43 Best Pumpkin painting and decorating ideas
I’ve rounded up the 41 best pumpkin painting and decorating ideas for those who want to create a beautiful-looking pumpkin for Halloween without carving into it. From easy decorating ideas that kids can do to more fancy creative ideas for adults to turn their hand to.
There are some brilliant potential contest-winning ideas in this roundup, so have a browse and find the design that makes you want to start getting creative with your pumpkin this year.
43 Inspirational no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas
Whether you are planning to decorate a pumpkin at home, with the kids or in the classroom for a school Halloween contest, there is bound to be a theme or idea that grabs your attention.
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For more paper, paint and yarn projects, browse these easy Halloween crafts for kids. You can also make pumpkin decorating the main activity in a Halloween birthday party.
While the pumpkins dry, keep the kids entertained with a word puzzle or picture scavenger hunt from my Big Heart Little Star Halloween Games Bundle for Kids. The bundle is a paid PDF download to print at home.
BIRDS AND ANIMALS
CUTE RACCOON
Image: @monicsreativespace
LITTLE GIRL ELEPHANT
Image: @nlove1437 The trunk is made with Crayola Model Magic
PRETTY PINK FLAMINGO
Image: @jilly2786
PRICKLY HEDGEHOG
Image: @maldita_sa_kuzina
CRAFTY FOX
Image: @barbieannray
BLACK AND WHITE DESIGNS
BLACK, WHITE AND GOLD BUTTERFLY
Image: @elizabeth.king.art. Beautifully hand-painted.
THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Image: @lili_herrrra. Beautifully hand-painted Zero the Dog from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
CLASSIC PUMPKIN FACE IN BLACK AND WHITE
Image: @brwn_skyn_beaute
BLACK AND WHITE OWLS
E.T THE EXTRA TERRESTRIAL
Image: @adventuring.watsons
MR POTATO HEAD
Image: @brandy.able
ANGRY BIRDS
Image: @eleniquedesigns
BABY YODA
Image: @kshadows
SHARPIE CARTOON FACES
Image: @savingtalents
SPOOKY CREATIONS
SCARY CARTOON FACES
Image: @alwayssmlllng
COLOURFUL CREATIONS
EASY PEASY COLOURFUL FACES
Image: @funcraftskids
COLOURFUL SUGAR SKULL
Image: @kahlsgirl
MELTED CRAYON PUMPKIN
Image: @kat.dale
DUCK TAPE: NO CARVE PUMPKIN WITCH
The main supplies you will need for creating this scary looking pumpkin are a pair of scissors and some duck tape. It really is that simple.
CRAYON DRIP ART: NO CARVE PUMPKIN
Pile crayons minus papers on top of a pumpkin and melt them with a hair dryer. Use up old crayons or buy a set of new crayons to melt.
MELTED CRAYON PUMPKIN
Just use black crayons to contrast against the orange of the pumpkin (or against a white pumpkin) for a really dramatic look.
Little Ghosts
Looking for creative ways to decorate pumpkins without carving? Check out these no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas that are perfect for kids and adults. From painted pumpkins to unique designs, you'll find inspiration for your fall decor. Halloween pumpkin designs, Pumpkin ideas
HOW TO CUSTOMISE PUMPKINS WITH PAINT - VIDEO TUTORIAL
This is a great tutorial for painting pumpkins, Moriah Elizabeth uses plastic pumpkins, but these ideas would work equally well on actual pumpkins.
GLOW IN THE DARK PUFFY PAINT PUMPKIN
Puffy paint is great for decorating pumpkins, especially if it is glow in the dark paint.
BEAUTIFUL PUFFY PAINT PUMPKINS
Your pumpkin doesn't have to be scary. You can create a really beautiful Halloween pumkin in pretty pastels. These are made using regular paint and dimensional paint.
USE MASKING TAPE TO STENCIL A PUMPKIN
Using masking tape to create a stencil on your pumpkin can lead to some great abstract designs.
TISSUE PAPER DECORATED PUMPKINS
Tissue paper is a great way to allow toddlers and young kids to have fun decorating a pumpkin.
MOD PODGE PUMPKIN DECORATING FUN
There is a lot of arty fun to be had using Mod Podge to decorate pumpkins.
SHARPIES ARE GREAT FOR DECORATING PUMPKINS
Sharpies are great for decorating pumpkins, either if you're in a hurry or if you really do want to create an eye-catching graphic design. Black sharpie on white pumpkins works particularly well.
STICKY BACK FELT DECORATED PUMPKINS
Use sticky back felt to create quick but brilliant pumpkin designs for Halloween.
DRIED BEAN DECORATING PUMPKINS
Using dried beans to decorate a pumpkin is a great eco-friendly way to create a unique Halloween pumpkin design.
DIY NO CARVE MARBLED PUMPKINS
Try marbelling your pumpkin with nail polish. Yes really, it works!
ADORABLE UNICORN PUMPKIN FOR HALLOWEEN
What Halloween is complete without a unicorn pumpkin?!! Go on, you know you want to make this.
CONFETTI DECORATED HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN
This is a great use for confetti, especially using metallic confetti against a black painted pumpkin.
Related: Free, easy Halloween word search for kids
FINDING THE PERFECT NO-CARVE PUMPKIN DECORATING IDEAS
If you are eager to decide how to decorate your pumpkin when you bring it home fresh from the pumpkin patch, it is a good idea to have a design planned and ready.
Whether you want to create a contest-winning pumpkin design, have something you can proudly decorate your front porch with on 31st October, or find a design that is easy enough for your kids to do, this roundup has all the inspiration you need.
I’ve taken care to stick to designs that are realistic; this isn’t a roundup of fine art creations; these are the kind of pumpkin designs that will bring a smile and brighten up someone’s day rather than go on display in an art gallery.
That said, the roundup has some really clever and creative ideas. So I hope you have fun choosing which design you are going to set about recreating.
There are ideas for painting, using Sharpie pens, decals, and temporary tattoos to adorn pumpkins.
I particularly love some of the cartoon character creations.
Whether you only have a few minutes to rush through a design or plan to spend hours creating your pumpkin, there is something in this roundup for you.
Hello, I’m Luci, founder of Mums Make Lists. The site is full of useful and fun ideas for life and seasonal celebrations. Plus a growing selection of instantly downloadable fun printables and party planners. Read more.
What a great collection of no carve projects… I wanted to comment and let you know I just love your blog name and logo… it’s so like me too… I’m glad I found you {from Pinterest{, if you wanted to know 🙂
Blessings
Amanda
Wow, these were ideas I really wasn’t expecting – very cool! Pinning.
Loved this post, and it’s perfect for the non crafters like me! The pink and orange polka dot one is my fave, and know my girls will adore it 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing with #DiffLinky
I can’t believe how clever some of these things are! The puff paint ones are intense. Pinning for sure. Stopping by from two cup Tuesday.
Thanks for this very interesting post! i am one of those “talentless” carver who can’t carve pumpkins from scratch so these no-carve pumpkin carving ideas are pretty handy for me. I’m gonna try some of them this year. Happy Halloween!
So glad it is not just me who is rubbish at carving 🙂 We have had so much fun with these no carve ideas and it is great that they last longer uncarved. Happy Halloween!!
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I do not enjoy carving pumpkins! Thanks for sharing these easy decorated pumpkins. Thank you also for linking up to Wonderful Wednesday blog hop. I shared your pumpkins on my Facebook and Google+ pages.
Blessings,
Diane Roark
Love this share. For years I dreaded the scooping out of pumpkin to make the lanterns, this is great!!! Thanks 🙂
Oh completely agree Mari I hate trying to do it and much more fun when the little ones can actually do lots of the decoration themselves.