Give Your Jack-O-Lanterns a Jolt of Creativity
One of the highlights of Halloween is seeing the creative array of jack-o-lanterns illuminating porches across Chapel Hill. Whether you’re going for a spooky, sassy or smiley Halloween vibe, we’ve pulled together ideas for dressing up your pumpkin to stand out from the rest of the patch.
Get Colorful
The first and arguably easiest way to make your pumpkin stand out is to change up the color — inside or out. While the soft, golden glow coming from a candle within an orange gourd is an iconic look, a glow stick can incorporate unique hues like, pink, blue or green. Paint the outside of your pumpkin to bring your jack-o-lantern concept to life, like white for a mummy, green for a witch or black for a bat. If you’re passing out non-food items for kids with food allergies, be sure to paint a pumpkin teal so families know they can safely trick-or-treat at your house.
Out-of-the-Box Knifework and Scene Setting
With the right tools, your pumpkin can be transformed into a one-of-a-kind showpiece. Show off your artistic skills by whittling out features or 3D designs that go beyond the traditional face. Put your accessorizing skills to use and add décor to your pumpkin that makes it look the part, such as a hat, a boa or carrot nose.
Get a bit theatric and use multiple pumpkins to create a Halloween scene. Pumpkins and gourds of different sizes mean there are no limits to what you can craft. If you’re feeling really ambitious, create a pumpkin archway stacked full of unique jack-o-lanterns.
Upcycle
For a green, cost-conscious twist on Halloween decorations this year, try upcycling. Save plastic milk containers, rinse them out, and then paint them orange and black. Once you add a glow stick, you’ll have a row of illuminated jack-o-lanterns. Mason jars coated with colored tissue paper and a candle are another crafty option, with a smaller and cuter effect. If pumpkins aren’t your style, line your walkway with upcycled luminaries.
Templates
You don’t have to be Michelangelo to carve a killer pumpkin. There are thousands of stencil templates online featuring everything from Pokémon to Star Wars to Disney Princesses and even classic movie monsters. A couple great, free sites to check out include The Pumpkin Lady and HGTV. Simply find the design that you like best, print it out, tape it to the front of your pumpkin and carve out the spaces as instructed. It’s a great way to rep your favorite brands and characters, or even show some school spirit!
If you’re not a traditionalist when it comes to decorations, there are a ton of jack-o-lantern options to satisfy your creative itch. No matter your pumpkin-carving strategy, all of us at Glen Lennox wish you a safe, happy Halloween!