GLOWING GOURDS

You can turn pumpkins into “gord-geous” decor with this DIY tip from Woman’s World magazine.

For stripes, slice off the top of a pumpkin, scoop out the flesh, score vertical stripes with a knife and then use a spoon to scrape away stripes of skin to expose the fleshy part.

For a checkboard, use a knife to score a checkered pattern and scrape out every other square.

The safest way to light your creation is to pop in an LED tea light.

Now all you have to do is step back and admire your magical carving skills.

A NO-MESS HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN

Did you know that 46 percent of Americans carve a pumpkin for Halloween?

If you’re part of the 54 percent who would rather skip that messy task, the October issue of Better Homes & Gardens magazine has a simple, stylish and spooky solution.

Wrap any bendable wire of your choice around the pumpkin stem, then use the ends to form the silhouette of a tree. Leave some wire at the bottom to resemble the roots of the eerie tree.