Looking to add a pickleball twist to your Halloween pumpkin carving this year? We've got a fun, creative project for you! Follow these simple steps to carve a pickleball pumpkin with an animated face, featuring a pickleball held snugly between its teeth. It’s a guaranteed hit on the court and on your porch!

What You’ll Need:

• Medium to large pumpkin
• Pickleball (standard size)
• Pumpkin carving tools - knife, scooper, marker
  • You can use a small sharp paring knife from your kitchen rather than buying a carving kit
• Piece of paper or cardboard
• Tape or push pins
• Pencil or marker
• Measuring tape or ruler

Step 1: Prepare Your  Pickleball Pumpkin

Start by choosing a medium to large pumpkin, as this will give you plenty of space for the animated face and the pickleball to fit securely. Cut off the top of your pumpkin and scoop out the seeds and pulp, ensuring the inside is clean and ready for carving.

Step 2: Design the Pumpkin Eyes

Now for the fun part—designing the face! Using a marker or pencil, draw an exaggerated animated face on the piece of paper or cardboard. The eyes (and optional nose) can be any style you like, but the key here is the mouth since it will be holding the pickleball.

For the mouth, measure out a 2.5-inch cross on the paper or cardboard which will act as a guide for the part of the mouth where the pickleball will sit.

Step 3: Draw the Teeth Outline

Once you’ve drawn the 2.5-inch cross, draw a circle around the edges of the cross. The edges of the circle/cross will be the starting point for the teeth. You’ll want to draw the teeth touching the edges of the cross. This will allow the pickleball to be wedged between the teeth without falling out, creating the illusion of it being "bitten" by the pickleball pumpkin.

Step 4: Cut Out the Outlines

Once you've designed the eyes and mouth of the pickleball pumpkin you will want to cut out the outline and tape or pin it onto the pumpkin. Then take a marker and outline the eyes and mouth and get ready to start carving!

Step 5: Carve the Face

Now it’s time to start carving! Begin by carefully cutting out the eyes and nose of the face. Then, move on to the mouth, carving around the teeth outline you’ve drawn. Make sure to keep the tooth area precise, as you want it to grip the pickleball securely.

For the pupils and the teeth section, all you need to do is use a sharp knife to carefully cut the orange top skin layer of the pumpkin off leaving the meat of the pumpkin exposed. This contrast will highlight the pupils of the eyes and the teeth of your pickleball pumpkin.

Step 5: Test the Pickleball Fit

After carving the teeth, test the fit of the pickleball by squeezing it gently between the teeth. If it’s a tight fit, that’s perfect—it should hold the pickleball in place without falling out. You may need to slightly adjust the teeth by trimming a bit if necessary, but remember that the space should remain snug.

Step 6: Add the Final Details

Once you’ve successfully placed the pickleball, you can add any final details to the pumpkin’s face. You can carve extra details around the eyes, nose, or even add funny eyebrows or a scar to give it more personality! 

Step 7: Light It Up!

Now that your pickleball pumpkin is complete, it’s time to light it up! Place a candle, battery-powered candle or LED light inside your pumpkin and admire your unique creation. The pickleball will be front and center, making your pickleball pumpkin the talk of any pickleball Halloween party.

Pro Tips:

1. Use tooth picks to keep the pickleball in place so it doesn't fall out.
2. Also, consider rubbing petroleum jelly on the parts of the pumpkin that are exposed (teeth, pupils, edges of the openings) to slow down the rotting.

Step 8: Show Off Your Pickleball Pumpkin!

Your pickleball-themed pumpkin is now ready to shine! Set it out on your porch, at your Halloween party, or take photos to share with your pickleball friends. This is one pumpkin carving that’s sure to score points for creativity and fun!

Looking for more insightful pickleball tips and strategies? Or perhaps the perfect pickleball gift?

Be sure to explore our other blog posts for everything from beginner's guides to advanced techniques. And don't forget to check out our top-rated pickleball gifts , perfect for players of all types, both on and off the court!