"Little Pumpkins"

[DemonSlayerMau]

Also known as "Jack be littles" these little pumpkins are no bigger than a tomato, and make a nice little decoration for Halloween or even just for the fall harvest season. I wouldn't recommend eating them however, as I think they're actually a gourd (I could be wrong about that however) and gourds are poisenous.
Does anyone ever get these? I think they're too little to carve, but I like to draw faces on them with a marker. That's kind of my little tradition with my little pumpkins when I get them. I havn't gotten them in years, but they make a nice touch to any halloween display.
Since I brought them up in my "Carving versus Painting" thread, I thought these little pumpkins deserved a thread of their own.
So fellow haunters, how about we discuss little pumpkins?
I'm thinking about getting some this year. They're reletively inexpensive, although like real pumpkins you'll have to dispose of them sometime after Halloween. Unless you're lucky enough to have them last through thanksgiving.

[adrian]

we're using thoughs for our witches din thing on our front porch. they are extermemly convintient and add alot to a little space

plus they are so cheap!!

[Andybev01]

I have hollowed those out for tea lights and the effect is pretty cute but they are very tough-skinned so use a very sharp but short knife, like a paring knife, and be careful. The skin is like leather.
Buy larger ones that will hold the tea light without the flame coming close to the rim of the opening.

Another idea is those little sugar pie ones. Those you can carve a real JOL out of, but again they have tough hides so be careful. They will last a lot longer than regular JOL's though, because they are so dense.

Here's one from a couple of years back.

[adrian]

I have hollowed those out for tea lights and the effect is pretty cute but they are very tough-skinned so use a very sharp but short knife, like a paring knife, and be careful. The skin is like leather.
Buy larger ones that will hold the tea light without the flame coming close to the rim of the opening.

Another idea is those little sugar pie ones. Those you can carve a real JOL out of, but again they have tough hides so be careful. They will last a lot longer than regular JOL's though, because they are so dense.

Here's one from a couple of years back.

great advice thank you for sharing

[Morticia]

I always buy the little guys for the season. I put them around home and give one each to the girls at work. Sugar pumpkins we use for cooking.

[adrian]

I always buy the little guys for the season. I put them around home and give one each to the girls at work. Sugar pumpkins we use for cooking.

good to hear from ya again morticia

[DemonSlayerMau]

Perhaps the little ones could be carved with an exacto knife, and then put a bunch of them in a line and use something along the lines of white christmas lights to light them up.
I think that would make a good decoration, you'd have to put a hole in the buttom.
I kind of got the idea from Nevermore when he said he used Christmas lights for his pumpkins, I think the little ones could be lined up and lit up with the lights. Maybe have them leading to the big flickering pumpkin that's traditionally used.

[adrian]

this year we're carving a big pumpkin and will have him eating the little ones (who will have painted faces that are screaming!!) its been done before a lot but still... its a good idea I'VE never done!!

[Andybev01]

Perhaps the little ones could be carved with an exacto knife, and then put a bunch of them in a line and use something along the lines of white christmas lights to light them up.
I think that would make a good decoration, you'd have to put a hole in the buttom.
I kind of got the idea from Nevermore when he said he used Christmas lights for his pumpkins, I think the little ones could be lined up and lit up with the lights. Maybe have them leading to the big flickering pumpkin that's traditionally used.

I liiiiike that idea!

[Pumpkin_Man]

I can't swear to it, but I think the 'jack-be-littles' are a hybred. That's what I was told, but again, I don't have any hard evidence on that.

Mike

[adrian]

jack be littles sounds good so i'm going to go with it

[NeverMore]

.
I've got one sitting on my desk. Trying to think of what to do with it... carve it, paint it, or throw it at the barking dog next door. Decisions, decisions.

[adrian]

.
I've got one sitting on my desk. Trying to think of what to do with it... carve it, paint it, or throw it at the barking dog next door. Decisions, decisions.

get the DOG!!!

[Pumpkin_Man]

When you lob that jack-be-little at the dog, be sure to use a wrist-rocket. It will be more accurate and more effective. (narf narf) But if you decide to put a face on it and continue to use it as a paper weight, it would be great if you could carve it, but unless you are really handy with an exacto-knife, you may have to draw on it with magic marker or something.

IMHO, jack-be-littles are better decor for Fall and Thanksgiving then for Halloween.

Mike

[adrian]

i agree mike.. unless the little ones are being eaten by the bigger ones... i tend to see them being used for more 'just plain fall or thanksgiving' decor

although i have them here in there in my halloween throwdown

they can also be used for a good pumpkin toss game