Funny Pumpkin-Carving Ideas

Pumpkins with Personality
Don't be spooked by these clever creations—they come together in minutes with just a few pantry basics. Click through for our favorite funny pumpkins and easy instructions for recreating them.

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Antonis Achilleos; Craft styling by Matthew Gleason

Adorable Turtles

Materials

• 3 variegated acorn squash
• Craft knife
• Spoon
• Washable marker
• Damp paper towel
• 3 small yellow ornamental gourds or summer squash (look for options with curved tips)
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• 6 peppercorns
• 6 very small yellow gourds
• Toothpicks

Directions

1. Using the craft knife, carve the top off the first acorn squash and hollow it out, removing any extra flesh and seeds with the spoon. Repeat for the remaining acorn squashes. These will be the turtle shells.

2. Turn each squash over and choose the spot for the head. With the washable marker, draw a rounded notch opening. Carve with the craft knife and wipe away any excess marker with the damp paper towel.

3. Choose a small yellow gourd or summer squash and position it so the curved stem end is pointing up. These will be the turtle bodies. Use a dot of hot glue to affix two peppercorns as eyes. Repeat for the other turtles.

4. Choose two very small yellow gourds and slice in half lengthwise with the craft knife. Repeat with remaining gourds to create the feet. Turn them cut-side down and affix four each to the bottom of each shell by pressing into toothpicks.

5. To assemble, pick up the first turtle shell and place on top of a turtle body, making sure the neck is curved upwards. Repeat for the remaining two turtles.

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Antonis Achilleos; Craft styling by Matthew Gleason

Playful Porcupine

Materials

• Small orange gourd
• Craft knife
• Oval-shaped orange squash or gourd with a pronounced stem
• Toothpicks ($4.19 for pack of 1,000, Amazon.com)
• Acorns
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

Directions

1. Using the craft knife, cut two rounded feet from the small gourd. Position the oval squash (this is the porcupine body) with the stem centered as a nose. Choose where the feet should sit and press toothpicks into the gourd; press the feet into these toothpicks. This should anchor the porcupine body and stop it from rolling around.

2. To create quills, frame the face by pressing toothpicks into the rind, leaving enough space for eyes. (Tip: Try pushing them in at a slight angle to make it easier). Continue until the body is covered, as shown.

3. Remove two small acorn caps and use hot glue to affix the caps to the face as eyes. Choose a larger acorn, remove the cap and glue it over the stem tip to create a snout nose.

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Antonis Achilleos; Craft styling by Matthew Gleason

Fantastic Fox

Materials

• Tall, oval-shaped variegated squash
• Long, bell-shaped orange gourd
• Teardrop-shaped orange pumpkin with a pronounced stem
• Bamboo skewers ($4.98 for 75, Amazon.com)
• Craft knife
• Acorns
• Small orange pumpkin
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks
• Spoon

Directions

1. Stand the variegated squash straight up and choose the side you want to face forward. Break five skewers in half and stick them into the back of the squash where the tail should sit, leaving 2” exposed.

2. Press the bell-shaped orange gourd into the skewers at the back of the squash to secure as the tail. (Tip: If the skewers sink into the squash too much as you attach the gourd, simply pinch each with two fingers to hold in place while the gourd slides onto the individual skewer.)

3. Break four skewers in half and press them into the top of the squash body, leaving 2” exposed. Position the pumpkin so the stem is centered where the nose should sit and push down on the skewers to secure.

4. With the tip of the craft knife, etch out a thin smile by scraping away just the top layer of rind.

5. To create eye sockets, etch slightly deeper holes. Remove the caps of two large acorns. Flip each cap curved-side out and press into the sockets.

6. Remove the caps of slightly smaller acorns. Apply a dot of hot glue to each acorn and affix to the eye socket caps as pupils.

7. Using the craft knife, cut the small pumpkin into quarters (slice in half horizontally, then in half vertically), scraping away any excess flesh with the spoon. Rinse and clean a handful of seeds. Pat dry and set aside.

8. Cut pointy ears from two of the pumpkin quarters and press into the pumpkin head with a skewer (break, as needed), allowing the fleshy side to face forward.

9. Turn the remaining pumpkin quarters face down and use the hot glue to affix three pumpkin seeds to each to resemble claws. Secure to the body with skewers (break, as needed).

Curious Raccoon (Left)

Materials

• Large, oval-shaped green squash (try asking for a Hopi Pale Grey)
• 2 small piles of books (for keeping the squash in place)
• Bamboo skewers ($4.98 for 75, Amazon.com)
• Large, curved green zucchini
• Medium round green pumpkin
• Small round green pumpkin
• Craft knife
• Permanent marker
• Hot glue gun and glue
• 2 acorns

Directions

1. Roll the oval green squash onto its side and hold it in place by resting it between the piles of books. This will be the raccoon body.

2. Break three skewers into 8” lengths. Locate the area where the tail should attach, and press the skewers into the squash ¼” apart from each other in a triangle, pushing them deep enough in that only 1.5” are sticking out.

3. Arrange the zucchini so the longer, wider part curves around the side of the squash, moving a stack of books away, if necessary. Anchor the stem end into the skewers by pressing firmly until the skewers are completely hidden by the zucchini. Once attached, move away the second stack of books, allowing the zucchini to hold the squash in place.

4. Choose the spot on the zucchini where the head should sit and press 5 skewers into the flesh in a circle, pushing them in deep enough so that only 3” are sticking out. Position the medium pumpkin so the stem is centered where the nose should sit, and press it onto the skewers until the skewers are completely covered. (Tip: If the skewers sink into the squash too much as you attach the pumpkin, simply pinch each with two fingers to hold in place while the pumpkin slides onto the individual skewer.)

5. Using the permanent marker, draw two raccoon eyes onto the pumpkin (as shown). With the tip of the craft knife, carve a small hole for each eyeball. Remove the caps from the acorns and, using the hot glue, secure the acorns inside the eye sockets as pupils.

6. With a craft knife, carve two flat-bottomed feet with rounded tops and two slightly smaller ears of the same shape. Using the tips of skewers, secure the feet underneath the body and the ears on top of the head.

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Antonis Achilleos; Craft styling by Matthew Gleason

Wicked Witch

Materials

• Large round pumpkin with a pointy twisted stem
• Washable marker
• Craft knife
• Damp paper towel
• Acorns
• 1 bag of Spanish moss ($7.99 for 24 oz, Michaels.com)
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Witch’s hat ($4.99,PartyCity.com)
• Bobby pins

Directions

1. Position the pumpkin so the stem is centered where the nose should sit. (Tip: If the pumpkin wobbles, try securing an acorn or two at the base with hot glue to create anchoring feet).

2. Using the washable marker, draw on eyes, eyebrows and a mouth. Try following the natural ribs of the pumpkin as a guide when deciding where to place the facial features, like the raised eyebrows or the curved mouth.

3. With the tip of the craft knife, scrape away the top layer of rind to reveal the lighter flesh underneath. Be careful not to poke all the way through to the inside of the pumpkin. Wipe away any excess marker with a damp paper towel.

4. Remove the cap from two acorns and discard. Press each acorn into the flesh of an eye socket until it’s secured.

5. Spread a bead of hot glue along the top and sides of the pumpkin where you want the hairline to be. Create the witch’s mane by pressing on Spanish moss, adding enough so the orange rind is covered.

6. Place on the witch hat, securing with bobby pins at the back, if necessary.

Zombie Land

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Antonis Achilleos; Craft styling by Matthew Gleason

Materials

• Large round white pumpkin
• Craft knife
• Spoon
• Washable marker
• Damp paper towel
• Melon baller ($8.99, Amazon.com)
• Toothpicks
• Peppercorns
• 2 mini white pumpkins

Directions

1. Using the craft knife, cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin and hollow out the inside. Scrape away any extra flesh with the spoon. Rinse a handful of the seeds (about 16 or so), pat dry and set aside.

2. With the washable marker, draw two large ovals for eyes (position them slightly tilted towards each other for a sweeter, less scary look) and a wide, slightly lopsided mouth. Carve out with the craft knife and save the scraps. Wipe away any excess marker with a damp paper towel.

3. Use the melon baller to carve out two round eyeballs from the fleshy side of the pumpkin scraps.

4. Spear each eyeball with a toothpick and attach them to the tops of the eye cutouts. Gently press a peppercorn into the center of each to create pupils.

5. Press the cleaned seeds directly into the mouth, positioning them in different directions. (Tip: If the pumpkin isn’t completely ripe, try using the tip of the knife to create small notches in the pumpkin where you’ll be inserting the teeth.)

6. Complete the look by turning the mini pumpkins upside down and placing them in front of the zombie head to look like hands. To try this project indoors or on a hard surface, create turf with moss or colorful leaves found outside.

Happy Haunters

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Antonis Achilleos; Craft styling by Matthew Gleason

Materials

• 3 butternut squashes (choose varying heights)
• Craft knife
• Spoon
• Washable marker
• Damp paper towel
• 12 skewers
• Battery operated tea lights ($4.99 for pack of 6, Save-on-Crafts.com)

Directions

1. Lay the first butternut squash on its side and use the craft knife to trim ¼” off the non-stem end. Repeat for remaining squashes.

2. Hollow out the inside, using the spoon to scrape away any extra seeds or squash flesh.

3. With the knife, cut a zigzag pattern along the open end, aiming to keep the tips at the same height so the edges look uniform.

4. Using the washable marker, draw on ghost eyes and a mouth. (Tip for the eyes: Make them exaggerated half moons to allow for “pupils” that stay connected to the main body.) Carve out with the craft knife. Wipe away any excess marker lines with a damp paper towel.

5. Place a skewer underneath one of the carved ghosts to gauge the diameter of the opening. Use your hands to break four skewers to this length. Press the first one into the inside wall just above the top of the zigzags, and poke into the opposite side, allowing it to cross directly through the middle of the opening. Continue with the last three skewers, positioning each in a different direction to create a webbed platform. Repeat step 5 for remaining ghosts.

6. Place a glowing tea light on each platform.

Plant People

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Antonis Achilleos; Craft styling by Matthew Gleason

Materials

• 2 stout, round pumpkins
• Craft knife
• Spoon
• Washable Marker
• Damp paper towel
• 2 plants (choose something with height or length, like grass tufts or ivy)
• 1 orange plastic tablecloth ($1.99, PartyCity.com)
• Scissors
• Masking tape

Directions

1. With a craft knife, cut the tops off of each pumpkin. Hollow out the inside with the spoon, removing all seeds and any extra flesh.

2. Using the washable marker, draw on playful eyes and a mouth. (Tip for the eyes: Make them exaggerated half moons to allow for “pupils” that stay connected to the main body.) Carve out with the craft knife. Etch eyelashes and smile creases by scraping away just the top layer of pumpkin rind with the tip of the knife. Wipe away any excess marker lines with a damp paper towel.

3. Cut two 1’x1’ sections from the tablecloth and use each to cover the plant pots so they won’t stand out through the open face of the pumpkins. Secure at back with masking tape.

4. Place the plants inside and arrange the “hair” to frame each face.

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Antonis Achilleos; craft & prop styling by Matthew Gleason

A Bunch of Nuts

Materials

Pumpkins

Knife or pumpkin carver

Washable marker

Damp cloth

Melon baller

Dried nuts, seeds and spices (like whole walnuts, black beans, cloves or star anise)

Toothpicks

1. Carve an opening out of the top or bottom of the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. Replace the cutout.

2. For nut eyes: Draw eyes on the pumpkin with the marker; carve out. Wipe off remaining marker with a damp cloth. Place nuts in cutout sections, piercing with a toothpick to attach if needed.

3. For beak (center): Complete Step 2, then carve a triangle out of a discarded eye cutout. Attach with a toothpick.

4. For googly eyes (right): Skip Steps 1 and 2. Use discarded rinds from other pumpkins to make eyes. Use the melon baller to scrape partway through the rind for pupils and mouth shape (or press nuts, seeds and spices into the rind for a mouth, using a toothpick to start the hole if needed). Attach eyes with toothpicks and press seeds or spices into space for pupils.

5. For scooped eyeballs (left): See slide 5, Step 3.

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Antonis Achilleos; craft & prop styling by Matthew Gleason

Toothy Grins

Materials

Large pumpkin

Knife or pumpkin carver

Washable marker

Damp cloth

Hot-glue gun and glue sticks

Dry pasta (ziti, penne, shells)

Toothpicks

White glue

Gold glitter

Whole nuts

Black spray paint

1. Carve an opening out of the top or bottom of the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. Replace the cutout.

2. Draw eyes and mouth on the pumpkin with the marker and carve out. Wipe off any remaining marker with a damp cloth.

3. Place a dab of hot glue inside a dry ziti piece and press the cut end of half of a toothpick into the glue. Let dry. Repeat on 5 to 15 ziti pieces; set one aside. Insert remaining ziti teeth into the pumpkin's mouth with the exposed end of the picks, leaving space for the last tooth.

4. To create the gold tooth, coat the ziti piece you've set aside in white glue and roll in glitter. Let dry. Shake off excess. Insert into the open space in the pumpkin's mouth.

5. Wedge nuts into openings for eyes.

For cover version After Step 2, spray-paint about 15 dry penne pieces and two shell pieces black on a covered surface in a well-ventilated area. Let dry. Flip pasta over and repeat on the unpainted side. In Step 5, replace nuts with black shells for eyes.

CARVING TIP

Don't make a perfect circle when you carve the opening to remove the seeds. Add one jagged notch—it'll be easier to line the pieces back up.

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Antonis Achilleos; craft & prop styling by Matthew Gleason

Cannibal Cutie

Materials

Large pumpkin

Small pumpkin or acorn squash

Knife or pumpkin carver

Washable marker

Melon baller

Damp cloth

1. Carve an opening out of the top or bottom of the large pumpkin, making sure it's wide enough to fit the smaller pumpkin or gourd through it. Scoop out the seeds.

2. Draw eyes and mouth on both pumpkins with the marker. Carve out with a knife for the larger pumpkin; use the melon baller for the smaller pumpkin.

3. Wipe off any remaining marker with a damp cloth.

4. Place small pumpkin inside large one and replace the top (or bottom) cutout.

SAFE ILLUMINATION

Use a battery-powered votive ($15 for 10; BedBathandBeyond.com) instead of a candle for this project so your gourd doesn't get scorched.

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Antonis Achill

Melon Ball Monsters

Materials

Pumpkin

Knife or pumpkin carver

Washable marker

Melon baller

Toothpicks

Dried beans, seeds and spices (like black beans, cloves or star anise)

Damp cloth

1. Carve an opening out of the top or bottom of the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. Replace the cutout.

2. Draw eyes and mouth on the pumpkin with the marker.

3. For scooped eyeballs: Use the melon baller to scoop out several small spheres from the outside of the pumpkin. Reattach each sphere to the pumpkin with half a toothpick. If desired, press seeds or spices into the spheres for pupils.

4. For scooped mouth (far left): Scrape partway through the rind with the melon baller to form the mouth shape.

5. For carved eyes and mouth: Cut out using the knife or pumpkin carver. Using discarded eye cutout, carve two eye shapes. Create two scooped eyeballs as in Step 3 and attach them to the eye shapes with half a toothpick. Attach the finished eyes to the pumpkin withfull toothpicks.

6. Wipe off any remaining marker with a damp cloth.

10 Foods to Eat Every Day for Perfect Skin

Are you tired of using different expensive and ineffective beauty products? It’s time to throw away all those ineffective products and start eating foods for perfect skin. I went from terrible acne five months ago to not having acne now. It was hard, but it was possible, and less expensive than turning to pricey products. While some foods can aggravate your skin, others can enhance it. Check out a list of 10 foods to eat every day for perfect skin.

1. Red bell peppers

Red bell peppers are a tasty vegetable that can be enjoyed either cooked or raw. One red bell pepper contains more than 100% of your daily vitamin C needs. It also contains significant amounts of dietary fiber and vitamin B6. Moreover, it is rich in carotenoids that can help prevent wrinkles and increase blood circulation to your skin, helping it look more youthful. Due to their carotenoids, red bell peppers are also great to fight acne.

A red bell pepper is a perfect, low calorie snack that contains about 30 calories and has a really satisfying crunchy bite. Keep slices of red bell peppers in the fridge, so you will always have something healthy and tasty to reach for when you are having a snack attack. The fiber that a bell pepper contains will help you to feel full longer with very little calories. Plus, you will have a flawless skin!

2. Dark chocolate

This is one of my favorite foods to eat every day for perfect skin! Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and flavanols that promote glowing skin. The antioxidants in dark chocolate will help reduce roughness in your skin and protect it against sun damage. Moreover, cocoa relaxes arteries, increasing blood circulation that leads to healthier skin.

I usually buy cocoa powder or raw cacao for less fat. And if you like dark chocolate, eat your ounce of dark chocolate every day and make sure you choose at least 80% cacao content in order to avoid milk and added sugars found in a traditional chocolate bar.

3. Salmon

Salmon is an excellent food to fight stress, anxiety, and depression. Salmon also provides most of your daily vitamin D needs. And as you may already know, Vitamin D is responsible for keeping your heart, bones, colon and brain healthy. It also helps prevent colon cancer, anxiety, depression, heart disease and bone disease.

Salmon is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are excellent for fighting inflammation, wrinkles and acne. Its high omega-3 content also helps hydrate your skin from the inside out. Moreover, eating salmon keeps your scalp hydrated and promotes strong, healthy hair.

4. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat with about 90 percent of calories as saturated fat. It contains lauric acid, a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent that keeps away viruses, infections, inflammation and acne. Coconut oil is also rich in essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, which are perfect for keeping your skin moist, soft, and wrinkle-free.

I use coconut oil as a body cream and consume 1 tbsp. of raw coconut oil every day. Coconut oil is especially good for your thyroid. Plus, there’s considerable evidence that this oil can help lose weight. So many health benefits, don’t you think?

5. Green tea

Well, so I know green tea is actually a beverage, but tea leaves come from a plant! Even though I love black tea, I drink green tea every day because I know that it is a great source of antioxidants and a unique amino acid, L-theanine that helps relax your body and lower stress.

When the tea is hot, the bionic brew releases catechins, a kind of antioxidant with proven anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea may also reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. Drink 3 or more cups of tea every day for better results.

6. Spinach

Spinach is a healthy and nutrient-rich food you should certainly include in your everyday diet. You may hate spinach, but it is a wonderful source of iron, folate, chlorophyll, Vitamin E, magnesium, Vitamin A, fiber, plant protein, and Vitamin C. Due to their antioxidant abilities, Vitamins C, E, and A are especially great for your skin.

Spinach contains antioxidants that fight against all types of skin problems. Add it to your everyday diet and see what happens. By eating spinach, you’re just cleaning your skin from the inside out!

7. Seeds

Chia seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flax seeds are all great for your skin. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are both rich in selenium, Vitamin E, magnesium and protein. Selenium and protein keep all wrinkles away, Vitamin E enhances moisture in your skin and magnesium lowers your stress levels. The healthy Omega 3 fatty acids in flax, chia and hemp seeds are perfect for fighting wrinkles and acne. Plus, these seeds are rich in protein.

Just sprinkle seeds right on top of your salad or oatmeal and enjoy the great taste as well as perfect skin. I like to add seeds to a fruit yogurt, I think it tastes even better. I also add raw pumpkin seeds in my oh-so delicious smoothies. And what are your favorite seeds? How do you eat them?

8. Celery

Another food to eat daily for perfect skin is celery. Many of us underestimate this veggie, but celery contains Vitamin K that keeps the blood circulation healthy and helps to reduce high blood pressure. This can reduce your stress level, and as you know stress can cause bad skin, migraines and even cancer.

Celery also contains natural sodium, potassium and water, and can help to prevent dehydration. I hope you know that dehydrated skin means dryness, flaking, wrinkles, and even breakouts. Make sure you consume celery every day or at least every other day. If you are counting calories, don’t worry, celery is very low in calories!

9. Papaya

Papaya is a wonderful fruit which has a rich history and numerous nutritional benefits. It is very low in calories (only 39 calories per 100 g!) and also contains no cholesterol. So if you are trying to lose weight, consider eating papaya every day to maximize its health benefits.

A great beauty food, papaya is low in fructose and is excellent for digestion! The antioxidant nutrients found in it, including Vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, are great at reducing inflammation and acne. Moreover, Vitamin C may also protect your skin against sun damage.

10. Carrots

Carrots are good not only for your eyes, but also for your skin. They are especially good for clearing up breakouts. Carrots are rich in vitamin A and they help prevent the overproduction of cells in the outer layer of the skin. That’s where excess sebum combines with dead cells and clogs pores.

Another great reason to snack on some carrots is because Vitamin A reduces the development of skin-cancer cells. So make sure you nibble on a half-cup of baby carrots every day for perfect skin. I love carrots and I think they make a great snack.

You don’t have to eat all these foods every day, but even some of them would be great! Be sure to avoid junk foods, too much sugar, trans fats and refined carbs for the best skin possible. Which of these foods do you eat every day? Share your thoughts, please, and thanks for reading!