by Barbi Peters

Created on: October 29, 2008   Last Updated: August 08, 2010

Decorating pumpkins should be a fun activity for children and adults. So above all else remember to have fun, sometimes that involves a mess but that's ok. Here are some tips to making your pumpkin decorating a little easier this year.

1.) Remember not all pumpkins have to be carved. Using paint and markers to draw on faces can be just as spooky as a traditional carved pumpkin but without the clean out mess.

2.) Don't cut too soon. Carved pumpkins tend to rot and mold and can look more like a sad old man than a scary face after a few days. So make sure you carve your pumpkins close to the day they will be seen the most. Nothing is worse than having sad moldy pumpkins that don't make it to trick or treating.

3.) Plan before you place- If your pumpkin is going so sit on a ledge or bench keep in mind that it will most likely leave a ring of not so pretty guts by the time you pick it up. Some hay can look festive and keep your surface dry.

4.) Get everything where you need it before you start. Napkins, big spoons, extra bowls, trash bags and plenty of extra news paper should be on hand. Otherwise you will find yourself running around when they are most needed and that is just an accident waiting to happen.

5.) Make sure everything is cleaned out once you gut your pumpkin. Using the edge of a spoon or the scoops you get with a carving kid take off the first top layer of the stiffer insides (the white part). This should leave you the dryest inside possible. The dryer the inside of your pumpkin the less likely it is to rot and mold.

6.) Plot out your face before you start cutting. There are plenty of papers you can trace, but even if you are just free handing it, use a paper to draw out the idea and then trace so everything ends up where you want it.

7.) Use house hold objects as guides. If you want the perfect circular eyes grab a hair spray bottle to trace around or another round object. This way both eyes will not only be the same perfect circle but the same size!

8.) Do some research for ideas. There are tons of websites with some very festive pumpkins. Check some out and get inspiration for your pumpkin.

9.) Get kid sized tools for kids. Sharp objects are dangerous enough on their own but over sized sharp objects are even worse. Spend the extra bucks and get a pumpkin carving set with small knives for little hands.

10.) Let small children who are not old enough to use knives draw out the face they want and then have an adult cut it. This is also a great age group for painting instead of carving.

11.) Don't limit yourself to live pumpkins. Paper mache pumpkins don't rot and can be just as fun to make as they are to make into faces.

10.) Set the scene. Having a theme for your pumpkins can bring the whole look together. Animals, Star Wars, goofy faces, scary faces, cute faces or whatever else your heart desires.

12.) Have fun! but don't forget about your pumpkins after Friday. Leave them out for a little while but not too long or else their insides will turn black and mushy and be no fun to clean up.

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