35 Outstanding No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas

Loraine loves arts and crafts and used to volunteer at an elementary art class. She loves sharing fun and easy craft tutorials.

Halloween and No-Carve Pumpkin Crafts

Are you looking for some no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas? What about some ideas for no-carve pumpkins crafts for kids? Although many folks like to carve their pumpkins for Halloween, there are some that don't like the mess, or they're wanting a safer, no-knife way to decorate the pumpkin.

This article is full of no-carve pumpkin decorating ideas, and I've included a great "how-to" painting video that shows step-by-step the best way to paint a pumpkin. To make sure that you can use the pumpkins that you craft year after year, why not decorate paper mache or plastic pumpkins? It's always fun to craft new Halloween decorations, and it's really nice when you can save them.

Follow the instructions to make the cute, costume-wearing pumpkins featured above.

1. Drop Cloth Pumpkins

The terrific site with so many ideas is found at Cameo Cottage Designs. Check this out...you'll be glad you did. Be sure to check out her other pumpkins.

2. Reclaimed Wood Pumpkins

Wouldn't this be a perfect front door arrangement for Halloween? Find the tutorial at Finding Home Farms.

3. Hobnail Milk Glass Pumpkin

Spray paint and dimensional puffy fabric paint are the secret to making hobnail pumpkins like the ones shown above. Go to Spray Paint & Chardonnay for the tutorial.

4. Sharpie Sugar Skulls

This looks like a super fun Halloween project. Find sugar skull prints on Google images and Sharpie markers to make these beauties. Go to Lil Blue Boo for the instructions.

5. Pallet Pumpkins

So super easy to make. Find the tutorial for this outstanding craft at Little House of Four.

6. Succulent Harvest Pumpkin

Beautiful....absolutely beautiful! Find out how to make this beautiful centerpiece by going to Simply Happenstance for the tutorial.

7. Monogram Glitter Pumpkin

Make this beautiful monogram glitter pumpkin to keep your Halloween decor elegant.

8. Dot Design Pumpkin

Puff paints and rhinestones are what make this an outstanding pumpkin. The easy directions are found at Think Crafts!

9. Glamorous Paper Mache Pumpkins

These glamorous pumpkins could be used in your décor during the entire fall season. The instructions for how to make them can be found at The Creative Goddess.

10. Cutie Bug Pumpkin

Imagine how happy the kids will be if you make a bug like this one for Halloween. You'll find the directions at FaveCrafts.

11. Disco Ball Pumpkins

I would never have thought to do this, and it's super easy to make these disco ball pumpkins. Notice the author directs you to the site she used to make her version.

12. Decoupage Pumpkin

The directions that you'll find at Ink Stains are surprisingly easy to do. This is an outstanding look for an elegant pumpkin.

13. Gold Thumbtack Pumpkin

These are beautiful and I know that there are silver, bronze and black thumbtacks available also. I think an all black or all silver pumpkin would be beautiful too. You'll find the directions at Home and Garden.

14. Deco Mesh Door or Wall Wreath

15. Halloween Pumpkin Picture Frame

What a nice way to display a Halloween picture for memory's sake. Go to Good Housekeeping and see how it is made.

16. Purple Bat Pumpkin

Of course you can decide what color you would want to make your bat, but this is so cute and the kids can make it. Go to Craft Ideas for All for the instructions.

17. Candle Stick Pumpkins

Even if you don't have much time to think about or make Halloween decorations, this craft is so simple that it'll only take a few minutes to put together and enjoy. Go to Woman’s Day for the instructions.

18. Sequined Pumpkin

I love the gold sequins on the cream colored pumpkin for this sequined pumpkins project.

19. Glorious Silver Pumpkins

You'll have to scroll down on the page to get to the directions for making these silver beauties, but the directions are there on the Brown Paper Packages site.

20. Pink and Gold Dusted Pumpkins

You can find the instructions for making these pumpkins at The Lighthouse. These are so unique and glamorous.

21. Spider Web Pumpkin

Another super simple way to decorate for Halloween when you have little time to spend doing it. Go to Woman’s Day to see how it's done.

22. Stencil Painted Pumpkins

You'll find the instructions on how to make stencil painted Halloween pumpkins at 100 Directions.

23. Jack Friendly

Make Jack Friendly to help you celebrate the Halloween season. Go to FaveCrafts to find the directions for this craft. A great Halloween decoration!

24. Cat and Mice

Decorate your pumpkins for the front entry by painting a black cat on one and black mice on a couple smaller pumpkins. For this no-carve pumpkin project go to Better Homes and Gardens. Number 41 in the slideshow.

25. Glass Pumpkin

Make these glass pumpkin Jack-o-Lanterns by following the tutorial at Club Chica Circle.

26. Gauze Pumpkin Mummies

Gauze pumpkin mummies is a great, safe project for the kids to make for Halloween. No knives or awls required. Go to Hands On As We Grow.

27. BOO Pumpkin

Go to House of Joyful Noise for the instructions for making this boo-iful BOO pumpkin.

28. No-Carve Halloween Pumpkin Ideas

29. Bug Covered Pumpkin

This just about grosses me out, but knowing little boys, they'll love making this to hear their sisters scream. This project's instructions can be found at Mr. Kate. I think I'd paint the pumpkin stem black.

30. Jeweled Pumpkin

Look what adding some bling to a black painted pumpkin does to make an outstanding Halloween decoration. Go to Huffington Post for the instructions.

31. Black Bat-O-Lantern

32. Ghoulish Gourds

I guess gourds are a type of pumpkin, so they can make an appearance in this article. I love these little ghouls. Go to House of Hawthornes for the instructions.

33. Cauldron Candy Holder

I love this centerpiece, but I think the cauldron candy holder may be a bit more time consuming than I am willing to take. If I learn how to use my Cricut I'll give it a try.

34. Duct Tape Pumpkin

So many folks are doing crafts with duct tape today and this is a great example of it. For the instructions, go to Dollar Store Crafts.

35. Paper Mache Pumpkins

You'll love making these folk art type paper mache pumpkins with the kids. Let the imaginations loose and go for a special and uniquely decorated pumpkin that will become a Halloween treasure. For the tutorial to make these pumpkins, go to theThat Artist Woman blog.

© 2012 Loraine Brummer

Would you paint instead of carve - your Halloween pumpkins?

Kristen from Wisconsin on September 24, 2012:

I love the lace stocking pumpkins and the spider votives! Great and fun ideas!

Shannon from Florida on September 18, 2012:

Both. Great ideas!

getmoreinfo on September 18, 2012:

These No-Carve Pumpkin Crafts are really cool, I love them. Great Idea.

Donnette Davis from South Africa on September 11, 2012:

How very beautiful!

KayeSI on September 02, 2012:

What fun ideas! My grandson and I are going to try the acrylic one :) Thank you!

The Falcon Press from Los Angeles, California on August 31, 2012:

I've always carved but these ideas are fabulous. I'll have to try some. Thanks.