-berry pumpkin
You don’t need a knife for this one, but you do need a power tool. For a super easy seasonal arrangement, drill holes in a band around the pumpkin and insert fresh berries—like rose hips or cotoneaster—and foliage.
32
/
71
Vanellope Von Schweetz pumpkin
Halloween is all about the candy, which makes this Vanellope von Schweetz-inspired pumpkin perfect for anyone—but especially for Wreck-It Ralph fans. After painting the craft pumpkin teal and allowing time for it to dry, hot-glue plastic candies and ribbon to create the perfect pumpkin sugar rush.
33
/
71
Toilet-paper pumpkin
Yes, you read that right: These adorable pumpkins are made from toilet paper. Use any type of spare fabric—like dish towels, scarves or T-shirts—to wrap around the rolls and give them a more pumpkin-shaped look. Tuck the excess fabric inside the center tub and pop in a twig.
34
/
71
Puffy-paint spider pumpkin
The itsy-bitsy spider climbs up the … pumpkin? This different take on the no-carve spider pumpkin uses puffy paint to adorn a white pumpkin with a creepy, crawly spider, complete with a pair of googly eyes.
35
/
71
Maleficent pumpkin
Sometimes it’s good to be bad, especially when you’re a Disney villain. To form the horns for this Maleficent pumpkin, you’ll need heavy-gauge wire, black crepe paper and electric tape. Attach them to a black craft pumpkin, and your pumpkin is ready to go.
36
/
71
Sleeping Beauty pumpkin
Give your pumpkin the royal treatment with this gorgeous Sleepy Beauty design. Use pink acrylic pearl paint to get the iridescent shine on the pumpkin, and top it off with pearl and heart embellishments and a ready-made tiara.
37
/
71
Tiffany pumpkin
This Tiffany pumpkin uses the famous jewelry store’s signature robin’s-egg blue to evoke the little blue box we all swoon over. A super easy and elegant option, this look calls for Tiffany-blue spray paint, a faux or real pumpkin and white satin ribbon.
38
/
71
Ribbon pumpkin
Here’s a good way to use up the stash of ribbon in your closet: Wrap them around a pumpkin! Mix and match ribbons, or use the same pattern and colors all over. This is one of the easiest no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas.
39
/
71
Witch pumpkins
I’ll get you my pretty… and your little pumpkin too! Make these cheery little pumpkin witches with inexpensive craft felt, ribbon and mini pumpkins. Use black felt (or paper) to cut out jack-o’-lantern faces to create witches’ hats and affix them to the pumpkin using hot glue.
40
/
71
Dumbo pumpkin
There’s no doubt that Dumbo the big-eared elephant is a Disney classic, so why not transform him into a pumpkin? For this craft, you’ll need craft foam, spray paint, felt, ribbon, a foam circle and hot glue.
41
/
71
Edna and Jack-Jack pumpkins
Incredible is definitely the word to describe these pumpkins inspired by The Incredibles 2. After painting Edna and Jack-Jack’s faces onto either real or faux pumpkins, adorn them with store-bought wigs, a pair of glasses and a mask to complete the look.
42
/
71
Nightmare Before Christmas pumpkin
Use a black diorama pumpkin and a set of Funko Pop figurines to bring this Jack and Sally Hill pumpkin to life. Adorn it with glitter stock, yellow craft foam and glue to create a stage for this scarily sweet Nightmare Before Christmas couple.
43
/
71
Steamboat Mickey pumpkin
All aboard, classic Disney lovers! You’ll absolutely adore this Steamboat Mickey pumpkin. The whole pumpkin is made with craft foam and paint. Start off with a black craft pumpkin and paint the bottom half gray. Cut circles out of black craft foam for the ears, and use round pieces of white craft foam for the buttons.
44
/
71
Orange Bird pumpkin
Time for some extreme Disney lover trivia: Orange Bird was introduced at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in the 1970s and can be spotted on merchandise throughout the park. Making it is a cinch with an orange craft pumpkin and foam. Just cut out the bird’s eyes, beak and leaves from the foam and attach them with hot glue.
45
/
71
Riverdale pumpkin
If you’re a fan of Archie and the rest of the Riverdale crew, show off your show spirit with this simple Riverdale pumpkin that mimics a varsity letter. Paint a craft pumpkin bright yellow, and cut out an “R” from craft felt.
46
/
71
Welcome-to-fall pumpkin
Nothing says sophistication quite like a neutral color palette. This black-and-white pumpkin decorating idea is easily created using craft foam pumpkins, matte white spray paint and a black marker or craft paint. Paint the pumpkin, and once it’s dry, use ready-made stencils or write your welcome message freehand.
47
/
71
Matte-finish pumpkin
Matte finish is often considered subtle and understated. However, it can be the center of attention when you pick the right color. Coat craft pumpkins in bold chalky spray paint and fun metallics for an unconventional Halloween look.
48
/
71
Tinker Bell pumpkin
A little glitter—er, fairy dust—is all it takes to create this Tinker Bell pumpkin (an adorable kids costume). Use gold glitter spray paint to give the pumpkin an iridescent glow before ironing on iridescent cellophane between two pieces of parchment paper, cutting out your wings and attaching with hot glue. Large pom-poms form the feet and complete the pumpkin fairy.
49
/
71
Rose-gold and black pumpkins
Rose gold continues to dominate everything from fashion to home accessories, so why not extend the trend to your pumpkins? Using rose-gold spray paint on real or craft pumpkins makes this super easy. For a truly stunning effect, pair them with contrasting pumpkins that have been spray-painted black.
50
/
71
Teal pumpkin
The Teal Pumpkin Project is a godsend for kids with food allergies. It’s a sign that a house will offer treats suitable for trick-or-treaters with food allergies. Make one by painting a real or faux pumpkin in teal blue.
51
/
71
Clown pumpkin
What’s red, white, black and terrifying? The answer to this Halloween riddle is this clown. For those who want something a little scarier this Halloween, this one will be sure to keep timid trick-or-treaters off your front porch. All it takes is some red, black and white paint, some tissue paper for hair and a whole lot of patience.
52
/
71
Ninja Turtle pumpkin
Who is your favorite Ninja Turtle? Create them all for some fun Halloween decor that everyone will recognize. Cutting out eye holes in an old cloth headband is the perfect dupe for a face mask.
53
/
71
Mummy pumpkin
The kids will have a blast wrapping this one! All you need for this simple idea is some toilet paper or gauze to wrap around either a real or faux pumpkin. You can also pick up some googly eyes instead of using paint.
54
/
71
Harry Potter pumpkin
Have you ever seen a more adorable Harry Potter? Glue on a scar, eyes and glasses made out of construction paper to complete the wizard’s look.
55
/
71
E.T. pumpkin
As arguably the sweetest alien in all of movie history, E.T. is sure to be a crowd favorite. After painting a pumpkin brown and allowing time for it to dry, glue on brown pipe cleaner details and big blue eyes. Add to the charm by propping it up on a small bicycle.
56
/
71
Minion pumpkin
The great part about decorating minion pumpkins is that you can never have too many. The more minions, the merrier! Use yellow, blue and white paint to create these adorable little creatures. Add a pair of toy goggles to complete the look.
57
/
71
Smurf pumpkin
It takes a lot of blue paint to make this little Smurf! Simply dip a large cotton ball in blue paint to create the nose. Papa Smurf would definitely approve!
58
/
71
Flower pumpkin
These flower pumpkins require a steady hand and a ton of patience, but the end result is surely worth it. This could be a great option for a rainy autumn afternoon activity, or anytime you want to test your art skills with a no-carve pumpkin decorating idea.
59
/
71
Cotton candy pumpkin
You probably rarely think of a color as soft as this one when it comes to fall, but pink and white make a subtle yet festive decoration. This pretty-in-pink pumpkin deserves a spot on the porch.
60
/
71
Unicorn pumpkin
Everyone loves unicorns! For this no-carve pumpkin decorating idea, all it takes is a bit of white paint and some fake flowers that you can get at any craft store. It’s super easy and it will look as if you put in way more effort than you really did.
61
/
71
Rainbow pumpkin
As simple as this design is, it really is beautiful. You can never go wrong with a well-executed rainbow. Tip: For this no-carve pumpkin decorating idea, choose a pumpkin with lots of ridges to accommodate all the different colors.
62
/
71
Blacklight pumpkin
Everything gets spookier when the lights go down—and the same goes for pumpkins, especially when they’re decorated using glow-in-the-dark paint. Spray-paint either a real or faux pumpkin white before using neon glow-in-the-dark fabric paint to draw on spooky skeleton designs. Shine a black light on your dried pumpkins once the sun goes down to create the full effect.
63
/
71
Spa day pumpkins
Even pumpkins need some “me time.” Help them get there with this creative no-carve pumpkin painting idea. Use pale green paint to draw a face mask on your pumpkin. Top it off with a wrapped towel and add some cucumbers for an extra relaxing twist.
64
/
71
Troll pumpkins
You’re certainly going to want to take these pumpkins on a Trolls World Tour! After spray-painting your pumpkin pink or blue and allowing time for it to dry, hot-glue pink or blue faux fur to the top of the pumpkin in a straight line to form the troll’s hair. To make the troll’s adorable smiling face, use craft foam, googly eyes and a black marker.
65
/
71
Distressed pumpkins
If you would describe your aesthetic as rustic, this is the pumpkin decorating idea for you. Cover a faux pumpkin in a layer of tacky glue and then apply a layer of paint. Once the paint dries, crackles will automatically appear. To add dimension, add watered-down brown paint and real branch pieces as stems.
66
/
71
Olaf pumpkin
This is one pumpkin that loves warm hugs. Paint two either real or faux pumpkins white. Once they’re dry, hot-glue craft foam, pom-poms, googly eyes and brown pipe-cleaners to form Olaf’s eyes, nose, mouth, arms and hair. Finish it off by gluing the two pumpkins together to complete the pumpkin snowman.
67
/
71
Button pumpkin
Black, orange and green buttons are all you need for this simple yet cute craft. Hot-glue buttons onto a faux pumpkin for a fun twist on an easy idea.
68
/
71
Monogram pumpkin
It doesn’t get more classic than this monogram pumpkin decorating idea. Use a word processor program to create a monogram and print. Place a piece of transfer/graphite paper beneath the printed monogram and tape both to the pumpkin. Trace the monogram onto the pumpkin and fill it in with paint.
69
/
71
Farm pumpkin
Pumpkin-picking is top of the fall bucket list, so visit a farm to find the perfect one for this no-carve pumpkin decorating idea! After spray-painting a real or faux pumpkin green and allowing time for it to dry, hot-glue a toy fence around the perimeter of the pumpkin and toy animals to the top.
70
/
71
Frozen pumpkin
It’s time to “let it go” with this Frozen-inspired pumpkin. All you need for this chilly no-carve pumpkin painting idea is glittery spray paint, rhinestone adhesives and a play tiara. Once it’s spray-painted, decorate the pumpkin with rhinestone adhesives before adding a tiara on top with hot glue.
71
/
71
Twine pumpkin
If you’re dressing up your cat for Halloween, they will love playing with this twine pumpkin! First, paint the faux pumpkin with acrylic paint the same color as your twine. Once it’s dry, start wrapping twine around the pumpkin, and use hot glue to secure it. Paint the twine at the very top green to form the stem.
Additional reporting by Lucie Turkel.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
