Carve The Pumpkin

I found a great idea in a magazine I was reading months ago, Most of us have an orange zester in our kitchen gadget collection. Instead of cutting of the top of the pumpkin and scooping out all the seeds and pulp, that’s a yucky job. Ok get your zestier out and look at it. One end grates and the other end peels small strips of skin off. If you don’t have one you can pick up one in most grocery stores, or in a department store. They are inexpensive and can be used all year long.

Use the end where it strips off the flesh. You can go crazy with your design, or simple, I prefer to do leaf patterns that way I can use it at Thanksgiving, killing two birds with one stone. But you can make all sorts of squiggly lines.

The next option is to paint on the outside of the pumpkin I think it’s fun to get the children involved in this. For young children I like to get those little pumpkins in the grocery store and let them paint them. Just make sure you use some sort of non-toxic paint for the little ones (children). Now for older children and adults let you imagination goes wild. You can decorate the pumpkin and paint them to look like a clown, or you might want to go with something scary. I know a lot of you guys are very talented, so push the limits and make something totally you and full of your own creative style and personality.

OK, so you don’t want to carve, cut or paint, I still have something you can try, get out your sewing bag and notions. If you crop and do scrap books you should have plenty of extra stock, buttons, thread and glue or stickers. Also your colored markers are great for writing words on the p, it may be easier than painting them on. Using these items with some felt from the department store you can create to your hearts content. Just make sure you don’t use small items if your children will be able to access it. With the economy so bad this may be the way to go, just use whatever you have in your house and make something absolutely warm and sensational.

This time of year is so exciting with the leaves turning those brilliant shades of color, the when the wind is blowing and the leaves are falling, then you get outside and rake the leaves so that your children can run and jump in the middle of the piles. As they play they see their favorite decorated pumpkin sitting on a bale of hay, with maybe a scarecrow or two. Laughing and waiting for Halloween, then Thanksgiving is just a short time away, Enjoy and Happy Decorating!