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Young House Love » Holiday & Entertaining » Baby’s First Halloween – A Little Handprint Pumpkin

| By John Petersik | October 28, 2010 | 198 Comments

Baby’s First Halloween – A Little Handprint Pumpkin

Even though we made four puffy painted pumpkins already (one for each family member), we knew we couldn’t let Clara’s first Halloween go by without some traditional pumpkin carving action as well. And last weekend’s trip to the pumpkin patch definitely got us in the mood. Here’s the queen of our world flinging her arms out as if to say “I’m the queen of the world!”

Pumpkin Hands Queen

And we even gave our royal highnesss the option to choose her very own pumpkin for herself, and she quickly picked this one out:

Pumpkin Hands Patch

Ok, so maybe “picking out” meant more like touching one of the pumpkins we sat her next to. But she truly couldn’t keep her hands off of that one in particular, so we brought it home for a mere $2 (she’s already thinking frugally!).

We knew we wanted to keep the carving simple, since we don’t always have time for complex around here anymore. And thinking about how Clara was getting all hands-y with the pumpkin back at the patch sparked an idea. All it took was Clara keeping her hand still long enough to get a good tracing.

Pumpkin Hand Tracing

Maybe “good” is a stretch, but we deemed the one of the left “workable enough.”

Pumking Hand Outline

We traced it on cardstock, so cutting it out left me with nice template to trace onto Clara’s pumpkin.

Pumpkin Hand Cut Out

The plan had always been to use two handprints as the pumpkin’s eyes, but the fact that the fingers made them look like feminine eyelashes was a happy accident. An accident we then ran with by adding some puckered lips for the mouth and a wavy hairline at the top. Guess our baby girl is getting a girly pumpkin!

Pumpkin Hand Drawn On

Some careful cutting later, we ended up with this:

Pumpkin Hands Done Light

And with the addition of a flameless candle votive we’ve got our traditional jack-o-lantern with a first-year-of-parenthood twist. Simple, but we quite like it.

Pumpkin Hands Done Lit Up

Oh, and speaking of Halloween, check out how we’re embarrassing dressing our kiddos this year for their first hurrah together.

Halloween Costumes

Yup, Clara’s a hamburger (in honor of her bro) and Burger’s reprising his role as a hot dog to complete the theme. Both are store bought (Clara’s from Old Navy, Burger’s from Target). Somehow I feel like our little lady’s gonna give us a hard time about this when she’s 16…

Psst- We announced our big winner for this week’s contest at the end of Monday’s original contest post. And Ikea actually surprised us by tripling the number of $350 gift cards they’re giving away. Click here to see if you’re part of that lucky trio!

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Filed Under: Holiday & Entertaining

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Comments

  1. Avatar for ChristineChristine says

    October 28, 2010 at 11:38 am

    Haha – this is laugh out loud cute!! What adorable little costumes! They’re so cute I could eat em’ ;)

    Reply
  2. Avatar for MelodyMelody says

    October 28, 2010 at 11:41 am

    LOVE the costumes!

    Reply
  3. Avatar for lindalinda says

    October 28, 2010 at 11:42 am

    burger looks soooo pissed!!!! great pics and clara’s jack-o-lantern is super spiffy!!!! perfect for a little lady…

    Reply
  4. Avatar for KateKate says

    October 28, 2010 at 11:42 am

    Meghan…We sprayed hairspray on our pumpkins and that seems to keep the squirrels away!

    Reply
  5. Avatar for Laura@JourneyChic[email protected] says

    October 28, 2010 at 11:43 am

    OMG – it’s all sooo cute! The pumpkin, the costumes…Love it!

    Reply
  6. Avatar for the artistthe artist says

    October 28, 2010 at 11:44 am

    Embarassing? Possibly (but not really. even though i pretend that i hate it, i am completely grateful that my parents loved me enough to dress me up in, erm, unique costumes and take photographs of me to share at embarassing moments like graduation parties. Actually embarassing would be if Clara WAS 16 and you attended her high school halloween party as some form of processed food).

    Are there plans in the works to make Clara-Hand-Print jack-o-lanterns every year as she grows up?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 28, 2010 at 11:45 am

      The Artist,

      It’s definitely a possibility! We’d just have to get bigger pumpkins as she grows to fit her hand prints!

      xo,
      s

  7. Avatar for MeganMegan says

    October 28, 2010 at 11:44 am

    Oh my gosh, I got that same costume for my 1 year old little boy, it is the cutest thing ever, and she looks sooo cute with Burger as the hot dog!

    Reply
  8. Avatar for Jessica J.Jessica J. says

    October 28, 2010 at 11:51 am

    I think you and Sherry need to dress up as chefs for halloween (aprons, chef hats, spatulas) to go along with the kids’ costumes. :)

    Reply
  9. Avatar for MandyMandy says

    October 28, 2010 at 11:51 am

    OMG, I love everything about this post. Clara takes amazing pics, love the one of her and John, and her and Burger are just too cute for words!! You are seriously tempting me to start thinking about having a baby, but I know mine won’t be nearly as cute as yours! And that pumpkin, what an awesome idea :) You guys rock!!

    And Mrs Hermit Crab posted today about Almost Dr Dan’s wedding, in case you didn’t know http://www.weddingbee.com/2010/10/28/officiating-a-wedding-2/#more-170285

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 28, 2010 at 11:52 am

      Thanks for the heads up Mandy! Off to check it out!

      xo,
      s

  10. Avatar for GinnyGinny says

    October 28, 2010 at 11:53 am

    My baby boy is being a hamburger and my dog a hotdog. The same costumes.

    Reply
  11. Avatar for jennyjenny says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    CUTE costumes and pumpkin…
    where’d ya get the flameless candle.? the one i have doesn’t seem to glow as bright :(
    thanks!
    happy first halloween clara!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 28, 2010 at 12:02 pm

      Hey Jenny,

      They were actually a gift from my mom but we think they might have come from Target.

      xo,
      s

  12. Avatar for ChristyChristy says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:02 pm

    Cute idea! I wonder how many people are going to go buy Fiber One bars now haha! I admit I’d be interested in what food lies in your casa!

    Reply
  13. Avatar for megan emegan e says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    I saw that hamburger costume on some vegetarian blog the other day. They modified it into a vegan-friendly cookie by cutting off the meat, cheese, lettuce and tomato and painting the sesame seeds brown. Wish I remembered the name of the blog, but thought it was a creative re-use.

    Reply
  14. Avatar for MichelleMichelle says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    Crazy cute! I’d like a hamburger and hotdog to go please. =D

    Reply
  15. Avatar for brandt @ New House on the Blogbrandt @ New House on the Blog says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:04 pm

    A hotdog and hamburger (and Burgs!)….awesome!

    And I’m a bit disappointed that you’re turning down $2.00 burritos! Then again, this is coming from someone who doesn’t have children – I’m sure the pros and cons of the situation don’t warrant the burrito (as good as they may be!).

    Awesome work.

    Reply
  16. Avatar for MelissaMelissa says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    Good golly gracious! Those two are just about the cutest pair I have ever seen!

    Many Blessings,
    Melissa

    Reply
  17. Avatar for Erin N.Erin N. says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:06 pm

    Those costumes are *hilarious*.

    Reply
  18. Avatar for JillJill says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    Love the hand print carving! I may have to steal that idea!

    Reply
  19. Avatar for AnuAnu says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    Hi guys !
    I wondered do you need any special tools to carve these pumpkins ? have 2 sitting on my table. know what to carve on them but not sure how. what is the flameless candle votive ? sounds practical
    Fun posts by the way!

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 28, 2010 at 12:09 pm

      We just got a two dollar pumpkin carving kit from the grocery store a few years back and we’ve been using them to carve our pumpkins ever since. They’re these long skinny handles with small cutting blades on the end that are easier to control than big knives. Hope it helps! As for the candle, it’s just a battery operated faux votive that flickers when it’s turned on so it’s not a fire hazard. I think my mom get them from Target (they were a gift from her).

      xo,
      s

  20. Avatar for DebraDebra says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    What an adorable way to get the little one involved when she can’t really be “that” involved. You guys are so smart. BTW…I am sure you probably know already but it was interesting going through the BHG website today and seeing a paired down pic of your master bedroom (before the curtain wall)
    http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/remodeling/gallery/weekend-home-projects/?page=12

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 28, 2010 at 12:11 pm

      So funny! Off to check it out!

      xo,
      s

  21. Avatar for AngelineAngeline says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    I can’t get over how adorable Clara is. Your handprint jack-o-lantern idea is awesome! And I’m sure she will be grateful that her parents have tons of documentation of her early life (hamburger halloween costumes included!)

    Reply
  22. Avatar for StephSteph says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    I adore the pumpkin and their costumes together are just too cute!!! Too too adorable!!!

    Reply
  23. Avatar for Lindsey RLindsey R says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    omgosh….soooooooo cute! Happy First Halloween Baby Clara!!

    Reply
  24. Avatar for LeahLeah says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:19 pm

    Love your creative pumpkin carving and the costumes are PERFECT!!

    Reply
  25. Avatar for Rebecca @ the lil house that couldRebecca @ the lil house that could says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:25 pm

    Adorable!! Is Clara eating her burger?

    I wish I could get my cat in a hotdog costume, but I can’t even get him to wear a collar. He prefers being naked I suppose…

    Reply
  26. Avatar for JessieJessie says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:27 pm

    The costumes cracked me up! My pup’s name is Taylor, and we often call her Tator. This year she’s going as a Tator Tot :) She would fit right in with your crew!

    Reply
  27. Avatar for lovethisjunklovethisjunk says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:34 pm

    omg!!!! This is so cute, I want to squeal! Love it. Happy Halloween!!!

    Reply
  28. Avatar for CarolynCarolyn says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    Cutest costumes ever!

    Reply
  29. Avatar for AllisonAllison says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    Too Cute!!! I wondered when we would see the costumes! I don’t think you could have picked better ones out! Love them!

    Reply
  30. Avatar for r8chelr8chel says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:45 pm

    I like the outfit she wore to the pumpkin patch. It coordinates so nicely.

    And I would have never thought to use handprints as eyes, but it totally works as a girly jack-o-lantern!

    Reply
  31. Avatar for TammieTammie says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    You two are very creative. Loved the pumpkin idea. Kudos on teh costumes too!

    Reply
  32. Avatar for ErikaErika says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:52 pm

    What a great idea for carving a pumpkin! I may have to copy you on that one :)
    And I LOVE the Halloween costumes!

    Reply
  33. Avatar for BethBeth says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:55 pm

    How long do your carved pumpkins last? We carved one early in the week and already had to throw it out due to all the mold – and that happened last year, too. Anything I can do to make them last longer?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 28, 2010 at 12:57 pm

      We usually carve ours at the last minute (like the weekend before) but we don’t have any secret tricks beyond that. Anyone else know how to make pumpkins last longer? Can you rub or spray something on the cut parts to keep them from decaying as fast?

      xo,
      s

  34. Avatar for LydiaLydia says

    October 28, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    The pumpkin is adorable!!! :) (so are the costumes)

    Beth- I heard that you can spray Lysol inside your pumpkins to keep them from molding quickly.

    Reply
  35. Avatar for AndreaAndrea says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    Just wanted to say that this post made me especially happy today :)

    (Maybe it’s because it’s my birthday today and I’m in an already gleeful mood) But I especially adored the photos of Clara.

    Reply
  36. Avatar for CarlaCarla says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    What a small (+ friendly) world! My son is going to be the same hamburger and I just got a hot dog costume for my mom’s pug! I’ll be posting lots of pictures after the main event.

    Reply
  37. Avatar for EmilyEmily says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    Best post so far! LOVE it!

    Reply
  38. Avatar for JenJen says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    Love the pumpkin! And the picture of Clara while John’s tracing her hand is too adorable!!!

    Reply
  39. Avatar for MaryMary says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    Hehe “store brought” is that similar to the 5 finger discount?

    Clara is getting cuter every day! And what fun would it be if it didn’t potentially embarrass her in 15 years??

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 28, 2010 at 1:18 pm

      Oops we meant store bought! Fixed!

      xo,
      s

  40. Avatar for ErinErin says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:18 pm

    Sherry….we need more pics of you and Clara! Don’t get me wrong, John is cute, but as a mom, I cherish the few pictures I have with my boys!! ;-)

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 28, 2010 at 1:19 pm

      Hey Erin,

      Just click that cute button on the sidebar with Clara’s mug on it to see our full album of pics since Clara’s birth. There are definitely some with me and my bean- I’m just the resident photographer so John ends up in more of them than me.

      xo,
      s

  41. Avatar for jennjenn says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    hahaha omg at the hamburger costume…i hope she makes you pay for that later :P

    totally cute though :)

    Reply
  42. Avatar for AmberAmber says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:42 pm

    Those costumes are hilarious!

    Reply
  43. Avatar for ChristieChristie says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    Hey! Our pup Macie is also a hot dogger for Halloween! No burger babes yet. :) Such a cute Jack O Lantern!

    Reply
  44. Avatar for PattiPatti says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    Clara’s hamburger costume had me laughing out loud! It looks like it’s swallowing her up!

    Reply
  45. Avatar for Heidi H.Heidi H. says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:49 pm

    Mmm, I LOVE Fiber One Bars! I eat one everyday! hehe

    Your Clara is a DOLL! I LOVE that picture of her with John. Sooo cute!

    Reply
  46. Avatar for LauraLaura says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:51 pm

    OMG you are Greek! Makes me love your blog just that much more.

    Love the pumpkin!

    Reply
  47. Avatar for Chick in CzechChick in Czech says

    October 28, 2010 at 1:53 pm

    Clara is adorable! Is that a Phi Sigma Pi shirt?

    Reply
    • Avatar for YoungHouseLoveYoungHouseLove says

      October 28, 2010 at 1:54 pm

      Yup. I love it because it says “talk nerdy to me” on the back. It’s how I snagged my cute wife.

      -John

  48. Avatar for Running in the DeltaRunning in the Delta says

    October 28, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    Omigaaaaaah! Those costumes are too much for my SOUL! Love it. Clara is such a cutie…so much personality in her sweet face.
    ~Laura

    Reply
  49. Avatar for LynnLynn says

    October 28, 2010 at 2:08 pm

    Both the costumes and the pumpkin rock. I’ve been wanting to carve a couple with my kids and I think they would love this idea. I love that it’s a face, but cute not scary and unique. Plus, if I walk around town Saturday and see a bunch of similar jack-o-lanterns, I’ll know who else reads your blog.

    Reply
  50. Avatar for Jen @ The Decor SceneJen @ The Decor Scene says

    October 28, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    I absolutely love that pumpkin. What an awesome idea. And all lite up is even nicer. Way cute for Clara’s first pumpkin. And those costumes are just too cute.

    Reply
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John and Sherry smiling against pink backgroundHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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