Real Solutions: Use Pumpkins as House Markers

Pumpkins take over the world during this time of year, cropping up in everything from lattes to lanterns, making them essential to any autumn decor. 

By scraping away the top layer but not cutting all the way through, the numbers will glow when you put a candle inside.

We often use pumpkins in the Beekman 1802 Mercantile as signage, and you can do the same at your home. Set up a collection of pumpkins, squash, or gourds (any but the tiniest ones or those with bumps all over them) and use them to display your house or street address. It's great for Halloween parties, or for making your place stand out to trick-or-treaters, and will transition right into the pre-Thanksgiving season without feeling too spooky. For other fall events, like weddings and dinner parties, experiment with letters as initials. 

More: How to make homemade candy corn while you're at it. 

White pumpkins, sometimes called ghost pumpkins, are a slightly more sophisticated alternative to classic orange orbs.

Use paint, markers, self-adhesive mailbox numerals, or a linoleum carving tool to write the numbers—and if you like a certain font, just type the numbers or letters up in a huge size (larger than 72, which is actually only an inch tall!) print them off to use as stencils. 

Photos by the Beekman Boys

How are you using up pumpkins now that carving season is coming to a close? Let us know in the comments!