How-to with step-by-step video instructions for carving craft pumpkins and Funkins for indoors or out. Tips and ideas, with minimal supplies.
Spooktacular Tips for Carving Craft Pumpkins and Funkins Pumpkins
Discover how quick and easy carving craft pumpkins can be with these Funkins Pumpkins ideas that can be displayed indoors or out. Minimal supplies required.
Kids of all ages love to carve pumpkins, but not all pumpkins are created equal. Funkins™ Pumpkins are manufactured, synthetic craft pumpkins with a low-density foam inner core. They look, and for the most part, feel like a real pumpkin.
You can find them at your local hobby shop and on Amazon.com. They come in a variety of colors, sizes and shapes–much like real pumpkins.
The only difference is that you don’t have to clean out any seeds or pulp. Best of all, they are extremely light and easy to store year after year.
But like real pumpkins, you can carve them with traditional carving tools or easier still, use a hot carving knife.
How to Carve Your Craft Pumpkin with a Hot Knife (Video)
Customizing Your Funkin Pumpkin
Sometimes adding a bit of bling to one’s pumpkin can make all the difference. Just make sure that it is flame-resistant and won’t come in contact with any candles or hot light bulbs.
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You can also use hot glue to attach your favorite decorations to keep them in place.
How to Design Your Funkin Pumpkin
Carving designs into your Funkin pumpkin is simple enough as you saw in the video above, but deciding what to carve is the hardest part.
Just like the real deal, you can cut and decorate it however you want. Drawing out your design before carving helps tremendously. And, with a pumpkin template it’s a breeze.
Here’s a handy Pumpkin Printable (PDF) to draw out your design.
It’s best if you cut out your design and tape it on your pumpkin to get the proper placement and then make any adjustments before you make your first cut.
You can also trace your design using a pencil to cause an indentation into the outer surface to follow as your cut line.
Then, it’s carving as usual.
How to Light Your Funkins Craft Pumpkins
Once you’ve cut out your design, the final thing you need to decide is if you want to use any form of lighting from within your pumpkin.
All foam pumpkin manufacturers recommend battery-operated lights only (see below) because the pumpkins are flammable.
For indiscrete lighting with strings of lights or flameless candles, it’s best if you cut your pumpkin from below. Doing so also allows you to “hide” the light source.
That being said, whatever lighting source you choose, make sure that it is easy to get to and that it is non-flammable. And, if you do use candles only use the battery-operated ones.
For example, mini votives are great for creating mood and perfect for highlighting intricate pumpkin cutouts.
More Crazy Carving Craft Pumpkins Ideas for Your Craft Funkins Pumpkins
You don’t have to limit yourself to just carving eyes, nose and mouth on your pumpkin.
Check out these ideas for more crazy carved craft pumpkins:
1. Halve your pumpkin and hang it on a wall or doorway.
2. Gather a bunch of frightful pumpkins for a show-stopping archway.
3. Stack your pumpkins for a terrifying topiary look.
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4. Line your cut pumpkin with fabric and make it a candy dish.
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5. Add some Halloween or fall-inspired ribbon to camouflage a cache of kitties.
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As you can see, the possibilities are endless when carving your craft pumpkin. And, as I always say, let your imagination be your guide.
For more family-friendly crafts, be sure to check out Wisconsin Homemaker’s Craft Section.
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