Anyone can carve a Jack O’Lantern, a creative Halloween pumpkin. A scary face. A big toothy smile. Heck, people have been cutting up pumpkins for centuries. In fact, 46% of Americans will channel their inner artiste and carve a pumpkin this year. Here are ten creative Halloween pumpkins to inspire you to greater heights and step out of the gourd, er, box.

10. Drips

Melting crayons with a blow dryer and letting them drip, haphazardly, down the outside of the pumpkin can create a colorful look without the use of a knife.

9. Hole-y Toledo

Another no-cut method is to grab the cordless drill. Go to town and drill as many holes as you can in your pumpkin. Once you place a candle inside, these creative Halloween pumpkins will sparkle like stars in the sky.

8. Painted

This technique has been used by the parents of preschoolers for years. Set up shop in the garage or lay down some drop cloths in the kitchen and let them paint a face on their pumpkins instead of getting frustrated at Halloween by not being able to wield the knife.

7. Wreath

Grapevine wreaths have adorned the front doors of many a home in the fall. A twist on tradition is to cover them with mini pumpkins and gourds, finishing it all off with an autumnal ribbon.

6. Chalkboard Paint

This stuff is everywhere now, but who would have thought it would make such a creative Halloween pumpkin?! Apply the chalkboard paint and then use your pumpkin to count down the days until the candy overload.

5. Spell It Out

Another great idea is to spell out a message with several pumpkins. If you are having guests over, use six pumpkins, displayed on your front porch, that spell out “P A R T Y !” Genius, right?!

4. All Grown Up in White

As the sophisticated cousin of Jack, the white pumpkin lends itself to a more upscale décor. Try painting your last initial on it in a curvy font and adding it to your mantel display.

3. Topiary

The evergreen topiary is ubiquitous in December. Why not make one with Styrofoam and mini pumpkins for Halloween? You can use them on a hall table, a mantel or even give them as gifts. You can also go big and stack up to four or five large pumpkins at your front door with your house numbers painted on them.

2. Gilded

Although this takes a certain level of patience, applying gold leaf makes for some of the more beautiful and creative Halloween pumpkins.

1. Creative Halloween pumpkin Welcome Design

Keep things simple and use some black paint to write “Welcome” or “Happy Halloween” on an orange pumpkin. Add it to a display in a red wagon or wooden wheel barrel at your front walk. You are sure to get a smile and a wave or two from your neighbors.