Starry Night

Deck out the front door with a pair of pumpkin pillars. Paint on gnarled trees, and then use a drill to create a constellation of stars. For a third tier, cut out a crescent moon on a mini pumpkin.

Get the tutorial »

What you'll need: cordless drill ($58, amazon.com),black paint ($7, amazon.com)

Deck out the front door with a pair of pumpkin pillars. Paint on gnarled trees, and then use a drill to create a constellation of stars. For a third tier, cut out a crescent moon on a mini pumpkin. Get the tutorial » What you'll need: cordless drill ($58, amazon.com), black paint ($7, amazon.com)

Creepy Crawlers

Light up the party with a spooky trail of spiders. Bent pipe cleaners bring to mind hairy tarantula legs when attached to mini pumpkins. 

What you'll need: black pipe cleaners ($5, amazon.com), tea lights ($13, amazon.com)

Light up the party with a spooky trail of spiders. Bent pipe cleaners bring to mind hairy tarantula legs when attached to mini pumpkins.  What you'll need: black pipe cleaners ($5, amazon.com), tea lights ($13, amazon.com)

Owl City

This family of birds is a literal hoot. Carve out their cute expressions using free templates, and then attach painted nuts for tiny ears and feet. 

Get the tutorial at Woman's Day »

What you'll need: unshelled nuts ($10, nuts.com), orange paint ($4, amazon.com)

This family of birds is a literal hoot. Carve out their cute expressions using free templates, and then attach painted nuts for tiny ears and feet.  Get the tutorial at Woman's Day » What you'll need: unshelled nuts ($10, nuts.com), orange paint ($4, amazon.com)

Zombie Skeletons 

The walking dead are rising up — in your lawn. Life-sized bony limbs fit stretched across doubledecker gourds. 

Get the tutorial at Country Living »

What you'll need: X-Acto knife ($4, amazon.com), battery-powered votives ($9 for 12, amazon.com)

The walking dead are rising up — in your lawn. Life-sized bony limbs fit stretched across doubledecker gourds.  Get the tutorial at Country Living » What you'll need: X-Acto knife ($4, amazon.com), battery-powered votives ($9 for 12, amazon.com)

Friendly Vampire

No bloodthirsty monsters here. Yes, he's got a set of fangs, but what's not to love about this adorable Dracula face? 

Get the tutorial at Woman's Day »

What you'll need: pumpkin carving kit ($5, amazon.com),black craft foam ($9, amazon.com)

No bloodthirsty monsters here. Yes, he's got a set of fangs, but what's not to love about this adorable Dracula face?  Get the tutorial at Woman's Day » What you'll need: pumpkin carving kit ($5, amazon.com), black craft foam ($9, amazon.com)

Roaring Hearth

Set the scene with a whole pumpkin tableau. Avoid any real fires by opting for flameless illumination instead. 

Get the tutorial at Country Living »

What you'll need: X-Acto knife ($4, amazon.com), battery-powered votives ($9 for 12, amazon.com)

Set the scene with a whole pumpkin tableau. Avoid any real fires by opting for flameless illumination instead.  Get the tutorial at Country Living » What you'll need: X-Acto knife ($4, amazon.com), battery-powered votives ($9 for 12, amazon.com)

Carved Cannibal 

Mini pumpkins, watch out. This clever design will gobble up any gourd in its way. 

Get the tutorial at Woman's Day »

What you'll need: battery-powered votive ($9 for 12, amazon.com), melon baller ($9, amazon.com)

Mini pumpkins, watch out. This clever design will gobble up any gourd in its way. Get the tutorial at Woman's Day » What you'll need: battery-powered votive ($9 for 12, amazon.com), melon baller ($9, amazon.com)

Gleam Team

Paint jack-o'-lanterns shades of heavy metal before carving features. "Rock" them out with plastic gems, sequin strips (around the witch's eyes) and glitter glue(outlining the ghost).

What you'll need: silver paint ($8, amazon.com), glitter glue ($6, amazon.com)

Paint jack-o'-lanterns shades of heavy metal before carving features.

Pumpkin Pots

Carve the top off a mini pumpkin, then cut the bottom off a water bottle and drop it in to act as a vase. We filled ours with ranunculuses, mums and dahlias.

What you'll need: gold paint ($2, amazon.com), plastic spiders ($6, amazon.com)

Carve the top off a mini pumpkin, then cut the bottom off a water bottle and drop it in to act as a vase. We filled ours with ranunculuses, mums and dahlias. What you'll need: gold paint ($2, amazon.com), plastic spiders ($6, amazon.com)