It's a tough call between which Halloween tradition inspires more creative brainstorming sessions: Deciding on your family Halloween costume or coming up with the perfect Jack-o'-Lantern design. Sure, you want to look spook-tactular come October 31, but you probably also want to impress trick-or-treaters with your pumpkin decorating skills. And if you want to wow the crowds without spending hours carving intricate designs, you'll want to choose one of these pumpkin painting ideas.
That's right: You can say goodbye to cumbersome carving tools and hello to paintbrushes and pens thanks to these no-carve pumpkin designs, which are fun for all ages and make great Halloween crafts for the kids. Without the sharp edges of carving knives to worry about, you can rest assured that these painted pumpkins instructions are kid-friendly and easy to follow. All you'll need to do is make sure you have the right supplies on hand, including an array of paint brushes and sponges, Sharpies, and acrylic paint. From colorful patterns to spooky faces to funny characters, these creative pumpkin painting ideas guarantee a good time for all this Halloween season.
So this year skip the pumpkin carving and dig into our list of painted pumpkin ideas. Not only will your pumpkin last longer when left uncarved, but you'll also delight your neighbors with these cute and spooky faces as they approach your front door. They're some of the easiest Halloween decorations out there!
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Galaxy Painted Pumpkin
For an out of this world Jack-o'-Lantern, travel no further thank this cosmic design that employs an old toothbrush to add bright stars to your very own galaxy.
Get the Galaxy Pumpkin tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
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Painted Mummy Pumpkin
Start by painting your pumpkin completely white, then use a pen to freehand a mummy-style wrap design on it. Etch the lines using a linoleum-cutting tool. To create the eyes, glue googly eyes to two Ping-Pong balls and hand-draw red veins using a red Sharpie, then insert into two carved "eye sockets."
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DIY Pop Art Pumpkins
Inspired by pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, these animated pumpkins are sure to make your Halloween decor, well, pop!
Get the DIY Pop Art Pumpkins tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
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Gold Spider Painted Pumpkin
Spray paint your pumpkin white and let dry, then hot-glue three long strips of ¼-inch glittered ribbon to to create radial threads of web. Measure, cut, and glue 12 shorter ribbon strips to complete the web. Spray paint several fake spiders gold, then hot-glue to your "web."
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No-Carve Eyeball Pumpkins
This 15-minute craft is easy enough for even the least skilled among us. But don't be fooled, if you nestle a pair of these eyeballs in a tree or bush near the front of your house, you'll definitely shock any passersby.
Get the No-Carve Eyeball Pumpkins tutorial at Dream a Little Bigger.
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So Retro Painted Pumpkins
These fun retro designs are an homage to decades gone by.
Get the So Retro Painted Pumpkins tutorial.
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Skull Painted Pumpkin
Use a skull stencil, then grab black spray paint or matte acrylic paint to cover the rest of your pumpkin in the dark hue.
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Pretty Paintings Pumpkin
Exercise your artistic side by painting a picture on your pumpkin. Simply apply washable poster paints to a clean pumpkin in your desired design for a decoration you can display all season.
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Glitter Decorated Pumpkin
Add glitter on top of painted designs for an easy way to make your pumpkin sparkle.
Get the Glitter Decorated Pumpkin tutorial at The Inspiration Board.
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Chalk It Up Pumpkin
Create noteworthy designs on your pumpkin using chalkboard paint. Paint the whole pumpkin to make a message board, craft a silhouette, or let your kids add features to the characters using chalk.
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Zodiac Constellation Pumpkin Luminaries
This painting idea will definitely need adult supervision as you will have to drill holes into your pumpkins. But after that step is done, the kids can have fun drawing dots and lines to connect their zodiac constellation.
Get the Zodiac Constellation Pumpkin Luminaries tutorial at Lia Griffith.
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Plaid Painted Pumpkins
Paint fall's favorite pattern onto any smooth gourd. For the best effect, choose two or three colors and use duct tape to create fine and thick lines.
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Pour Over Pumpkin
Be sure you have space to make a mess before you start this kid-friendly project! Pouring paint from the can on top creates the coolest design, and each kid will have a unique look that's all their own.
Get the Pour Over Pumpkin tutorial at Dream A Little Bigger.
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Scary Silhouettes Pumpkins
Pull together a sophisticated setting with a group of painted silhouette pumpkins. Use adhesive stencils or free printable stencils to make orange bugs, birds and creepy crawly snakes pop against a matte black paint finish.
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Glitter Paint Pumpkins
For something a bit more sophisticated and subtle, blast your pumpkins with glitter spray paint to create a charming front porch display. So easy!
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What a Gem Pumpkins
Little hands can jazz up painted white pumpkins by popping on adhesive-backed jewels.
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DIY 90's Patterned Pumpkins
Travel back in time an iconic decade and paint your gourds to match with neon squiggles, shapes, ghosts, and bats.
Get the DIY 90's Patterned Pumpkins tutorial at A Kailo Chic Life.
RELATED: 35 Best '90s Halloween Costumes to Celebrate an Outrageously Fun Decade
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Splatter Paint Pumpkins
Flick a paint brush covered in gold acrylic paint onto a few white pumpkins — and paint the stems gold too, for an extra sparkling touch.
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Bewitched Pumpkin
Set a sassy sorceress out front to welcome neighborhood nightwalkers. Paint on a witchy face, then glue on fake lashes to make this witch extra eye-catching!
RELATED: 17 DIY Witch Costumes Perfect for a Wickedly Awesome Halloween
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Monster Mash Pumpkins
Coiled aluminum-wire eyes that reflect light are a reminder that this ragtag team of ghouls is keeping watch over your house. Paint the body in your favorite patterns, stack a smaller pumpkin on top for the head, and add sticks for arms.
