23 Pumpkins to Paint and Decorate Better Homes and Gardens

23 Pumpkins to Paint and Decorate
Better Homes and Gardens

Growing up, it was rare to find a carved pumpkin on our porch. This wasn't because our family didn't celebrate Halloween, but because mom and dad were handier with a paintbrush than a knife. Aside from more control over your design tool, painting offers the added benefit of a longer shelf life, enabling some pumpkins to last clear through 'til Thanksgiving.

From basic black and white to a doiley design, Better Homes and Gardens offers 23 different painted options, all with easy instructions for the non-crafty among us.

Sure, we won't miss the goopy hands and messy table, but the roasted pumpkin seeds are definitely a casualty of going with this option. Have you ever given up carving for painting? If so, what were the results?

Comments (6)

I was just thinking about our lack of carved pumpkins on front porches here in the Bay Area...but with our hot weather this time of year, they turn into curious mold-factories within just a couple days. *sigh* Painting is a much better option.

posted by inger on October 23rd 2008 at 7:32am
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More projects that I would love to do if I actually had the free time. ugh!

posted by OliviaV on October 23rd 2008 at 7:46am
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ah these are so pretty, it makes me wish we had a bigger halloween tradition in england but we've just copied off america really. no-one decorates their houses though and if i put a pumpkin outside it would probably get stolen!

posted by afeitar on October 23rd 2008 at 8:16am
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I love Halloween because you can do the double duty decorating for Thanksgiving as well. I did the BHG doily project shown above on the orange pumpkin but it did not come out that well. Trying to get a paper doily to conform to a round pumpkin is not an easy task so the stenciling is less than perfect. It came out okay but I have been much more pleased when I used the pumpkin carving kits (http://www.pumpkinmasters.com/) or just have done my own thing.

I live in Florida so if we carve it has to be the night before or it's mush!

Happy Halloween!

~Lorrie @ mydesignsecrets.com.

posted by MyDesignSecrets.com on October 23rd 2008 at 9:34am
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afeitar, put it in your window. :)

posted by Mrs.Mack on October 23rd 2008 at 9:38am
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My most delightfully crafty friend has an annual pumpkin decorating party that's become a fall tradition. She supplies all the paint, glitter, ribbons, etc. and everyone brings a pumpkin. This year I did one of the BHG projects (the one with the bats) (I wasn't creative enough to come up with my own idea, sadly), and it came out really well. So, consider this a vote for decorating vs. carving, though both have their appeal. I have to say the lack of mold is definitely a big bonus.

posted by mollywtx on October 23rd 2008 at 12:53pm
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