If you are looking to avoid using knives when decorating with pumpkins this Fall, you’ll want to use these cute and creative no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas!

Confession time: I’m no good at using a knife.

Sure, I can chop veggies to make dinner, but trying to carve a gourd pumpkin? No way!

It’s a bad scenario. Definite disaster… and possible dismemberment.

Plus, I’m not a huge fan of having sharp objects around kids. Not to mention letting kids actually use sharp objects like knives themselves…

Did you just shudder at that thought too?

With that in mind, we’ve been skipping the part where we cut pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns each year and have started focusing on other creative ways to decorate our pumpkins for the season.

It’s safer for the kids…and even more, me! ?

We found so many great pumpkin decorating ideas, that we’ve put together a list of no-carve pumpkin ideas to inspire you too. No knives… no cutting… just pure genius, imagination, and fun!

No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas for Fall

Pumpkin decorating has come a long way in the last few years. Gone are the days of witches hat or just a plump witch pumpkin. These super creative ideas will help you decorate your pumpkins in some really fun ways – without the use of a single knife.

Mr. Potato Head Poke-Ins | Happy Hooligans

pumpkin decorated with Mr. Potato Head poke-ins.

Use your kids’ Mr. Potato Head pieces to decorate your pumpkin! You may need to use a drill to create some holes, but otherwise, this one’s a cinch.

It’s a terrific decoration where the kids can use a lot of inspiration and creativity. It also makes a great last-minute decoration for those years when you forget to put out a pumpkin…until Halloween!

No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Idea
1-Minute Jack-o-lantern! The perfect last minute pumpkin decorating idea for busy people or for those who can’t be bothered carving a pumpkin this year.
Read more here.
No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Idea

Glow-In-The-Dark Pumpkins | I love To Create

glow in the dark pumpkins collage image

Why have I never thought of glow-in-the-dark pumpkins? It’s so easy! All you need is some glow-in-the-dark paint pens to create stripes, polka dots, words, funny faces, etc.

Oh goodness, I’m getting so many ideas for ways to decorate our painted pumpkins this way this year!

DIY Glow In The Dark Pumpkins
It’s almost Halloween and you know what that means!!! Time to decorate pumpkins! Try this method for glow-in-the-dark pumpkins this year.
Read more here.
DIY Glow In The Dark Pumpkins

Decoupage Fabric Pumpkins | DIY Inspired

fabric covered pumpkin

Glue gun those fabric scraps to decoupage a pumpkin. It looks like a designer pumpkin (is there such a thing?) but costs almost nothing to make.

You can do this with fake pumpkins, too, and reuse them year after year. That’s a huge time-saver unless you like changing up your decorations every year.

Decoupage Fabric Pumpkin How To
Decoupage Fabric Pumpkin How-To, a step by step photo tutorial.
Read more here.
Decoupage Fabric Pumpkin How To

Bat Pumpkins | Glue Sticks & Gumdrops

bat pumpkin

These bat pumpkins are adorable! All you need is some black paint, googly eyes, and construction paper to make this fun, no-carve pumpkin idea.

This is a perfect decorating project that the kids can do on their own (or with minimal help).

No-Carve Bat Pumpkins for Halloween
These no-carve pumpkin bats are so much fun to make. Toddlers and preschoolers will love the painting, gluing and cutting involved with this craft.
Read more here.
No-Carve Bat Pumpkins for Halloween

Mummy Pumpkins | Hands On As We Grow

pumpkin mummies

Create a family of mummy pumpkins to deck out your front porch. Use gauze and googly eyes to recreate them.

This no-carve pumpkin idea is so cute and couldn’t be easier! I love that you can easily make a “family” of mummies in this style.

Mummies Halloween Craft for Kids
A family of pumpkin mummies is what every Halloween needs! Fun craft for both kids and adults to make for Halloween!
Read more here.
Mummies Halloween Craft for Kids

DIY Punkins | Studio DIY

punkins no carve pumpkin idea

These pun-kins have me rolling with laughter! Trick or Treat yo’ self to some alphabet stickers (or mailbox stickers), and make your own punny pumpkins. Or, you can use tattoo paper like this example did.

But, if you have nice handwriting, skip the extra steps and just write your puns on with a paint marker!

DIY Pun-kins!
Have some fun with your pumpkins (err pun-kins) this year!
Read more here.
DIY Pun-kins!

Pushpin Pumpkins | A Subtle Revelry

pushpin pumpkins

As an office supplies addict, this pushpin pumpkin really appeals to me. And if you’re the artsy type, you can easily create geometric designs and patterns on your pumpkin using thumbtacks.

office supply pumpkins
Creating pretty pumpkins without a carving knife isn’t hard with a few office supplies at hand.
Read more here.
office supply pumpkins

“Boo-tiful” Pumpkin | Better Homes & Gardens

boo button pumpkin

This “boo” pumpkin is boo-tiful. A pretty ribbon, some buttons, and some hot glue are all that is needed to make your pumpkin look like this.

u0022Boo-Tifulu0022 Pumpkin
Some glue, buttons, and ribbon are all you need for this fun and creative pumpkin decorating project!
Read more here.
u0022Boo-Tifulu0022 Pumpkin

Caterpillar Pumpkin | Better Homes & Gardens

caterpillar pumpkins

Oh my word. This caterpillar pumpkin idea is adorable! Perfect if your kiddos are fans of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, too. You can change the color scheme of the caterpillar to match the book character.

Caterpillar Pumpkin Decoration Idea
Take several pumpkins and decorate them to look like a caterpillar this year!
Read more here.
caterpillar pumpkin decorating idea

Washi Tape | Domestically Creative

Why have I never thought of this? I love using washi tape, and the decoration possibilities are endless.

Now if that’s not an easy pumpkin decorating idea, I don’t know what is.

Halloween Washi Tape Pumpkins
Ugly foam pumpkins from the Dollar Tree become cute Halloween Washi Tape Pumpkins with some chalk paint and washi tape in this easy 2 step tutorial.
Read more here.
Halloween Washi Tape Pumpkins

No-Carve Pikachu Pumpkin Idea | In The Playroom

pikachu pumpkin decoration

Try personalizing a pumping as your favorite character. This no-carve Pikachu pumpkin will be a huge hit with Pokemon fans this year. It’s so easy to make!

How to Make a No-Carve Pikachu Pumpkin
Choosing a favourite character is a fun way to personalise your own pumpkins for Halloween. 
Read more here.
How to Make a No-Carve Pikachu Pumpkin

Minions No-Carve Pumpkin Idea | Crafty Morning

minion pumpkins

Create fun Minion pumpkins with blue and yellow paint and the bottoms of some soda cans to create the eyes.

The eyes are my favorite part, and they will probably be your kids’ favorite part too. So fun!

No Carve Minion Pumpkins
Make no-carve minion pumpkins from the movie despicable me! It is so fun painting them and they are great for a Halloween decoration.
Read more here.
No Carve Minion Pumpkins

Chalkboard Countdown Pumpkin | Booturtle

chalkboard countdown pumpkin idea

Use chalkboard paint to create a countdown pumpkin for your porch or mantle. Change the number each day for a fun way to count down to Halloween. How brilliant is that?

Chalkboard Pumpkin Countdown
Fourteen days until Halloween! Make a countdown pumpkin so your kids know exactly how long it is until Halloween!
Read more here.
Chalkboard Pumpkin Countdown

Confetti Pumpkins | Cloudy Day Gray

confetti pumpkins

Confetti pumpkins may be my new favorite thing. Buy confetti (or make your own with tissue paper and a hole punch), and glue it to white pumpkins.

It’s not super Halloween-like, so you can display them for months. But it is super colorful and fun.

Confetti Pumpkins
Decorate white pumpkins in this fun and unique no-carve way!
Read more here.
Confetti Pumpkins

Dip-Dye Glitter No-Carve Pumpkins | The Farmer’s Daughter

glitter dipped pumpkins

These glitter-dipped pumpkins look grown-up and very sparkly. They’re perfect for a table centerpiece, a front porch, or your mantle.

Dip-Dye Glitter Pumpkins
I love this dip-dye glitter pumpkin project! Have fun with this no-carve pumpkin decoration idea.
Read more here.
Dip-Dye Glitter Pumpkins

Glitter Monogrammed Pumpkin | Unoriginal Mom

glitter monogram pumpkin

And here’s another fabulous idea for all that glitter: a glitter monogram pumpkin. Just find a pretty monogram stencil or use a silhouette to create your own template.

Glitter Monogrammed Pumpkin
A 20 minute project to add some rustic glam to your front porch this fall!
Read more here.
Glitter Monogrammed Pumpkin

Watercolor Painted Glam Pumpkins | Nest of Posies

watercolor pumpkins

You know, I didn’t think I’d like pastel pumpkins, but these watercolor and gold pumpkins are just fabulous. Simply paint with traditional acrylic paint then modge podge and glitter the stem.

This unique no-carve pumpkin idea couldn’t be easier! 

Watercolor Pumpkins
Use a blank pumpkin as your canvas and allow your kids or you to create a watercolor pumpkin or add glitter for a fun shiny texture.
Read more here.
Watercolor Pumpkins

There you go! With these 17 no-carve ideas, you’ll never need to cut a face into a pumpkin again (unless you want to!). Which idea will you try first?

More Genius Halloween Ideas From One Crazy House:

So, which of these colorful pumpkin decorating ideas do the kids loves the most? Let us know in the comments!


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