Win the battle of the pumpkins this Halloween. Get your craft on and check out our pumpkin carving inspo this spooky season. Take a sneaky peek at our top tips and carving ideas below.

Pumpkin Carving Inspo

The 'Hedgekinhog' Pumpkin

A cute-yet-creepy idea for Halloween craft time with the kids that will light up your table or doorstep. Use LED fairy lights to make it a flame-free decoration this Halloween.

You can make this creepy-cute Hedgekinhog for Halloween using: 

  • 2 pumpkins - 1 large and 1 small
  • Raisins (no pinching) 
  • LED fairy lights (battery operated)
  • A pumpkin carving kit
  • Toothpicks
  • A drill (for the grown-up bit)

Give it a go...

  1. Slice a side of the pumpkin off and carve out all the pulp
  2. Drill 'spike' holes - equally spaced across the pumpkin  (this bit is for the over-18s) 
  3. Place LED battery fairy light bulbs through the holes from the inside
    Add the small pumpkin for the head, using toothpicks to attach it
  4. Use two raisins for the eyes using toothpicks to stick them on
  5. Turn the lights on and bring your Hedekinhog to life
  6. Please decorate your pumpkin on a suitable, protected surface - and ensure adults only use the drill.

Click to see how it's done >

The Scary Starry Night Pumpkin

The pumpkin envy will be real with our 'Starry Night' design. Use your favourite Halloween cookie cutters too for added effect - it's a simple way to get the kids involved in decorating without them having to carve.

Make a 'fright night light' to remember using: 

  • A pumpkin
  • Toffee hammer
  • LED tea lights
  • A pumpkin carving kit
  • Cookie cutter - star shaped
  • A drill (for the grown-up bit)

Ready, steady, glow...

  1. Cut the lid off the pumpkin and hollow out the centre
  2. Place the cookie cutter on the pumpkin and tap with the toffee hammer
  3. Cut out as many stars as you like
  4. Drill 'twinkle' holes - equally spaced across the pumpkin  (this bit is for the over-18s) 
  5. Place LED tea lights inside the pumpkin
  6. Turn the lights on and enjoy star-gazing on 31st October

Please decorate your pumpkin on a suitable, protected surface - and ensure adults only use the drill.

Click to see how it's done >

The Crying Crayons Pumpkin

This one needs a little help from the adults when melting the crayons, but the kids get to do the crafty part by sticking them onto your pumpkin and creating the rainbow pattern. The more colourful the better, and you can create different looks like black and red for a dracula theme...or lots of different greens for a zombie centrepiece.

Add even more colour to Halloween with: 

  • A pumpkin
  • Crayons
  • PVA glue
  • A hairdryer 

Hair we go...

  1. Glue each crayon to the top of the pumpkin - equally spaced
  2. Wait for the glue to dry - have a Halloween snack while you wait
  3. Use the hairdryer to slowly melt the crayons
  4. Step back and marvel at the multi-coloured magic

Please decorate your pumpkin on a suitable, protected surface.

Click to see how it's done >

The Glitter Ball Pumpkin

Get your glitter on with the kids this Halloween and make a simple, sparkly decoration or two for the doorstep. We've used Halloween-purple for ours, but you can mix things up and sprinkle different combinations for yours.

To make this Halloween party pumpkin you'll need to get your claws on the following: 

  • A good lookin' pumpkin
  • Glitter – any colour
  • A paint brush
  • PVA glue

Let the fun begin...

  1. Paint strips of the PVA glue onto sections of the Pumpkin
  2. Sprinkle glitter on the glued strips
  3. Wait to dry and dust off excess glitter
  4. Stand back and enjoy your glittery masterpiece
  5. Turn up your favourite Halloween hits and get the party started

Please decorate your pumpkin on a suitable surface, which is protected from the glitter and glue.

Click to see how it's done >

Pumpkin Carving Tips

1. Choose a pumpkin with a good stem
A thick stem means a heavy pumpkin, which is better for carving.

2. Don't be scared of a freakishly-shaped pumpkin
For something extra scary, try a huge Rambo pumpkin or large Ghost/Orange pumpkin - or even one of our Wonky pumpkins. If your little monsters want to draw on faces with marker pens – try a small Gourd.

3. Pick the right tools
Get the kids to draw a design with marker pen, buy a reliable pumpkin carving kit or use a range of kitchen utensils – such as a knife (under adult supervision at all times of course), cocktail sticks and an ice cream scoop.

4. Use a terrifying template
The easiest way to carve a masterpiece is to download a template which can then be pinned or taped to the fruit. We’ve dusted the cobwebs off our own pumpkin carving ideas, so you can choose a fun pumpkin template here.

5. Time it right
Carve your pumpkin with the kids on the day you want to display it – they normally begin to collapse and start oozing unpleasantness within 48 hours.

6. Lance the lid
Draw a circle for a lid, 5cm from the stem. Push your carving tool through the skin and start drawing the knife back and forth in a sawing motion, cutting at a slight angle.

7. Spill out the gory guts
Gouge out the pumpkin’s guts using an ice cream or pumpkin scoop or large spoon. Scrape the innards clean so that light will shine through. Don’t throw it all away though - dig out your cauldron and make a warming pumpkin soup for Halloween supper instead.

8. Prepare the pumpkin
Using a template, prick your design onto the pumpkin with a cocktail stick, then dab talcum powder over it to make the design stand out. If you’re a Pumpkin Picasso, just use a marker pen freehand.

9. Carve carefully
Cut out your kids' designs along the marker pen lines/cocktail stick pricks using a pumpkin carver, drawing it back and forth (as above, under adult supervision).

10. Use an LED light
Don’t use a naked flame, which can be a fire hazard and should never be left unattended. Instead, pop an LED tea light into your pumpkin.

Download Our Pumpkin Templates

Bat Stencil

Download Template >

Cat Stencil

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Witch Stencil

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Ghost Stencil

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Spider Stencil

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Laughing Face Stencil

Download Template >

Grinning Face Stencil

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Scary Face Stencil

Download Template >

Make the Most of Your Pumpkin Leftovers

Pumpkins aren't just for carving! Utilise your pumpkin leftovers with our pumpkin recipes - perfect for Autumn.

See Recipes >

More Halloween Inspiration

From frighteningly good food recipes to creepy cocktail recipes - we've got all the inspo you need to serve up a spookishly good spread this year. Entertain the little ghouls with pumpkin carving and terrifyingly tasty treats. Explore our ideas and shop online or in store to get your claws on everything you need.

See More >

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