Put down the carving knife and check out your loose buttons. These simple embellishments provide a cheerful and safe alternative to pumpkin carving.

You will need:

• A mix of vintage buttons (about 2 dozen for a medium-sized pumpkin)
• Florist's wire
• Wire cutters

How-to:

1. Visit your local farm stand to select pumpkins.
2. Cut a 4-inch wire piece for each button.
3. Thread wire through buttonholes.
4. Spear buttons into pumpkin in random pattern or create funny faces.