No more rotten pumpkins

mandy0221 · Post by **mandy0221** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 2:18 am

Michaels craft store sells these plastic pumpkins in all shapes and sizes and you can cut/carve them just line you would a normal pumpkin.

If you want to keep them around for a long time you might want to look into it. Oh and also they sell those battery operated light inserts so you can turn it on at night instead of a candle.

BlkAsH · Post by **BlkAsH** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:46 am

I've carved about 10 foam pumpkins since 2003. They can be tricky but definately are worth the effort since you can keep them from year to year. I still try to carve a real pumpkin each year too since you can't replace the smell of a real pumpkin with a candle lighting the inside of this wonderful squash. Anyhow if you do use these foam pumpkins you NEVER use a candle inside. Instead look for battery opperated lights or even x-mas lights to use to light your foam jack-o-lanters. I went to Jo-Ann's etc. today and actually picked up two LED lights that are battery opperated for $2.00 today. They also have the Funkins brand of LED pumpkin lights as well as a strobe for a bit more if anyone's interested.

LittleDollClaudia · Post by **LittleDollClaudia** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 4:41 am

What do you use to carve it so it doesn't rip? That is what I am worried about.

BlkAsH · Post by **BlkAsH** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 4:04 am

Normally what I've used to carve these foam pumpkins are exacto knives as well as a larger seriated knife to cut large areas such as where the lights will be put into the pumpkin. Hope this helps.

EvilMel · Post by **EvilMel** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 1:21 pm

I actually got my fake pumpkin from A.C. Moore BUT I saw that Michael's had these pumpkin masters saws for the fake pumpkins. I used those on mine (the only one I've carved) and it didn't seem too terribly different than carving a regular pumpkin. I just had to worry a bit more about chipping.

Andybev01 · Post by **Andybev01** » Wed May 07, 2008 7:25 pm

EvilMel wrote:I actually got my fake pumpkin from A.C. Moore BUT I saw that Michael's had these pumpkin masters saws for the fake pumpkins. I used those on mine (the only one I've carved) and it didn't seem too terribly different than carving a regular pumpkin. I just had to worry a bit more about chipping.

...and those little flecks of foam get everywhere!

jadewik · Post by **jadewik** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:02 pm

You mean "Fun-Kins"? Those have been around for years. The best time to buy them is closer to autumn or after Halloween, when they go on sale to make room for Christmas. They're $10-20 in price, depending on size... and when you buy early or late in the season, you can get 40-70% off. So... $5 a fun-kin.

I have two I carved. X-acto knives make smoother cuts on the shell. I found electric bases for them (the kind with a plug). I taped red tissue paper in to give them a red-orange glow with the light.

My two carved fun-kins:

Personally, I prefer carving real pumpkins better because they have more than just 1/4-inch depth to the shell. Fun-kins take a while to carve, but you have to find storage space for them...

Andybev01 · Post by **Andybev01** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:53 pm

Great idea, using tissue paper!

Rising Dead Man · Post by **Rising Dead Man** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:29 pm

Fake pumpkins to carve? Never heard of that before! That is so clever! But I like the smell of a real lighted pumpkin. I might try one.

Andybev01 · Post by **Andybev01** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:27 pm

Yeah I tried one. They're messy but look good, and if the design is really intricate it's nice to save it.

But I agree with RDM, nothing beats the real thing.

Rising Dead Man · Post by **Rising Dead Man** » Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:29 pm

Yep thats right. Nothing can replace something real.

St0ney · Post by **St0ney** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:57 pm

I know a lot of folks that carve BOTH real and foam pumpkins.

The Foam pumpkins make great gifts.

And I just placed a new tutor up on my site on how to carve a foam pumpkin using a dremel.

here's a photo of the kin the tutor is based on.

the tutor is located at: http://www.stoneykins.com

Click the How 2 button.

St0ney

Rising Dead Man · Post by **Rising Dead Man** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:26 pm

That is a great Idea! A gift! Thanks st0ney!

DemonSlayerMau · Post by **DemonSlayerMau** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:01 am

Ah yes, I do agree they don't replace a real pumpkin, I myself have never had one.
But...they'd be great for someone allergic to pumpkins and squash...

Wicked Witch · Post by **Wicked Witch** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:22 pm

I get the craft pumpkins from Michaels - they are great - I use a versa tool knife (it gets hot) to cut mine - it's not really messy - no flecks or anything like that - just pumpkin pieces. I tried the pumpkin tools from Pumpkin Master and they just did not work very well for me. But, the versa tool is great! I really like using these pumpkins because it really bothers me to spend over an hour carving something only to have to throw it away. Plus I can put them out on October 1st and enjoy them all month long.

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