Instead of carving your pumpkin, a safer alternative is to decorate the pumpkin with paint, buttons, yarn, and scraps of cloth.  The pumpkin will also last longer as you do not cut into it:

• Paint faces on using a purchased kit and painting guides. 
• Use your own paint or markers and imagination.
• Use yarn, buttons, raffia and cloth to decorate the pumpkin like a scarecrow.  Cut triangles for the eyes and nose.  Paint the mouth on as a curvy line then and stitch marks.  Make a hat out of burlap fabric. Use raffia or yarn as hair. 
• Go the “nature” route.  Take your kids on a nature walk and use the things you find to create a one-of-a-kind pumpkin. Ex: pine straw for hair, acorn for nose, etc.
• Paint a fall picture on the pumpkin with acrylic paint.  Set the pumpkin on fall leaves (real or preserved).
• Cut off the top of the pumpkin and dig out middle then spray the inside with clear spray paint.  Put a glass jar inside and arrange a fall bouquet in the pumpkin.
• Do an off season pumpkin - paint three graduated pumpkins white and hot glue them atop one another to make a snowman.  Draw a face and buttons on the pumpkins and insert twigs for limbs. 

A Few Safety Tips:

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