22 Essentials for Your Halloween Pumpkin Carving Party

Kate Reid
Oct 21, 2015

Carving pumpkins is one of the BEST parts of Halloween. So why not turn it into an even bigger part of your All Hallows’ Eve celebration by hosting a pumpkin carving party? Call up your best pals — make sure they know to BYOP (bring your own pumpkin) — and start planning your shindig. Since hosting can be a lot of pressure, we’ve rounded up these essentials to help you nail a memorable partay.

1. BYOP Invitation ($10): Make your party official and ensure guests save the date by creating your own clever invite, or peruse the web to find one like this cute Etsy “BYOP” (bring your own pumpkin) invite. (via StudioAMDesign)

2. Halloween Photo Prop Party Pack ($22): What’s better than a photo booth with props? NOTHING, that’s what. Make your own photo booth area for your pumpkin carving party and put together some fun props like Halloween costume masks, feather boas and all that jazz.

3. DIY Apron With Secret Pocket: No one wants pumpkin guts on their outfits. Make sure your guests are outfitted prior to carving with some fun aprons. You can go DIY crazy with aprons like this colorful beauty, or opt to purchase them if it’s easier. (via Brit + Co)

4. Printable Pumpkin Carving Templates: How cool is this Beyoncé pumpkin carving template? Give guests the option to draw on their own designs or carve using a variety of templates you’ve pre-printed. There are tons of free templates online, but this list of 40 is a great starting place. (via Brit + Co)

5. Pineapple Pup Costume: Don’t forget to dress your furry friends! They deserve to be part of the fun too. (via Brit + Co)

6. No-Carve Pumpkin Ideas: Go the extra mile and offer crafty alternatives for decorating pumpkins (carved or un-carved). How epic are the gold foil confetti pumpkins above? (via Brit + Co)

7. Chic Gold Leaf Pattern Pumpkins: Metallic pens are another great decorating tool to have on hand. They can easily take items from bland to glam with just a few steps. (via Brit + Co)

8. ACME Striped Paper Straws ($24): The little things really *can* make all the difference. Use these pretty little orange paper straws to serve as accents to whatever festive cocktail you serve.

9. Labeled Buckets: Guts, seeds and tools, oh my! Label buckets for these three items to help keep your pumpkin carving stations organized and mess-free. (via Keep Calm & Mommy On)

10. Pumpkin Seed Puppy Chow: You might just eat an entire bag of this before your guests arrive — don’t say we didn’t warn you! But seriously, if you haven’t made puppy chow (of any kind) before, you are missing out on a tried-and-true party snack. Whip this one up to really wow your guests. (via Brit + Co)

11. Homemade Apple Cider Cocktail: Libations are a party MUST! Try a fall-inspired cider drink (which is easy to turn into a virgin version) to go hand-in-hand with your pumpkin carving party. (via Sugar and Charm)

12. Pumpkin Carving Tools: Have you ever tried carving a pumpkin with a butter knife? Spoiler alert: It doesn’t go well. Make sure you have some solid sets of pumpkin carving tools available so your guests can carve with ease. (via Brit + Co)

13. Costumes: Encourage your guests to dress up to really get into the Halloween spirit. (via Brit + Co)

14. Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Six Ways: Label and serve pumpkin seeds with different seasonings. You can make recipe cards to give to your guests at the end of the party for the perfect no-fuss party favor. (via Back to Her Roots)

15. DIY Halloween Garlands: A garland is another great way to decorate for Halloween (and the supplies are easy on your wallet). Hang a few up to keep the festive vibe going strong. (via noBIGGIE)

16. Black Cocktails: Don’t worry, the ghoulish-looking cocktail above is not real blood, but it does look super spooky, making it the perfect addition to other creepy snacks (witch’s fingers, anyone?). (via Brit + Co)

17. Candy Corn Candle: Let’s face it — no decorations = a blasé event. Fun candles like these DIY ones are an easy way to get the party started. (via Brit + Co)

18. Pumpkin Ice Bucket: Wow your guests by turning pumpkins into coolers to keep drinks chilled. Put a clear glass bowl inside your pumpkin “cooler” and you can use it to hold snacks instead of drinks. (via Everyday Dishes & DIY)

19. Pumpkin Spiced Almond Snack Mix: Believe it or not, there are lots of fun pumpkin spice recipes to try besides the PSL. This pumpkin spiced snack mix would go over very well with hungry pumpkin carvers. (via Brit + Co)

20. Expo Dry Erase Pens ($18): Expo pens work *so much better* than Sharpies (at least when it comes to pumpkins). Dry erase markers are preferable for drawing designs because their marks can be easily wiped off after carving. Can you say #HalloweenHack?

21. Mini Pumpkins: Mini pumpkins are cute, fun and easy to paint. Just stock up on pretty paint and let your guests go wild with their designs. (via Studio DIY)

22. Seasonal Jams: Craft a Halloween playlist so you and your guests can jam out while you carve and decorate. We recommend Spotify or Pandora Radio for an easier alternative.

Which pumpkin party essentials will you be using? Let us know in the comments section below.

Upgrade Your Thanksgiving With A Crescent-Roll Cornucopia

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.

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Your Ultimate Guide To Holiday Shopping In 2024

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Kindel Media / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our best 2024 gift guides, shopping advice, and all things holiday!

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When Is Starbucks' Red Cup Day?

The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

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This post has been updated.

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