How To Carve A Whimsical Fairy House Jack-o-Lantern
This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Raven Minyard. Find her on Instagram at @raven.minyard. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Carving pumpkins has always been one of my favorite fall activities. I can spend hours scrolling through Pinterest trying to find the perfect design. Sometimes, a classic Jack-o-Lantern face is the best way to go, but other times I want to do something a bit more unique. When I saw a video of someone carving a fairy house pumpkin, I immediately knew I had to try it myself. This is a great seasonal craft for those who may not enjoy all the spookiness of Halloween but still want in on the fun, or those who simply want to add a little whimsy to their yard or garden. Keep reading to learn all about fairy house pumpkin carving and how to make one that is uniquely your own.
Choose Your Pumpkin
The first and most important thing you’ll need for a fairy house pumpkin is, of course, a pumpkin. I always go for the roundest pumpkin I can find, but choose whatever shape speaks to you. Since these are meant to look magical, choosing an oddly shaped pumpkin could add an extra layer of whimsy and playfulness. You could also make your own fairy villages by carving several pumpkins of different shapes, sizes and colors, or you could choose other types of gourds as well.
Carve Your Design
Your fairy house can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be, but all you’ll really need to carve is a door and a couple of windows. You’ll start by carving the pumpkin like usual, removing all the seeds and guts. I recommend cutting a hole in the bottom rather than the top because you’ll want the stem to be part of your fairy house’s decor, and carving from the bottom makes it easier to place the pumpkin over a lit candle rather than trying to light one inside of it.
Once your pumpkin is gutted and ready to go, cut out your door and windows. These can be any shape you want. You can stick to the standard rectangles or carve circular windows and an arched doorway. Your shapes don’t even have to be even. These are meant to look like a fairy DIYed their own house, so having slanted doors and crooked windows add to the cozy appeal. If you’re feeling fancy, shave patterns like flowers into your design by etching into the rind of the pumpkin. You can play into the size and shape of your pumpkin, as well. For example, if your pumpkin is tall, add a second story of windows! The best thing about fairy house pumpkins is that no two will ever be the same. Have fun with it and make your design entirely your own.
Add Your Decorations
Now that you’ve finished carving, it’s time to decorate. One of the cool things about this project is that other than needing a bit of hot glue, it can be decorated solely with natural materials. See what you can find in your backyard or take a stroll through your local park. Look for things like acorns, sticks, moss and leaves. You can use the sticks to create a door and shutters and then line the edges with your other finds for decorations. Not only does using natural materials make your fairy house look more realistic, but it’s also a great way to save money and reduce plastic use.
That being said, if you don’t have access to or simply don’t want to use natural items, that’s okay, too. You can use popsicle sticks and toothpicks for the doors and windows, and you can reuse fabrics and other materials from any DIY projects you’ve done in the past. Just keep your materials in mind when it comes time to dispose of the pumpkin!
When you’re finished decorating, admire your hard work by lighting a candle and bringing your fairy house to life. Just remember – never leave a lit candle unattended!
We hope you enjoyed this article on fairy house pumpkin carving! Have you ever made a fairy house Jack-o-Lantern? Let us know in the comments!