Today Show With Hoda, Jenna and Carmen Johnston Gardens!
Halloween is around the corner and I was thrilled to share some front door décor ideas and pumpkin carving fun with the Today Show with Hoda and Jenna. Here’s more on this extraordinary experience!
Today Show With Hoda & Jenna
Our front door is the perfect spot to share holiday spirit and I created a design fun for Halloween which can transition into Thanksgiving!
First, we painted our door a persimmon color for the show and wrapped it with grapevine you can get at your local craft store. I grabbed some of the dried Limelight Hydrangea blooms from summer, leaves from the yard as well as artichokes I grabbed from the grocery store. Woven in along with these organic elements were some whimsical bats and ravens. Adorn with a wreath!
The door was then flanked with copper pots. I love weaving a metallic into a vignette. These were topped with pumpkin topiaries carved with a house number!
This can easily be revised and refreshed for Thanksgiving!
Pumpkin Prepping Tips
Hoda and Jenna loved the pumpkin prep tips. First, I used a beater attached to a drill to clean out the inside of the pumpkin. You can find a clever pumpkin carving kit on Amazon here. Once cleaned, spray with a solution of 1 tablespoon of bleach with water to help extend the life of the pumpkin. Finish off with petroleum jelly on the cut sections and you should be able to enjoy your creation longer! Remember, keep decorated, carved pumpkins away from your pets.
Pumpkin Carving Ideas
We all love luminaries around the holidays and I created several that you can cascade down your steps to help trick or treaters safely navigate.
One of the most popular crafts created has been the rage on Tik Tok and it’s the cookie cutter pumpkin. Take your favorite holiday cookie cutter. Use a rubber mallet and create a cute design. These is also a safer, knife-less option for your kids.
We also shared a fun pumpkin idea for your table. Prepare the pumpkin, saving the lid. Insert a soaked oasis and then stuff and shove your favorite flowers you can easily grab from the grocery store. This will be so much fun for a Halloween dinner or a great idea for your Thanksgiving table!
Finally, our friend Kat McCall created a witches hat. Take your summer terra cotta pot and let your kids create a whacky design. Use green Everillo Carex and Loropetalum for hair! Weave in creepy accents like spiders and bats and you have a fun witch - we called ours Hazel!
Be sure you post your creations on social media and tag @CarmenJohnstonGardens Would love to see these!
Front Doors To Inspire You
Several of our influencer friends were also included in the on-air fun. Click here to see the round up of inspiring doors and great Instagram accounts I think you’ll love to follow!
Follow Along My Adventures!
Huge thanks to my team who made this whole experience possible because boy did it take a team to navigate New York City with a door and a truck full of pumpkins! I also appreciate all the kind notes and posts from you!
More fall fun is ahead and the December holidays are just around the corner! Be sure you connect with me on Facebook and Instagram and check out all of our Tik Toks here!