Way easier than carving a jack-o’-lantern
Published Oct 14, 2026
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Candace Davison
Hey, Ghostface: Drop the carving knife. Jack-o’-lanterns are a Halloween staple, but this year, if you’re looking for something easier—and arguably more eye-catching in a sea of triangle eyes and toothy-grinned gourds—you’ve got to try pressed-flower pumpkins. They’re fall’s answer to the whimsy-maxxing trend, yet they’ve got a romantic flourish that feels refreshingly elevated amid the season’s orange and black.
Best of all, it’s an easy, no-carve way to decorate a pumpkin that lets you feel creative and productive without taking over your evening. (Unless you want it to—you could easily grab a few pumpkins, wine and a charcuterie board and make it a girls’ night in.)
Candace Davison
White pumpkins (such as Ghost, Lumina or Baby Boo) really make the flowers pop, though sugar pie pumpkins also work well, simply because they have a smoother exterior, making it easier to arrange and adhere the flowers.
You could also press your own flowers, but with so many options available in two days via Amazon Prime, I tend to keep things easy and order a prepackaged set, like this one (110-Piece Fall Pressed Flower Set, $13).
Ready to get started? Just follow this three-step tutorial.
How to Make Pressed-Flower Pumpkins
Candace Davison
How to Make Pressed-Flower Pumpkins:
1. Hold the pumpkin on its side and start mapping out where you’d like your flowers to be.
Candace Davison
2. Starting in small sections (about 3” or so), use a paintbrush to paint a thin layer of Mod Podge, then apply a few flowers, gently pressing them onto the surface. (You can use tweezers to apply them to keep your hands clean.)
Candace Davison
3. As you complete a section, paint over the whole thing with another layer of Mod Podge to help secure the flowers. Gently brush over the petals so you don’t tear them.
Candace Davison
Note: The Mod Podge will look streaky at first but it dries clear. Don’t worry about the brushstrokes!
