GREAT PUMPKINS PLASTIC, CARVABLE LOOK-ALIKES MEAN MORE FUN, LESS CLEANUP.

Byline: Suzanne Sproul Staff Writer

Imagine carving pumpkins without a lot of that gooey mess.

It's possible this year with new carvable look-alikes. They seem real and they offer all the carving options of real pumpkins. You just don't have to worry about what to do with those wet, slimy strings inside.

In fact, even preschoolers can have fun - with adult help - as members of the San Dimas Moms Club recently discovered during a Michael's arts and crafts Kids Club hour.

``They are a bit harder to carve, so I recommend that the kids first decide on a design, then transfer it to the pumpkin and then at least have an adult start the carving,'' said Debra Andrews, who is the event coordinator and Kids Club teacher at the La Verne store. ``But then the kids can do so much with them. These artificial pumpkins tend to take paint, markers and glue easier than the real ones. And they don't rot.''

The artificial pumpkins are made with smooth and textured skins, she said, making them ideal for harvest, fall, Halloween and even Thanksgiving decorations. They are light and can be used for everything from the traditional jack-'o-lantern to a flower vase to hanging ``lanterns'' in a tree.

``There's just something about pumpkins and this time of the year,'' said Andrews. ``You can be really creative with them, no matter what your age is. They're all different, whether they are the real ones or fake ones. Pumpkin carving can be a wonderful family fun experience. And the idea of carving pumpkins can bring back lots of great memories.''

Carving them can even begin to lay the groundwork for future memories.

Lisa Zaldivar found that her daughter really took to the activity. ``Last year, Alyssa was just 1 year old and we carved pumpkins at home. She was so little she just watched, but this year she's old enough and she seems to be really having fun with this,'' Zaldivar said as she helped Alyssa glue some feathers on her pumpkin during the workshop. ``I hope these artificial pumpkins last because this is really her first jack-'o-lantern and I'm keeping this forever.''

Fellow Moms Club member Patti Alspaugh sat next to the Zaldivars and chuckled as she watched her son, Alex, 2, glue countless Spider-Man stickers onto his pumpkin.

``This pumpkin is a keeper,'' she said.

Mom Rochelle Espinosa said she thought the fake pumpkins were less messy, but then laughed at the ``design'' mess of feathers, glitter, markers and lots more that covered the workshop table of her daughter.

``Mia's having fun,'' she said. ``So am I.''

``That's what we're here for,'' said Andrews. ``Today, it's pumpkins, but we do crafts all year long. I'm here to offer suggestions and supplies, and then I just watch. If you give children the stuff they need and a little inspiration, they'll provide the creativity.''

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Photo:

In San Dimas, decorating artificial pumpkins provides fun for 2-year-old Alyssa Zaldivar, with mom, Lisa.

Will Lester/Staff Photographer