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Halloween

Pumpkin decorating ideas for a spooky Halloween

Set the mood and decorate your haunted house with these four creative pumpkins
By Photography by Angus Fergusson; Crafts by Catrina Silveira
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pumpkin cameo decorating halloween

Paint it

The spider’s den


1. Paint pumpkins with two coats of latex paint.


2. For a web: Use a thin paintbrush and contrasting paint to follow grooves of pumpkin shape, creating longitudinal lines around the pumpkin. Follow with horizontal lines to complete the web pattern.


3. For bug: Download free templates from the list below, print and trace onto pumpkin. Fill in with your favourite spooky paint.



Cross spider

Dragonfly

Enema beetle

Grasshopper

Harpale beetle

Housefly

Nebrie beetle

halloween decorating pumpkin

Carve it

Glowing address markers


1. Print out oversized numbers, in a simple font.


2. Cut out numbers and tape onto clean pumpkin.


3. Trace around numbers with a pencil.


4. Use a paring knife to carve out number.

pumpking numbers decorating halloween

Drill it

Modern graphics


1. Gather various sizes of circular drill bits or hole cutters.


2. Clean pumpkin surface and drill through.


3. Play with various sizes of holes and create your own pattern, leaving at least half an inch between holes.

pumpkin modern decorating halloween

Decorate it

Spooky cameo



1. Take a photo of a friend or family member and upload to Picnik.com. Increase contrast option to make your photo black-and-white.


2. Cut out photo-profile template. Tape and trace silhouette onto clean pumpkin surface.


3. Draw an oval shape around your silhouette with a pencil.


4. Use a Speedball linoleum cutter to scrape pumpkin skin away from inside silhouette. Paint around silhouette.

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pumpkin cameo decorating halloween

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