Read Any Good Gourds Lately? (Fake Pumpkins III)

Another idea we stole from Pinterest. The original instructions are HERE.

~This seems like a perfect way to use those old blades, but it's more work. A sharp exacto works much better, but expect to dull the blade quickly.
~It works better to keep the book closed and use the pages that you've already cut as a guide. If you open the book to move the finished pages out of your way, be sure to use the template as your guide. Otherwise, there is a tendency for each layer to get smaller and smaller as you go.
~You can always trim up uneven edges once the basic shape is done. Unless you like the rough, messy look.
~I used a cheap ink pad to color the edges of the pages. I just fanned the closed book slightly and rubbed the ink pad along the edges from both directions. I don't have the patience to wait for paint to dry.
~Books with supple bindings work much better than books that crack apart as you bend them. If you have a small dowel that you can shape the binding around, it helps the pages spread more evenly. The pumpkin in the photo is the only one that we were able to get to look alright.

Jug-O-Lanterns (Fake Pumpkins II)

Our next super easy pumpkin craft comes from...well, all over the internet.

1. Wash and save as many gallon milk jugs as you like.
2. Paint the lids green.
3. Use a permanent black marker to draw faces on the jugs.
4. Fill with colored water. Our orange is 35 drops yellow, and 6 drops of red in each gallon of water.
5. Before displaying, drop an orange glow stick inside (admittedly, this was not very impressive. We're still tweaking the glowing part. Since electricity and water don't play well together...).

It has already occurred to M that we don't have to stick to orange. Purple and green would be cool too.
I love that these use recycled materials (mostly), are frost proof, won't rot and can be emptied on the garden when we're done with them. We found a 12 pack or orange glow sticks at Michael's for $3.
A local farm stand wanted $4.25 for a gallon sized pumpkin. That makes me love these even more.

Since there are no sharp objects involved, and messing up just means using the other side of the jug--or getting a new one--even a 2 year old (or 40 year old with no salvageable drawing skills) could make these.