Traditional votives don’t hold a candle to these ambient pumpkin lights. Carve a miniature pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. Then, add a wick and melted wax to create your own rustic candle. For an even easier version, cut a hole in the pumpkin just big enough for a tea light that will lend a warm and cozy ambience to a crisp, autumn night.
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Bright Idea
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Soup’s On
Most pumpkins become an empty shell of their former selves once the pulp is removed—but not this pumpkin serving bowl! Slice off the top of a pumpkin, scoop out the flesh and seeds, and fill the shells with your favorite soup (get a tempting recipe here). Your dinner guests will be tricked into a treat when they lift the lids on these unconventional tureens.
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Chilling Out
Design: waitingonmartha.com; Photo: rusticwhite.com
A DIY pumpkin cooler will give your festive drinks the chills. Carve out the seeds and pulp of a pumpkin to make room for a large glass bowl filled with ice cubes, soda cans, or wine bottles. Alternatively, use the pumpkin as a punch bowl that’s sure to be the star of your next party.
Related: Genius! DIY Pumpkin Keg
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Fabled Table
If you thought decorative gourds couldn't get any better, take a look at these gold-dipped pumpkins that can lend glamour to dining tables or end tables. White mini pumpkins dipped in a pan of gold acrylic paint (or taped and spray painted) create a magical tableau that you'll be proud to display at family dinners.
Related: 9 Inventive Ways to Decorate with Tree Trunks, Branches, and Twigs
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Mum-kin Patch
Mum’s the word on this pro tip for a beautiful and low-maintenance fall planter. Place a mum or other plant, still in its plastic nursery pot, into a dry, hollowed-out pumpkin. (Keeping the plant in its plastic container will prevent the inside of the pumpkin from rotting as a result of direct soil exposure.) For an extra-special touch, adorn the planter with raffia, moss, or a vivid satin ribbon.
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Dressed-Up Address
A spare moment and a pumpkin are all you need to provoke the envy of your neighbors with this house number pumpkin. Print out your address in a whimsical font before stenciling it onto a large, painted pumpkin. Color in the numbers with a Sharpie to make a bold statement on your front porch. To prevent ink runoff, ensure that the pumpkin is free of moisture before you get to work.
Related: Celebrate Fall with 11 Thrifty DIY Ideas for the Home
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Name Calling
What’s in a name? In the case of these pretty place card holders, the name is celebrated by miniature pumpkins and a charming, personal touch. Make your kith and kin feel right at home with their own customized pumpkins, embellished with gold leaf. Around each pumpkin's stem, tie a satin ribbon that has been thoughtfully emblazoned with a guest's name in metallic paint pen.
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Flock Party
The birds in your neighborhood will go cuckoo for this pumpkin bird feeder, made from a leftover holiday pumpkin.
Use a sharp tool to pierce holes around the exterior of a hollowed-out pumpkin, then insert aromatic cloves. Braid together lengths of twine, and attach to the bottom of the pumpkin using a nail. Then, fill the bowl with birdseed to give your feathered friends a special fall feast.
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See the House of the Week
Discover and admire beautiful and innovative home architecture, from grand Victorians to quaint cabins and all the styles in between. Take a look at the latest images and inspiration!
