I buy my Halloween pumpkins at the beginning of October to sit out on our porch. Instead of carving them right away, knowing they won't last until the end of the month, I take a black Sharpie marker and draw the eyes, nose, and mouth and color them in, then sit it outside.
Decorate a pumpkin with construction paper. It's safer then a knife carving pumpkin. Then attach beads, etc., whatever you have, even yarn for the hair.
I purchased masks for pennies each on clearance and saved them until the next year. I place them on appropriately sized pumpkins and used them to decorate my front yard.
I started this project because I volunteer at a senior center. I do arts & crafts with them there and have great fun. I am very limited in what they can use such as, hot glue, sharp scissors, or certain types of paints and most of all, carving!
Instead of carving a Jack-'o-Lantern in your pumpkin, why not paint it instead. This allows you to use color to create a fun or spooky decoration. The whole pumpkin can be used for pies after Halloween.
