Pumpkin Potpourri Week ~ Works-For-Me Wednesday ~ Pumpkin Fun

Welcome to Day 3 of Pumpkin Potpourri Week! Today is about having fun with pumpkin! If you're just stopping by for the first time, you better go back and check Day 1: giveaways and a pumpkin blueberry muffin recipe; and check Day 2: tea and a pumpkin bread recipe.

Thanks for coming by - get ready for some fun and more yumminess! Keep reading until the bottom for the chance to link up YOUR wonderful pumpkin posts!

Kids love pumpkins! Try going to a pumpkin patch in your area for some Fall fun. Here's a picture of my son picking out a pumpkin (4 years ago - must they grow up??).

How about getting the kids involved in some pumpkin crafts? Here are some easy suggestions that I ran across:

~ Make paper plates into pumpkin crafts by painting the entire plate orange and then decorating with paints, pens, and/or stick-on foam pieces.

~ Decorate outside of pumpkin using alphabet macaroni to form words and phrases. Use decoupage medium to stick words on outside of pumpkin and then paint over macaroni and paint on pumpkin, if you wish.

~ Use quilting pins to stick on sequins or other decorations onto outside of pumpkins.

~ Use mini pumpkins in your landscaping. Find sticks and paint with acrylic paints. hammer a nail into one end of stick, then carefully remove nail head with cutters and insert mini pumpkin onto nail. Put sticks (now pumpkin wands) into ground outside wherever you want!

~ Make a frosted pumpkin by painting lines on stem and top of pumpkin and following lines down partway using white dimensional fabric paint. Using dimensional paint, make snowflake shapes around pumpkin. Coat pumpkin with white glitter. Could even be a centerpiece on a white doily with artificial snow ( a craft book's idea - not mine!).

Pumpkin Fact of the Day
*** Pumpkins are grown on 6 of the 7 continents. ***

Can you or your kids guess which one they aren't on? Hint - Have you ever seen penguins eating pumpkin or served pumpkins on ice? That's right - Antarctica!

Your kids can also help cook your favorite pumpkin recipes. Here's a kid-friendly pumpkin recipe that is yummy enough for some grown-ups to declare they like it better than pie! What kid doesn't like pudding (OK - there probably are some, but humor me please)?

Quick Pumpkin Pudding
1 (6 oz) package vanilla instant pudding mix
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk (1-1/2 cups)
1 (15 oz) can pure pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Whipped cream

Beat pudding mix and evaporated milk according to package directions in a large bowl; refrigerate for 5 minutes. Add pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice; mix well. Spoon into dessert dishes. Refrigerate for 10 minutes or until ready to serve. Top with whipped cream.

Makes 8 servings.

I serve this at Thanksgiving for the kids. I like to put out toppings for the pudding: graham cracker crumbs, mini chocolate chips, nuts, whipped cream. Yum!! If you want to make the recipe lower fat and calories, just use sugar-free, fat-free pudding mix and skim evaporated milk.

All this pumpkin fun works for me! I hope you are enjoying it! You should stop by Works-for-me-Wednesday at Rocks in the Dryer for lots of good tips and ideas (not necessarily pumpkin-related).

But don't leave yet!! Here's your chance to link up (and another opportunity to be entered in a giveaway). Find or create your favorite pumpkin-themed post and link it up with Mr. Linky below. Some of you have already posted great pumpkin recipes, decorations, and craft ideas - link 'em up! Or write a new one and come back to link it. If you don't have a blog, please leave your ideas and/or recipes in the comments and I'll enter you in the giveaway.

Can't wait to read all of your pumpkin ideas!! Come back tomorrow - more pumpkin on the way!

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