Pumpkin Decorating for Toddlers

So, I realize it's nearly midnight on Halloween Eve and not awesome timing for a Halloween craft...BUT it was a last minute idea in our house, so it might work as a last minute idea in yours!

My husband L-O-V-E-S the idea of traditional pumpkin carving.  Every year we go through the process of picking out pumpkins, drawing out a pattern, and then carving them as we spat curse words under our breath because neither of us has a real talent for it.

However, I opted to completely pass on the whole process this year.  With so little free time on my hands these days, I'm very selective about how I use it.  And since my kids can't really do much with it, it's something I'm happy to pass on.  Hubby still managed to get a couple out on the porch...but I let that be his battle.

This project involves small pumpkins (or large).  NO digging out slimy seeds.  NO carving with knives.  And some potato head pieces you might very well have scattered across your play room floor.  I was looking for a new home for ours when I came up with this idea.  Heidi Sage plays with her potato heads at least once a day...and picks them up...well...umm...never.  So they often end up jabbing the arch of my feet.

Along with your potato head pieces and pumpkins, you'll also need a hammer and a screw that's about the same size as the notches on your potato head pieces.

You simply hammer in the screw where facial features should go.  Just like so...

And it will make perfect little circles.  Just like these...

I placed the pieces in as I hammered the holes to help judge where the next hole should be.

This was my first creation.  It was quickly ripped out for a little girl who was ready to get her craft on!

And then there was a little boy who didn't want to be left out of the fun...

They would make a face, cheer for themselves, rip them out...and start all over!  I love projects that last longer than 5 seconds!

This was the final result.  Heidi Sage created a 3-armed monster with no eyes, but a charming crooked smile.  Clinton created a gorilla.

And I didn't want to be left out either.  So I used the big pieces from the container on my big pumpkin that I opted not to carve.  Best idea I had all day...

Happy "Carving",


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