How To Make Cookie Cutter Pumpkins

Are you about ready to get your BOO on?

Halloween is just a week away, and if you’re like me, your thoughts are turning to raiding your kids’ candy buckets and of course, pumpkin carving! But little ones and knives really don’t mix. Today, Julie from Go Mommy Go shares with us great pumpkin carving ideas that let the littlest of spooks get involved in the fun!

Cookie Cutter Pumpkins

A couple of years ago, I had a newborn, a young toddler and a burning desire to do everything just right.  Can you say 4th trimester hormones???  So, one morning I suddenly decided that we just had to carve a pumpkin.  The problem was, I am not well blessed in knife skills myself and I couldn’t figure out how to allow my daughter to carve a pumpkin without putting a death instrument into her chubby, clumsy little hand.

Suddenly, I had a moment of brilliance!  For some reason I have a ton of cookie cutters. { It’s doubly strange because I do NOT bake.  We leave that to Hubby in this house.} So I busted out some star cookie cutters in various sizes, strapped Baby in his bouncy seat and got myself set to “carve” a pumpkin.

Supplies

1 small to medium pie pumpkin
Paper, for the goo
1 large spoon, for scooping
Several metal cookie cutters
1 small, sharp knife, for touch-ups
1 meat mallet

(In revisiting this idea again this year, I discovered that I did not invent the wheel on this.  Here is a great link with extra carving tips.  Note that they use a rubber mallet.  We will be trying this method this year as the metal mallet sometimes can damage the cookie cutters.)

Directions

Cut the top off of Mr. Pumpkin and hand the spoon over to your toddler.  They love this part, mucking around in all that stringy pumpkin goo.  Once pumpkin is clean, choose the cookie cutter shapes you like.  I used stars for the first time and it turned out really cute.  I have also used a candy cane as a crooked smile and small Easter eggs for eyes.  Really, you can use anything and see what you come up with.  Give your cookie cutters a good inspection and see what else you can “see” in their shapes.

Gently tap cookie cutter into the flesh of the pumpkin.  I used the cookie cutter to cut all of the way through the pumpkin but you can also use it just to make your outline and then finish up with a knife.  You may want to use the second method with a larger, thicker-fleshed pumpkin.  Either way, you should end up with a cookie cutter design on your pumpkin.  You can create “faces” with the cutters or just simple designs.

Not bad for a crazy sleep-deprived mom of “two under two!”  If I can do this, anybody can.  Break out those cookie cutters and carve yourself a pumpkin!  Happy Halloween!

More How-To Posts:

If you liked these pumpkin carving ideas, check out these other great craft posts!

• How To Throw A Cheap and Easy Halloween Party
• A BOO-tiful Door Hanger for You!
• DIY: Make Your Own Silhouettes
• DIY Bathroom Mirror: A Re-Do for Only $18

About the Author:

I write Go Mommy Go. I am a stay-at-home-mom by day and a reference librarian by night.  It makes for a crazy schedule but I love the flexibility it gives me to “have it all.”  When my daughter was a new talker she would say “Go, mommy, go!” and that was the inspiration for this blog; the life of a mom on the go.  I am always on the lookout for the next fun, educational, and budget-friendly thing to do with my kids.  When I’m not caught up in mommy-land I am reading, cooking, or blogging being caught up in mommy-land.  Thanks for reading!

Want to Write for Us?

Are you interested in guest posting for The SIT Girls? Then let us know! Our super easy process is described in this post. We’d love to drive more page views to what you have to say.