Discover some fun ways to decorate.

Have you picked out your pumpkins yet?

Are you out on the weekend roaming the pumpkin stands and patches, trying to find the perfect pumpkins to stack on your front porch? Maybe you are looking for the perfect jack-o-lantern.

It can be so frustrating. You pick out the perfect pumpkin, or so you thought, bring it home, and it rots. I will give you my best tips for picking the perfect pumpkin and some ways to keep it fresh longer, even after you have carved it.

Pumpkin varieties.

There are shades of white and grey, yellow and pink, green and coral. Some have bumps and lumps, warts and speckles. Some are ridged, smooth, mini, flat, or round. Some are great for cooking, and some are only good for looks. The options are almost endless.

Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

So, you heading to the patch. Here are three things to look for when you ar’re picking out a pumpkin.

• The stem is attached and a couple of inches long.

• The skin is firm and hard, not soft and squishy

• There are no major knicks, dents, and damage to the pumpkin

SO Many Choices: Tips for deciding what pumpkin size, shape, and color to use.

When selecting the right pumpkin, a few tips to help with your pumpkin décor ideas or creations look AMAZING and last.

Front Porch

Flat stackers are great on a front porch. They add height, color, and a nice pop. Lining them up with mums and other cool round pumpkins makes a really cool, eye-catching front porch.

Lining your steps with pumpkins is a great idea, too, as is adding a bale of straw or some corn stalks.

If you want to draw the eye from the road, you will want something bold and larger; otherwise, they often get lost in the shadows.

Other Exterior Ideas

Your landscape is a fun place. Place little pumpkins with pots of mums or other planters on your deck or by your mailbox.

You can use small stackers or fun little round pumpkins that add a fall flair. The options are pretty much endless, and sometimes you need inspiration.

There are so many fun ways to use pumpkins in the interior of your home as well! They make great table centerpieces on your mantel or on a coffee table. The sizes and shapes of all the different pumpkins make it easy to find one for the space you need. Don't box yourself in. Try a few different things, and you might surprise yourself.

Caring for your Pumpkin: Tips for keeping them fresh and preparing them for your project.

Tips

• Clean your pumpkin.

• Remove dirt with a damp cloth and let dry.

• Keep pumpkins out of the rain and snow.

• Do not place your pumpkin directly on the ground, but slip a piece of cardboard or something underneath to help prevent rotting.

Tips for Keeping Carved Pumpkins Fresh

• Keep your carving in a cool, dry place.

• Keep your pumpkin hydrated by soaking it in a solution of water and 2/3 cup bleach. Soak for 24 hours. Remove and let dry.

• You can continue to mist daily with a weak bleach water solution to help prevent mold from growing.

• Seal the surface with petroleum jelly or vegetable oil. Rub a towel onto the open flesh.

There are so many fun ways to use pumpkins in the interior of your home as well! They make great table centerpieces on your mantel or a coffee table. The sizes and shapes of all the different pumpkins make it easy to find one for the space you need. Don't box yourself in; try a few different things, and you might surprise yourself.

Pumpkin Crafts

Fairy Houses

Painted Pumpkins Pumpkin

Planter or Vase

Fairy Houses are a cute way to brighten up a front porch. Tucked away in the trees, we used them in our pumpkin patch scavenger hunt. They are pretty easy to make and so much fun.

Painted Pumpkins are a great way to put an excellent design on your pumpkins without carving. Carving shortens the life of your pumpkins. If you paint it with excellent paint markers and colors, you can get some unique designs that last for weeks.

Pumpkin Planter or Vase:

Fill your pumpkin with flowers or plants! Yes, please. Measure your vase, cut out the top of your pumpkin to fit the vase, and slip the vase inside. Fill with all your favorite flowers. For a planter, cut out the top of the pumpkin to fit your pot or fill the cavity with soil. Plant your favorite plant. If you choose to fill your pumpkin with soil, you can plant the whole thing into the ground, pumpkin and all, when it starts to break down.

Because I am in print or have it saved as a guide person, I made a downloadable guide/ebook with all these tips right in it! That way, you will never lose it and don’t have to keep coming back here for all the info.

Grab that guide HERE.

And will you do me a favor? Will you share this blog post with your friends? You will be the bestest friend ever by not letting them pick a bad pumpkin again.