Pumpkin Decorating

With Halloween right around the corner, it's time to decorate with pumpkins. Pumpkin carving has come a long way from using just a knife and spoon. Today there are carving tool sets being sold at Target and Wal-Mart, to specialty stores online. These include sets made with child safety in mind to power tools for the more experienced carver. There are free patterns galore on the Web, but I like the ones found at The Pumpkin Wizard.

Don't want to carve a pumpkin? Let the inner artist in you out! Pick your colors and brushes and start painting. Googly eyed monsters, haunted houses, and black cats from your imagination will find new life painted on your pumpkins.

Pumpkins can serve as a vase for a pot of mums as well. Just cut a hole the size of your pot and scoop out the seeds. Place your pot in your pumpkin and you've created an instant centerpiece.