In a mixing bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, chive & onion spread, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and 1 ¼ cups of the shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Place a double layer of cling wrap out on your countertop, long enough to wrap the cheese ball in.
Sprinkle ⅓ cup of the cheese onto the cling wrap where the bottom of the cheese ball will sit.
Place the cheese ball mixture over the cheese, then use the remaining shredded cheese on the top and sides to cover the cheese ball.
Wrap the cheese ball up in the cling wrap and press to form it into a ball shape.
Use thick rubber bands to double wrap the cheese ball into a pumpkin shape (see the pictures in the post for how to do this).
Chill the cheese ball in the fridge for at least 2 hours, then remove the rubber bands.
Top your pumpkin cheese ball with a bell pepper stem and serve with crackers of choice.