RISMEDIA, October 22, 2009—The art of pumpkin carving is a centuries-old tradition, dating back to an ancient Celtic holiday called Samhain, meaning summer’s end. Over time, the tradition has evolved and the carved pumpkin (or Jack-o-Lantern) has become one of the most prominent symbols of Halloween.
While each Jack-o-Lantern is different with its own unique size and style, they all share one thing in common – on November 1, the carved pumpkin is immediately out-of-season and soon replaced by fall and Thanksgiving decor. Many people even wait until the last minute to do their carving to help ensure their pumpkin stays as fresh as possible for Halloween.
If you are looking to prolong the life of your pumpkin this year, you may want to think about using duct tape instead of the traditional carving method. Using duct tape as a decorative element for your pumpkin allows you to start on your design earlier, then change or remove it completely after Halloween, making it versatile enough to use throughout the fall. And styling your pumpkin in duct tape will eliminate the mess left behind from carving, while allowing you to be creative and colorful all at the same time.
Here are a few examples of how you can use duct tape to decorate:
Deck it out. Make an entire costume for your pumpkin. If you’re crafty and have some time, turn your pumpkin into a witch with a duct tape cape, hat and broom. For a quick and easy look, wrap your pumpkin in white duct tape for the perfect mummy motif.
Show your pride. With so many colors to choose from, it’s easy to pick a theme or use your pumpkin’s design to demonstrate your patriotism, celebrate your favorite sports team or pay tribute to your alma mater.
Go abstract. Step away from the traditional Halloween look- choose your favorite combination of duct tape colors and cover your pumpkin with some bright stripes, zigzags or polka dots.
Be a little two-faced. Can’t decide on a favorite design? You don’t have to- decorate both sides of your pumpkin and rotate it throughout the Halloween season. Try playing off dueling themes for inspiration, such as comedy and tragedy, day and night or cats and dogs.
Stuck on the Jack-o-Lantern face? Use pre-made stencils or make your own to use as guides to create the eyes, nose and mouth of your pumpkin’s unique expression.
A little imagination and a few rolls of duct tape are all you need to make your pumpkin stick out from the rest this Halloween. Using duct tape is a fun and creative project for the whole family, resulting in a one-of-a-kind decoration that will last throughout the season.
For more information, visit www.duckproducts.com.
