Traditionally, a decorated jack-o-lantern outside the home welcomes trick or treaters. A decorated pumpkin is also a form of creative self-expression. Nori Pritchard and Lisette Constantin, owners of NOLA Craft Culture and goddesses of all things glitter, patch us in to pumpkin ideas for fall.
Pritchard and Constantin suggest starting with the theme or vibe you wish to conjure: for instance whimsical, mod or scary. NOLA Craft Culture recommends and sells artificial pumpkins. They’re durable and lightweight for storing and can be collected. Foam options can be carved, hard plastics are not for carving, papier mâché versions should be used indoors only.
“Artificial pumpkins are great because you can let your imagination run wild,” said Constantin.
Pritchard and Constantin’s decorating tips also can be applied to real pumpkins with a few caveats. They advise using non-toxic materials and biodegradable glitter for real pumpkins because they are discarded or composted.
Next, pick the decorative materials that speak to you. For classes or workshops, the duo sets out an “embellishment buffet” with something for everyone. Necessary supplies include butcher paper or newspaper to protect your work surface, several paint brushes, glue, a glue gun, and two wooden chopsticks or skewers. Pritchard also recommends a “Holy Trinity” of cleanup supplies: a Swiffer for surfaces, a Dustbuster for spills and a lint roller for clothing.
Skewer the pumpkin so you can hold it like a lollipop and work on its surface. Use one paint brush to apply glue and then sprinkle glitter as desired. Let it dry and use the dry paint brush to brush off the excess. Repeat the process for a second coat. Using a glue gun, add embellishments such as rhinestones, sequins, skulls and flowers. Traditional ideas include painting a jack-o-lantern face or seasonal images such as witches and ghosts; novelty ideas run the gamut from Pritchard’s go-to unicorn to Constantin’s annual eyeball. With the recent release of the “Beetlejuice” sequel, the crafting partners say that black and white stripes, acid green and orange will be on trend. For a centerpiece that rolls into Thanksgiving, they suggest mixing in cornucopias, gourds, and autumn leaves, and using different sizes and odd numbers of pumpkins for balance.
When crafting Halloween pumpkins with kids, they stress three things: let the kids be the creative brains, don’t micromanage (let them do their own pumpkin) and leave the carving to the adults.
“Every crafting project is self-expression,” said Pritchard. “Letting your kids express themselves is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.”
NOLA Craft Culture offers classes and workshops, a community crafting space available to anyone who purchases something (there is no minimum) and private events can be booked. The stores 4th annual Pumpkin Patch of pre-crafted pumpkins – each wrapped and ribboned, and an art market takes place October 12th and 13th and October 19th and 20th.
1 | Pick a theme before you get started.
2 | Select the materials and colors that speak to you.
3 | Don’t be hard on yourself. Crafting should be fun.
About the Experts
New Orleans natives Nori Pritchard and Lisette Constantin started NOLA Craft Culture as a one-stop shop for crafters. The business caters to all members of the crafting community including carnival krewe members, Mardi Gras Indians and costumers.
