13 Easy Ways to Create a Pumpkin Masterpiece

Cut off the top and then cut off a section in the back. It'll make it so much easier to scrape out the guts and to put a candle inside.

Use dry erase markers to map out your design. Most people grab a sharpie, but they don't wipe off if you make a mistake. A dry-erase marker will wipe off.

Use a cookie cutter and a mallet to cut out designs. Hold the cookie-cutter (metal works best) to the pumpkin and tap the edges with a mallet to cut out cool designs. If you don't have a mallet, you can use a hammer, but remember- TAP the cookie cutter, don't pound it.

Have a stencil? Trace the stencil it with a nail or a tack- almost like playing a game of connect the dots. Tracing it out will make the pumpkin easier to cut.

Put glow sticks inside your pumpkin instead of candles. If you're a forgetful person, or just worried about safety in general, glow sticks are a great alternative to candles because you don't have to remember to blow anything out. Also, they'll make your pumpkin glow in some pretty cool colors.

Use a drill to poke holes randomly all over your pumpkin and then toss in a couple of different colored glow sticks.

Use glow in the dark paint and masking tape. If knives and guts aren't your things, there's no shame in using glow in the dark paint to decorate your pumpkin. I've been known to do this and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

I don't know about this one, but according to BuzzFeed, fishnet stockings make great pumpkin covers.

Those in the know say that if you rub the inside of your pumpkin with floor cleaner, it'll keep the inside of your pumpkin from rotting. I've never tried this, so I can't vouch for it.

Trace plastic “bubba" teeth, cut out what you traced and pop the teeth into the hole to make your very own redneck pumpkin.

Forget about cutting up your pumpkin with a face and instead cut it in half, hollow out the inside, put a plastic bowl in the bottom, fill the bowl with ice, and pop some beverages in to chill.

To go along with #11, you can also turn your pumpkin into a keg by cutting off the top, hollowing it out, and filling it with beer. Attach a spout to the front and you're done! Trying to visualize how this is done? Here's a video.

Skip the pumpkins and go with milk jugs. You won't have to worry about carving at all. Just fill the milk jug with twinkle lights and decorate with glow in the dark paint.