We need change, and we need compassion, and we each need to cast our vote for our future. 

 

 

Why not share your love of voting with your kids? Democracy is cool! 
And since it also happens to be pumpkin season…

I made a fun VOTE pumpkin template! Carve it with your family (or roommate) and talk about all the great things you hope for in the future.
 
Then, just place that pumpkin right outside and let it share the word: VOTE!!!

What you’ll need:

• Pumpkin
• Scissors
• Scotch tape
• Carving tools if available. Like this one.
• Bowl for the pumpkin gut goodness
• Paper Towels
• Newspaper or cardboard under carving space

 

Step 1:

Buy your favorite pumpkin.
Hint: The ones with the greenest stems will last the longest. 

 

 

Step 2:

Print template >

You can resize template when you print it, but if you print it to scale on a letter-sized sheet of paper it will work well for a medium pumpkin.

 

 

Step 3:

Carefully cut off the pumpkins stem by making a circle around the top of the pumpkin.

 

 

Step 4:

Remove all the pumpkin goodness inside and place in your bowl, seeds and all. Try to especially clear out the side that you’ll be carving on, so that it’s clean and ready to go. That will be your canvas.

 

 

Step 5:

Tape your template onto the pumpkin in the position where you want to carve it.

 

 

Step 6:

If you have tools: Use the tiny tool to trace your letters and transfer it onto the pumpkin. Then remove the paper and carve away.

If you don’t have tools: Cut out the grey letters one by one.

Hint: I find it’s helpful to cut out the letters in pieces. For the heart, first cut half the heart, and then the other half. Go slow.

 

Step 7:

I sprayed my pumpkins with hair spray this year and 5 days later (knock on wood) no squirrels have attacked them. Yay! (Maybe they're just being nice to us since it’s been a year. Who knows?) If you happen to have any good squirrel repellent tips, please reply!

 

 

Step 8:

Step back and admire the awesomeness of your VOTE pumpkin!

Tag your pumpkins online with @lanasshop. I'd love to share them around! 

Bonus Fun Stuff: 

What to do with all those pumpkin seeds!

Easy Pumpkin Seed Recipe

image: Iheartnaptime.com

• Fill a bowl with water and a colander.
• Rinse your seeds and take out as much of the goop as you can.
• I let mine dry on a baking sheet in a thin layer overnight.
• Mix 1.5 cups of dry seeds with 2 tsp melted butter and a pinch of salt (you can salt more after baking if you’d like). 
• Spread on a baking sheet.
• Bake at 300 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Check them often until they are golden brown.

 

YUM!!!