Pumpkin Drink Cooler

If you want an easy and gourd looking way to serve bottled beverages this Halloween party season, look no further! This pumpkin drink cooler is super quick to make and simple to customize for every style of decor.

Let's get to making!

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To make your own cloud of bats to accompany the pumpkin cooler, visit my Bat Bouquet instructable!

1 large, round-ish pumpkin*
marker
paring knife
big spoon or pumpkin scoop

*The bigger the pumpkin the more bevies you can fit in!

OPTIONAL: spray paint, stickers, washi tape, or markers to pimp your pumpkin

You want to draw a line around your pumpkin JUST past half way up.

Since pumpkins aren't symmetrical, I find the easiest way to do this is to build a stable tower of kitchen objects that you can rest the marker on and have the tip come to where you want to mark your line. (like pictured)

Hold the marker firmly in place and turn your pumpkin OR slide the tower/marker around the pumpkin (whichever's easier for you) and draw your line.

NOTE: You could also cut the edge in a jagged teeth pattern or any way you want while still maintaining an even, half way up horizon.

Use a sharp paring knife to cut the pumpkin in half, just below the marker line.

Scoop out the seeds and set aside to roast if desired.

Using a metal spoon or pumpkin scooper, remove the pumpkin guts.

Then using the paring knife, cut away more flesh so that you have a thinner top edge. Pull out the freed up pumpkin meat and use the spoon/scooper to even/smooth out the inside.

Place the future drink cooler upside down on a damp dish towel to help keep the edge fresh while you set up the party or the pumpkin cooler decoration station.

Decorating your new drink cooler is completely optional!! I had fun using the top half to test different decorating techniques like using thin masking tape to create a geo criss cross pattern, round stickers for bolder bits of orange. I also tried spraying just the edge with fluorescent orange on the gold side. FUN!

In the end, I decided to keep it simple and go for straight up gold. :)

If you do spray paint your pumpkin, be sure to spray the edge from above at an angle (like pictured) so you don't get paint shooting under the cut edge and messing up the crisp gold skin edge.

Fill your awesome new pumpkin drink cooler halfway up with ice, add as many drinks as it can hold and still look awesome (remember, you can re-stock it as it empties), and then fill in the gaps around the bottles with more ice.

You're now ready to have a super gourd time!!

Happy Halloween!!!