5 ways to use up leftover pumpkin.

Hey readers, 

Many people this month with be carving a pumpkin for Halloween but you may be one of those people wondering what to do with the leftovers. 

Here are five ways you can use up a pumpkin and reduce the waste that happens after Halloween. 

1. Feed the birds. 

A great way to use a pumpkin is to make a bird feeder.

 All you need to do is clean out the pumpkin. 

If the craving is a bit wonky on the pumpkin cut that out and make it into a bowl shape. 

Poke a dowel into the pumpkin a few inches down from the top edge you just cut.

 Push it straight out through the opposite side of the pumpkin. 

Poke the second dowel through the pumpkin so it crosses just under the first dowel. 

Cut the twine into four equal lengths.

 Tie a strand to each dowel. 

Then tie the loose ends together in a large knot at the top.

 Fill the pumpkin with birdseed, and then hang it up for the birds to get out. 

2. Pumpkin Pie. 

A classic recipe is, of course, the humble pumpkin pie that will be a hit for the sweet tooth people out there. 

Here is a brilliant recipe from BBC Good Food that keeps it simple and a classic formula to follow which makes the perfect sweet treat during October and November.

3. Pumpkin compost.

You can use pumpkin on the compost.

 If you don't have a compost pile already then find a dark and shady spot in your garden to place your hollowed-out pumpkin. 

Smash up the pumpkin with a hammer as breaking the pumpkin up into smaller pieces helps speed up the process of compost. 

Loosely place some materials such as leaves, sawdust, or wood chippings over the pumpkin. 

This will help protect the pumpkin from pests and insects whilst airing it out.

Finally, let mother nature take her course and take a few weeks for the pumpkin to turn into nutrient-rich compost for the garden. 

Then you can spread it on the plants for a winter treat. 

4. Plant it. 

An alternative way to use up the leftover pumpkin is to plant with it succulents and a great way to use as autumnal decoration for the home. 

All you need to do is clean out the pumpkin and dry it off. Then fill up the pumpkin with soil and place succulents into the pumpkin, such a fun and clever way to use a pumpkin. Below is a fun example of how to do it from Succulents and Sunshine. 

5. Arty.

If you have children then using the leftover pumpkin as a material to use to make art with them. 

While it’s still firm, you can use the inside flesh to make a stamp for children to take pictures with, using the seeds to add to the patterns.

What kind of things do you like to do with a leftover pumpkin? I love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X 

My Sunday Photo 03/10/2021

 

31 cosy autumn activities - October bucket list.

 Hey readers, 

It is officially autumn and I thought as October is on the horizon a put together a list of some cosy activities you can do by yourself, with your partner or family. 

1. Locate knitwear.

2. Warm up with a fire in the garden.

3. Burn candles and gives a cosy feel especially when you turn down the lights.

 

4. Pick a pumpkin at a pumpkin farm. 

5. Make a pie such as an apple pie, pumpkin pie, rhubarb pie. 

6. Go trick or treating with your kids.

7. Go stargazing now that the nights are getting darker. 

8. Make some toffee apples. 

9. Watch a film with a blanket. 

10. Make hot chocolate. 

11. Go for a walk and kick the leaves. 

12. Swap over your clothes for warmer items such as long-sleeved tops, jumpers, and heavier coats.

 

13. Go for a walk through the woods check out local woodlands close to you here.

14. Make some soup. 

15. Make some cider. 

16. Go on a bike ride. 

17. Do something crafty with pinecones. 

18. Go apple picking.

19. Go puddle splashing. 

20. Make plans for winter.

21. Carve a pumpkin. 

22. Go for afternoon tea. 

23. Make an autumn wreath for your front door. 

24. Take some seasonal photos of the family outdoors. 

25. Plan a Halloween party.

26. Go conker picking.

27. Fly a kite on a windy day.

28. Toast marshmallows on a fire.

29. Go to a fright night. 

30. Decorate your home for Halloween. 

31. Go to the autumn fair.

What do you think about my list? Anything that caught your eye? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

Floating hand punch for Halloween recipe

Hey readers, 

Looking for a show stopper for Halloween then you need to make these floating hand punch.

 What you will need. 

*  2 plastic latex gloves. 

  

*  Fruit punch.

*  Raspberries.

*  Small tray. 

How to make the floating hands. 

1. Turn the gloved inside out and wash with hot water to get rid of the powder residue. 

2. Fill the rubber gloves with water and then tip them at the top. 

3. Place inside the freezer making sure that fingers rest on something so they won't bend or get broken off. 

4. Make sure that there are no gaps of air between the fingers and palm as fingers won't be attached. 

5. It could take a few hours so might be best to leave overnight so the hand becomes solid in ice. 

6. Get a small tray pour in some fruit punch, fill, it up high, and then put in some raspberries. 

7.  Once the hand is frozen solid cut away the glove carefully with scissors and remove it away from the ice hand. 

8. Place the hands in the tray and there you have a creepy ice hand perfect for the Halloween celebrations. 

Happy Halloween.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 26/09/2021

10 non-carving decorative ideas for your pumpkin!

Hey readers,

Looking for simple and effective pumpkin decorating ideas without carving then look no further as I have 10 ideas to get you feeling creative. 

  

1. Black. 

A cute idea from Lovely Indeed with small pumpkins is to paint black and write words such as boo, or even someone's name to give a personal touch. What is even better is you don't have to carve the pumpkin so super easy to do at home.

2. Confetti. 

Check out these confetti pumpkins by Mod Podge Rocks which are perfect for a Halloween party decoration perfect for children, no glue gun and uses modge podge which is suitable to use with children.

3. Mummy.

A simple but this idea looks really good are these mummy pumpkins. All you need is a cheesecloth, a glue gun, and googly eyes. Check out Mother's Niche who tells you step by step how to make this masterpiece. 

4. Dotty.

Go dotty with this pumpkin and all you need is a black sharpie and draw dots all over the pumpkin. 

5. Flirty.

This next idea comes from Hadley Court with this flirty pumpkin. You need to draw some eyelashes with a sharpie pen and spray paint the stork with glittery silver paint and there you have a fun pumpkin on your hands. 

6. Witch.

Inspired by The Craft Patch with this spooktacular idea with simply getting the old black sharpie out draw eyes and put a witch hat on, boom no stress!

7. Eyes on you. 

A very straightforward idea you paint the pumpkin black, then get different shaped googly eyes and glue them onto the pumpkin and you have this spooky pumpkin. 

8.  White.

Idea from Oopsey Daisy Blog where you either buy a white pumpkin or spray paint the pumpkin white. Then buy a spider jewel sticker and place it on the pumpkin. Next, you will need some black jewels you can stick on above the spider to indicate it's a trail.

9. Jack Skellington. 

Spray paint the pumpkin white and then paint the stork black. Next, get the trusted black sharpie pen and drawn the big circles for the eyes, little ones for the nose, and then copy the mouth. There you have your own Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas. 

10. Gold. 

A simple but effective one is to spray paint your pumpkin with gold spray paint and looks really effective I think. 

Do you like my list of non- carving pumpkin decoration ideas? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

The best kids activities to do this Halloween.

Hey readers,

I have scrolled the internet to find my favorite Halloween activities that can inspire you this Halloween.

Halloween Slime. 

The first port of call has to be slime, I mean what child doesn't like slime. 

But this is special slime because not only is it slime but it is Halloween slime making it much spookier. 

This will keep your little darlings entertained for aggggggeees. Also, before I forget this Halloween slime recipe has 3 easy ingredients which means we are winning. 

Thanks go to the brilliant The Best Ideas For Kids for an amazing recipe so go check out their Halloween slime.

Halloween Scanavager Hunt. 

A fun-filled activity to do is Halloween themed scavenger hunt where you find Halloween-themed items on a list and tick them a pumpkin. 

Kids love being active so this is one that will be a big hit. 

There are so many free printable ones but I particularly like this one as it is not too complicated and is lots of fun from Growing Healthy Kids.

Apple Bobbing.

Of course, a classic game that is still ever popular to this day is apple bobbing. 

What you have to do is get some apples and put them in a washing-up bowl full of water. The object is to get the apple out of the bowl with your mouth and not use your hands. 

Frozen Statues.

There are plenty of playlists on Spotify or Youtube or you could have your own cd of Halloween hits to hand.

 To play the frozen statue game kids have to dance to the music but when the music stops everyone has to stay statue-still.

 The first person who moves is out. Carry on with the format until the final person who stays statue still wins. 

Halloween Tic Tac Toe. 

The classic game of tic tac toe is to get three pieces in a line diagonal, straight, or across wins.

 This Halloween they come with a twist as you paint stones monsters (green), ghosts (white), or devils (red) and use orange washy tape on the floor as your markers for the game. 

You can check out the amazing smashedpeasandcarrots who explains and does a brilliant job to learn more. 

Trick or Treating. 

One of the most popular children's Halloween activities is to dress up in a scary outfit and knock on neighbours doors saying trick or treat.

 Then the neighbour will either hands out treats or asks for a dare (much more likely the dare occurs these days mind).  

It is just a fun way of engaging with the community and people dress up the homes to make them spooky. 

Pumpkin Carving.

A lot of people buy pumpkins from a pumpkin patch or their local supermarket.

 Then they gut out the insides of their pumpkin and carve the pumpkin to look fun or scary.

I also have a post called 5 ways to use up leftover pumpkin may be of use if you are not sure what to do with leftover pumpkin.

 There are many free resources online to help you feel inspired such as the one below taken from loads of Halloween stencils curiosity of Pumpkin Lady.

What is your favourite kid's Halloween activity? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Cheers for reading X