Making Pumpkin And Gourd Decorations

By Author: Paul Hulse
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Pumpkins and gourds have always been traditional fall decorations, with pumpkins themselves being an integral part of Halloween. Nearly every adult has memories of carving out that perfect jack-o-lantern on a crisp, fall day. However, the traditional jack-o-lantern can get a little boring to do year after year, so here are some suggestions for other uses of fall time gourds.
Candle holders
If you need a cute decorating idea for your home, either for a Halloween party or just to get in the fall spirit, go and purchase several of the mini pumpkins that you see out at stores in the fall. You will also need enough tea light candles to go inside each one.
Once you get home, remove the stem and clean out the pumpkin like you would a larger one. If you like, the seeds can be saved for roasted pumpkin seeds. The stems can be discarded. Once the pumpkin has been fully cleaned out, place the tea light inside and light it. You can now group the pumpkins as a centerpiece, line them along the mantle, or put them alongside the driveway/walkway as festive luminaries.
If you want to avoid the fire hazard of having ...
... candles all over the house, you can also clean out the pumpkin thoroughly and use it as a mini candy dish.
Gourd Vases
If you enjoy having fall flowers in your home, consider making your own vases from fall gourds. You will want to look for gourds that are able to stand up on their own, and are the appropriate size and shape for the flower arrangement that you want to create.
At home, remove the stem from the gourd and scoop out the pulp and seeds. You will want to continue scraping the sides until they are about half an inch thick. Then, simply place in your favorite fall flowers, add some water, and you have an instant vase.
If you want to get even more creative, you can consider painting the gourds so that they resemble ghosts or Halloween monsters.
Pumpkin/Gourd painting
A little paint can turn your favorite pumpkin or gourd into a work of art. Plus, you get the advantage of having the pumpkin/gourd last longer since they haven't been cut. You can choose to paint strictly Halloween spooks and ghouls for your Halloween party, or consider a fall theme so that you can leave your pumpkins and gourds out after Halloween into November.
Acrylic paints will work best for this project. If painting multiple layers (for instance, painting your pumpkin white and then adding eyes and a mouth in black to create a ghost) be sure to allow each coat to dry thoroughly before starting the next coat.

A little creativity is all that you need to create the perfect Halloween decorations from the numerous pumpkins and gourds that come into season this time of year. Be sure to shop early in the season for the best selection. If you are not ready to create your work of art right away, pumpkins and gourds can be stored in a cool dry place all month.