Do you love pumpkins, but loathe carving them? If you’re looking for some good substitutes for pumpkin carving for your autumnal decoration, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best kid-friendly, no-carve pumpkin decorating design ideas. You and your little ones can go wild with paint, stickers, or even glitter for some sparkly fun. They can add colourful feathers, get crafty with decoupage, or slap on some glow-in-the-dark paint for a spooky glow. These ideas are easy, fun, and perfect for keeping the kids entertained - no knives needed!
Should you decorate a real pumpkin?
Absolutely- if you’re up for it! Decorating a real pumpkin adds that authentic autumn vibe to your Halloween setup, and they work great for non-carving methods like painting, glittering, or using decals. Just remember, real pumpkins will eventually rot, so your masterpiece might not last forever. If you want something that sticks around a bit longer, go for faux pumpkins. Most of these design ideas work great on any pumpkins, but for some we have recommended that you use faux pumpkins. This is because certain designs lend themselves better to faux pumpkins, and you can enjoy the fruits of your creative labour year after year!
But if you’re all about that natural look and don’t mind a little impermanence, decorating a real pumpkin is a great seasonal project that’ll give you all the autumn feels!
No-Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas
Finger Paint Pumpkins
What you’ll need:
- - Non-toxic paint – black, white, orange, yellow or colours of choice
- - Pumpkins
- - Paintbrushes
- - Paint palette/disposable plate
- - Ribbon
The adorable pumpkin designs are a great way to get your little ones involved in decorating for Halloween. The polka-dot style designs are perfect for little fingerprints and add a personal touch to your Autumn decor. Simply dip your child’s finger in the paint and press onto the pumpkin. Use a paintbrush for some spooky details, add a ribbon for a finishing flair, and you’ve got yourself a boo-tiful no-carve pumpkin ready for display!
Find the full tutorial here: https://tulipcolor.com/blogs/projects/finger-paint-designs-for-pumpkins
Drip Paint Pumpkins
What you’ll need:
- - Paint (milk paint is best, but acrylic paint also works well)
- - Small pumpkins (white ones are best)
- - Paper plates or card to catch the paint
This one is a big hit with the kiddos. From the messy splashes of colour to watching the paint ooze down the pumpkin like Halloween magic in action, your little ones will absolutely LOVE making these drip paint pumpkins. And the best part is there are no knives involved, so you can kick back and let the little ones create their masterpieces while you stay hands-off. All you need is to grab some paints and get ready to pour, but be warned - it’s a messy one!
Find the full tutorial here: https://www.momdot.com/drip-painting-pumpkins-diy/
Spider Web Pumpkins
What you’ll need:
- - A large pumpkin
- - Black paint
- - Glue
- - Glitter or glitter glue
- - Toy spiders
If you’re looking for a simple but spooky pumpkin design, this spider web pumpkin is the perfect no-carve alternative. Just paint your pumpkin black and let it dry, then use glue to draw a cobweb design (don’t worry, the glue will spread a bit and it doesn’t have to be perfect). Shake on some silver glitter while the glue’s wet and let it dry completely - or, use glitter glue to make it even easier and combine two steps! Glue a few toy spiders on, and voilà - spooky, glittery pumpkin perfection!
Find the full tutorial here: https://www.todaysparent.com/family/crafts/no-carve-pumpkin-spiders-lair/
Pun-kins
What you’ll need:
- - Pumpkins
- - Paintbrush
- - Paint
- - Letter stickers (optional)
Make your guests fall in love with your place this season. Forget the overdone wreaths and welcome mats - what you need are some pun-tastic pumpkins to greet your visitors with a smile!
Pick out the prettiest pumpkins you can find and paint them whatever colour you like. Once they’re dry, you’re ready for the fun part: slapping on some of your best pumpkin puns. Use paint to write on your designs, or make it even easier with alphabet stickers. Then stick 'em outside and let the laughs roll in.
Find the full tutorial here: https://auburnartisan.com/2018/10/30/diy-fall-pun-kins/
Feather Pumpkins
What you’ll need:
- - Pumpkin
- - Feathers
- - Hot glue gun
- - Paintbrush
- - Ribbon
Here’s a fun, no-carve DIY that’ll have your pumpkins looking fabulous - the Feather Pumpkin! All you need is a pumpkin, a glue gun, and a bunch of colourful feathers. Simply let the kids go wild sticking feathers all over the pumpkin to create their own fluffy masterpiece. No knives, no mess, just lots of creative fun! It’s perfect for little hands, totally kid-friendly, and way easier than carving. And you’re left with an adorable fluffy pumpkin that’s ready to strut its stuff on your doorstep!
Find the full tutorial here: https://www.re-fabbed.com/how-to-make-a-diy-feather-covered-pumpkin/
Pastel Pumpkins
What you’ll need:
- - Pumpkins - real or faux (we recommend ceramic so that you can enjoy them year after year!)
- - Marker pens
- - Paint (acrylic or gouache is best)
This gorgeous floral pumpkin design is way easier than it looks! First, draw and colour in rough circles to create your main flower motifs. Add two leaf shapes branching out from each one. Now, repeat this pattern around the pumpkin, spacing the flowers evenly. Next, fill in the gaps with smaller flower clusters by drawing groups of 3 or 5 teardrop shapes for petals. Add a dot in the middle and finish with some tiny leaves, and boom - your pumpkin is now a cute floral decoration that’s perfect for autumn!
Find the full tutorial here: https://www.gathered.how/arts-crafts/how-to-paint-pumpkins-easy-pumpkin-painting-tutorial
Donut Pumpkins
What you’ll need:
- - Pumpkins
- - Marker pens
- - Paint (acrylic or gouache is best)
These pumpkins do-nut disappoint! And they’re so simple to make, they’re guaranteed to go down a treat. Grab some acrylic paint - one colour for your doughnut base, another for the frosting, and a rainbow of colours for sprinkles. Start by painting the bottom two-thirds of the pumpkin in your "doughnut" colour and let it dry. Flip it over and paint a circle around the stem for the icing. Once that dries, grab a tiny brush and go wild with colourful sprinkles all over the top, and that’s it! You have an adorable, delicious no-carve pumpkin decoration.
Find the full tutorial here: https://studiodiy.com/diy-donut-pumpkins/
Decoupage Pumpkins
What you’ll need:
- - Faux pumpkins
- - Patterned paper
- - Acrylic paint
- - Mod Podge
- - Paintbrushes
Decoupage pumpkins are a seriously stylish way of decking out your house with some cosy vibes this Autumn. All you really need is some patterned or craft paper and Mod Podge, and as many faux pumpkins as you want to decorate. Simply cover your pumpkins with overlapping paper pieces and Mod Podge. Let each layer dry for about 20 minutes before moving on. Once fully covered, seal it with a top coat of Mod Podge (go for the Mod Podge Glitter if you want a sparkling finish) and you’re done!
Find the full tutorial here: https://www.firstdayofhome.com/easy-decoupage-pumpkins/
Doily Pumpkins
What you’ll need:
- - Pumpkins
- - Scissors
- - Glue or Mod Podge
- - Paper Doilies
- - Paper bags or other protective work surface covering
Time to turn that plain old pumpkin into a doily-covered delight! You can use white or coloured, like gold, in this example. Here’s what you do: grab your doilies and place them against the pumpkin, folding them over to fit the curves (it can be a bit tricky at this point, but trust the process!) Cut along the folds and flip the doily over for a coat of glue. Start sticking it onto the pumpkin from the top and smooth it down as you go. Repeat this with more doilies, overlapping them for that cool layered look. Whether you want a symmetrical pumpkin or something more artsy is totally your call! Whatever you choose, this no-carve technique will turn that pumpkin into a decorative showstopper! 🎃
Find the full tutorial here: https://www.17apart.com/2013/10/diy-pumpkin-decorating-golden-doily.html
Woodland Creature Pumpkins
What you’ll need:
- Paint
- Foam brush
- Card
- Felt (grey, orange, off-white, tan, black)
- Marker pens
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
If you love pumpkins and cute critters, this is the perfect project for you! Start by deciding which woodland creature you want to make, and choose the appropriate colours of felt to cut out their faces (the link below has printable patterns to follow to make it easy!) Use coloured card for the tails, and a hot glue gun to stick all the pieces on your pumpkins. Finally, use a marker pen to draw on details like the eyes and nose, and you’ll have a whole family of adorable animals to celebrate the season with.
Find the full tutorial here: https://simpleasthatblog.com/woodland-creature-no-carve-pumpkins/
Glow-in-the-Dark Pumpkins
What you’ll need:
- Pumpkins
- Glow-in-the-Dark paint
- Paintbrushes
- Acrylic paint (optional)
- Digital craft cutter
Ready to light up Halloween like never before? Try these glow-in-the-dark pumpkins! First, paint your pumpkin with whatever colour you like (or leave it orange for a more natural look). Then, grab some Glow-in-the-Dark paint and apply a few coats to your pumpkin - more coats mean a brighter glow! To kick it up a notch, add a stencil design for a cool "negative" effect (use a digital cutter for ease and precision). Stick your stencil on the pumpkin, daub the glow paint around it, and peel it off for a stunning design. Let it dry, remove the stencil, and voilà - your pumpkin is ready to glow like a pro!
Find the full tutorial here: https://thekingstonhome.com/blog/pumpkin-craft-ideas-glow-in-the-dark-paint/
‘Gourd’ times ahead
That was our un-boo-lievable lineup of no-carve pumpkin ideas to make your Halloween gourd-geous! Whether you’re going for glitter, glow-in-the-dark, or a bit of pastel magic, these easy pumpkin hacks will have your front door looking fang-tastic in no time. Your little ones will love getting involved too, so you can create a whole family of patterned pumpkins without ever needing to touch a carving knife. Get ready to ‘squash’ those boring old jack-o’-lanterns and make this Halloween the most spook-tacular yet!
If these no-carve pumpkin decorating designs have inspired you, try out our range of Halloween crafts to keep the ‘gourd’ times rolling!
Haven’t got time to get crafty before Halloween? Raise the spirits with our ghoulishly great Halloween decorations for everything you need to make your home frightfully festive this October!
