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Drilling Holes In Your Pumpkins For Spooky Wood Snakes

Just to be clear, that post title is meant to be said in a Dr. Dre-esque fashion like he does in this song (aw yeah, $herdog still rocks out to the clean version of this 1999 classic). And now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about something hardcore. Pumpkins, yo.

This year we got lumpy bumpy orangy-red ones instead of the usual smooth yellow-orange guys just for kicks. The coolest thing about them is that they have stems on the bottom and top, which is kind of fun. Pretty much as soon as we got them home we got to work hollowing them out, and I directed John to make a face like a serial killer (am I the only one who types cereal killer and then has to backspace and correct myself every time?) and we got this stellar shot. In John’s defense, he does look awesomely creepy… so… mission accomplished.

Pumpkin1

Mmm, pumpkin seeds. Those were all eaten before these photos were even uploaded. What does that say about us? Either we’re sadly slow bloggers or just very hungry for seasonal delicacies. I’ll go with the latter. And now, just because I’ve been having fun with “___, there it is” lately…

Scoop, there it is.

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Once we had both pumpkins hollowed out we got to break out the power tools. Yeah buddy. I told you these pumpkins were gonna be hardcore. We actually came up with this crazy idea in bed a few days beforehand (wait, that sounds wrong, we were just doing some horizontal brainstorming, wait that sounds wrong again – we were just thinking about pumpkins before bed, ok?).

Pumpkin3

We were saying how it would be fun to do something wormy for our worm-loving Clara (like carving holes and then sticking gummy worms into all of them so they looked like they were creeping out) when we realized that we still had these wooden craft store snakes that I painted last year.

Halloween Decor6

And since Clara loves these wiggly little snakes just as much as worms, we realized we could combine them with pumpkins for a snake-tastic Halloween effect. And thus, the idea of using the more snake-sized bit on the drill to make the holes was born. I loved how the drill made little ribbons of pumpkin as it went through.

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Oh snap. Those are some bad a$$ pumpkins. Mixed in with some pretty sinister ceramic animals. You totally wouldn’t want to run into them in a dark alley, right? Let’s get a little closer…

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Aw yeah, there it is. A lumpy wart-ish double-stemmed pumpkin that has been infested with snakes! And then a ratty old crow came down and landed on it. That’s some tough luck for Mr. Pumpkin, eh? Bummers for you dude.

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Here’s the other guy. All holed up and snaked out.

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And I couldn’t help myself so I rearranged my printing block letters that spell LOVE to say EVIL (I drew in the “I” on the back side of the O a few years back here) along with adding a few other you-shouldn’t-be-surprised things like…

Pumpkin8

… ceramic animals! Holla. Don’t they look awesomely creep-tastic when they’re grouped with a crow, some snakes, and two gnarled old pumpkins? I love how the frog and the pumpkins both have warts.

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I even grabbed our white ceramic rabbit from the deck because for some reason he seemed like he could be a little “rabidly scary” in the right setting. I think it works. Plus, if you were a ceramic bunny, wouldn’t it be a little bit thrilling to end up displayed with other tougher creatures like snakes and crows? It’s like he gets to take a walk on the wild side for a hot second before ducking back over into cute fuzzy bunny territory the rest of the year.

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I kinda wished I could paint “blood” in drippy red paint over the word “love” in the art, but that would be permanent, so maybe I’ll cut out the letters from red construction paper and delicately stick them on with poster putty or something. Or I’ll just leave it and ignore the uplifting and happy quote above my spooky little table of Halloween goodness.

Oh and we still have to frame our skullified selves (made a few years back thanks to Photoshop) in the hallway frame wall. This baby comes out every year and we play the “slip it into a frame grouping and see who notices” game.

Halloween Scary Wedding Pic

Speaking of ghosts of Halloweens past, we have nearly a dozen Halloween posts on our Holiday project page, complete with a bunch of creep-a-delic projects, tablescapes, and more – so if you’re looking for puffy painted pumpkins, maniacal monograms, batty bid-ness, or bloody candles, we’ve got you covered.

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What are you guys doing to spook things up at home? Does it involved ceramic animals and a power drill? If it doesn’t, $herdog strongly encourages you to reconsider. Ya heard?  *mic drop*

Psst- John misses you guys and is sorry he hasn’t blogged for a few days. He’s been working on our powerpoint presentation for our talk in Cincy this Saturday (I’ll pause while he mimes pushing his glasses up his nose and putting on his pocket protector) but he’ll be dropping in later and tomorrow with those posts for ya!

Comments

  1. Laura says

    You could also leave the ‘o’ in your evil spelling because in the words of the great Mr. Mathers “Love is evil, spell it backwards I’ll show ya.”

    And awesome pumpkins!

    Reply

  2. april says

    great ideas! as always. BTW…thought you should know that your BFF Marshall Mathers is now 40 years old. Can’t believe you didn’t put up an Eminem tribute yesterday.

    Reply

  3. jeannette says

    totally with you on the stereophonic pumpkin—–>toad warts.
    i love the sense of festive conviviality that changing out decorations (as per the mantel) conveys. i think it’s important.
    if nobody’s turned you on to the wonderful waverly fitzgerald and her school of the seasons, and the zines she has for celebrations for each holiday/solstice, let me commend them to your attention. it has the same spirit of paying attention and festivity these decorations of yours do. i have her harvest holiday packet, and its full of inspiration for decoration and celebration and loving on your home.
    http://www.schooloftheseasons.com/store/packets.html

    Reply

  8. Sarah says

    My favorite pumpkin carving idea came from a magazine a few years back and I tried it with great success. I took a white pumpkin and you mark out strips around the circumference, then cut them out, effectively making it look like a bandaged mummy pumpkin. In two slits in the front you add in two marbles for eyes and you have yourself a pretty neat little guy!
    So far I haven’t done pumpkins this year though. In an effort to beat my sister in New Orleans I have started a tradition of putting skeletons on the front porch in different positions. One is walking up the steps, one is scaling the wall near the front door and one (which accidentally had his leg broken) is now in a “Thinker” pose using his broken leg as the prop!

    Reply

  9. T. Y. Lee says

    My Halloween tradition is doing internet emoticons. Weird, I know, but it’s kind of become a thing and I don’t even know it became a thing, but every year, I carve a different emoticon. I haven’t decided which one to carve this year, but I use winky-faces a lot, so I guess ;) it is!

    Reply

  12. Kristin says

    Clearly I read too many food blogs, because you faked me out in a foodie way again. I saw the leaf tray & was wondering why you had chocolate glazed desserty bars sitting on your table. The next photo cleared up that little question. The new question is whether I need lunch or a new contact prescription!

    Reply

  13. Julie B. says

    Speaking of inner Dre voices, where is the Cali-forn-ia loooove on your book tour? So happy for your family, by the way. I started following your blog while I was hugely pregnant and on a nesting spree(you guys where expecting Clara at the time). It’s wonderful to see your book come to fruitation; couldn’t have happened to a nicer family!

    And don’t worry…I ain’t mad at ‘cha. (See how I did that?) ;)

    Reply

  15. Christian Harrison says

    You need a new painting!

    Maybe a darker painting — something dreary, perhaps. The lettering could read:

    ALL YOU NEED IS BLOOD

    Reply

  18. Koliti says

    Creepy and original – eek! Inspired by Clara – YAY!

    I can’t tell what’s in the cloche (?spelling)…
    a bowl of cereal and a ceramic mouse? With a little tiny knife? haha!

    I like a previous poster’s idea of putting little fangs on the bunny. You have to watch out for those cute quiet ones…

    In your travels for printing letters – do you ever come across a ‘7’? It could be an ‘L’. Also added bonus is 7s are your thing.

    Reply

  20. Kim says

    Um have you SEEN Donnie Darko?! The giant bunny creature is the stuff of nightmares. No me gusta.

    In other news, I’m excited to see you guys in Cincy! None of my friends follow your blog (well one does but she just had a baby!) so I’m dragging my boyfriend along. Sucker. He has no idea what he’s in for! Haha.

    Reply

  24. CB says

    Does that “All you need is love” frame have glass in it? If so, you could probably do some type of washable treatment to the glass. “All you need is blood” would be an awesome addition to your little vignette!

    Reply

  25. Katy says

    This post is hilarious! Thanks for the Dr. Dre/Snoop flashback. I’ll be singing all day for my seventh grade students. The cool ones will know the song. (Crazy to think that most seventh graders today weren’t even born when this came out!)

    Reply

  26. jennifer says

    All I could sing while trying to read was “Hold up wait a minute. Don’t go there ’cause I ain’t wit it”….Good lord, that was a long time ago!

    Reply

  28. Jessica says

    Off-topic: Have you realized that your book is #146 in the BOOKS category on Amazon? Not just in DIY or Decorating, but BOOKS?! Holy crap. You must be so excited!

    Reply

  30. Laurel says

    Just wanted to let you know that as soon as I heard it was Eminem’s birthday today, I immediately thought of you!! Haha!!!

    Reply

  31. Erin @ WriteTasty says

    What creepy pumpkins! I love the “worms” crawling in and out, and that you used Clara as inspiration for this year’s theme. Would vinyl cut-outs work over the canvas for an injury-free seasonal change?

    Reply

  32. Kala says

    I love your snakey pumpkins. I wonder if you could paint some drippy red blood on some kind of clear plastic. Maybe like the stuff they used for those overhead projector pages or the plastic you can buy for wrapping up gift baskets. Then you could hang it on the front of the Love picture. It wouldn’t be permanent and you could still see the picture behind it. Though maybe it wouldn’t look as good as it does in my head. That sometimes happens. :)

    Reply

  33. Caitlin says

    You can also spell “VOLE” using the letter blocks- that’s what I did at my sister’s wedding! She had a photobooth set up, with props, including gilded letters that spelled LOVE. So of course my friends and I took a picture for her spelling out VOLE! :-)

    Reply

  34. katalina says

    Best pumpkin was carved by by friend who is a decoy carver. I went out of town and when I came back there was a cat pumpkin on my doorstep!

    I use linoleum wood cut tools because I am scaaaaaaaarrred of knives and you can do lots of cool carving details.

    I love pumpkin anything–but sadly starbucks does not have any gluten free pumpkin scones, muffins or bread. .. or anything…

    Reply

  36. Sarah says

    Hiya!

    I’ve read your blog for a couple of years now but I’ve never left a comment. Just a bit shy I suppose! I wanted to let you know that the background of your blog says habitat for humanity all over to the extent that it’s hard to read the text. In sure other people have told you but it didnt mention it in the comments so on the off chance I’m the first to see I wanted to let you know.

    Thanks for all the ideas and I love the bright colours that you’re bringing to the ‘new’ house!

    Sarah

    Reply

  38. Jessica says

    Love the bumpy pumpkins. But I LOVE that you all will be in Cincinnati Saturday!! I will run my butt over to you all after completing the Cincy Half Marathon. Maybe John can join? See you all soon!

    Reply

  39. Heather @ What Does She Do All Day? says

    What a fun way to dress up your pumpkins!

    I was hoping to come out and see you guys this Saturday, but it looks like I’ll be “holed up” with the kids. I don’t really think I want to bring a newborn and 2 year old with me……… I’m so bummed because I’m just up the road in Dayton. :(

    Reply

  40. Jaime Whall says

    Sherry,
    For the painting just put caution tape over “love” and hang “blood” from that! You can stick the tape to the frame and no worries about it ruining the painting.

    Reply

  41. Julia says

    I read this part: “Pretty much as soon as we got them home we got to work hollowing them out, and I directed John to make a face like a serial killer…” and immediately started thinking – John is going to carve the face of a serial killer into the pumpkin! Wow! LOL

    Reply

  45. Lauren Nicole says

    This comment has nothing to do with halloween. But I thought you should know that it is almost unbearable for me to read your blog this week, because I know you are coming to Cincy this weekend (which is your closest stop to me) and I can’t come meet you. Fiddlesticks! Darn my set-in-stone plans that cannot be cancelled!

    Reply

  46. Anna says

    Cereal Killers, Evil Rabbits & Horizontal Brainstorming.
    It sounds like a wicked & slightly depraved B horror movie.

    O_o

    Reply

  49. Kjirsti says

    I just realized that I am going to be in Cincinnati running their half marathon while you guys are there. Books by the Banks is just a few blocks from where we’ll run. I’m hoping to stop in and say hi after the race. My older sister and I joke about how obsessed we are with you guys- “what did you think of X on YHL” will randomly come up in conversation. Maybe if I come meet you both I won’t feel like such a stalker!

    (Just promise me you won’t comment on my smell!)

    Reply

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