Our kids still love traditional Jack-O’-Lantern carving, always trying to outdo last year with scarier, gloopier, or goofier faces. But there was a time when toddler- and baby-friendly pumpkin decorating was our priority, so here are six simple, playful, and unconventional pumpkin ideas we’ve used. One of them is delightfully romantic — yes, a romantic pumpkin is a thing, apparently.
Below are brief descriptions of each project and the materials you’ll need. These are easy to adapt to the ages and abilities of your kids, and many of them work well with faux pumpkins if you want to save them for future seasons.
“Baby’s First” Handprint Pumpkin
Materials Needed:
- Paper or cardstock
- Pencil or pen (for tracing a hand)
- Sharpie or marker (to transfer the stencil to the pumpkin)
- Scissors
- Pumpkin carving tools
When our daughter was only five months old, she couldn’t help much with carving, but she still “helped” by lending a hand—literally. We traced both of her tiny hands on paper and used those cutouts as stencils on the pumpkin. In our version they became eyes, but you can use handprints as butterfly wings, ears, or any whimsical detail. It’s a sweet keepsake and an easy way to include babies in the Halloween fun.
Finger-Painted Stencil Pumpkins
Materials Needed:
- Painters tape
- Sharpie or marker
- Craft knife
- Finger paints
This is perfect for toddlers who love finger-painting. Use painter’s tape to mask off shapes or patterns, then let kids paint freely. Once the paint dries, remove the tape to reveal crisp designs. If you use faux pumpkins, these can be stored and reused later. It’s an easy way to combine mess-friendly painting with a striking finished look.
Puffy-Painted “Studded” Pumpkins
Materials Needed:
- Puffy paint
- Craft or latex paint (leftover house paint works too)
This one is a little more polished but still simple. Apply puffy paint dots, lines, or patterns to the pumpkin and let them dry. Then paint the whole pumpkin a single color so the raised puffy paint reads as a textured, studded design. It’s an elegant, modern take on pumpkin decorating and a fun pre-kids or kid-friendly craft.
Tissue Paper Mod Podge Pumpkins
Materials Needed:
- Colorful tissue paper
- Mod Podge
- Scissors
- Paint brushes
Cut tissue paper into circles or other shapes, coat the pumpkin lightly with Mod Podge, and let kids press the pieces onto the sticky surface. Seal with another coat of Mod Podge when you’re done. This project is great for little hands and offers endless color and pattern possibilities. Older kids can help cut the shapes too.
Gothic Pantyhose Pumpkins
Materials:
- Black fishnet pantyhose
- Scissors
This quick and quirky idea gives pumpkins a lace-like, gothic look. Slip a pumpkin into a leg of black fishnet pantyhose, trim the excess, and the pattern hugs the pumpkin naturally. It’s fast, dramatic, and especially effective on white pumpkins. Best for indoor display or faux pumpkins if you want them to last.
Homemade Stencil Monogram Pumpkin
Materials Needed:
- Computer
- Printer
- Paper
- Pencil
- Marker
- Pumpkin carving tools
If you want something more refined (or a little romantic), make a homemade stencil. Print a design or monogram, shade the back of the paper with pencil, press it onto the pumpkin, then trace the front design with firm pressure to transfer the lines. Carve along those lines for a precise, custom look. This method works for simple monograms or more intricate patterns.
There you go — six easy, kid-friendly pumpkin ideas that range from sentimental keepsakes to playful crafts and elegant decorations. These projects are flexible: adapt materials, use faux pumpkins to keep them season after season, and involve kids as much or as little as you like. Happy decorating!