Jack-o-lanterns are classic Halloween decorations.What would
Halloween be without a carved pumpkin sitting on your porch or at
the window looking out at all the trick or treaters? Make this
Halloween special by carving your own pumpkin. Take delight in the
smiling faces as the trick-or-treaters enjoy or get spooked by
your own creation.
!! Steps !!
* Decide whether you'll carve right through, or just to the
pithDecide on a design that you'd like to carve into your pumpkin.
Doing this first gives you an idea for the material needed, as
well as an idea of the size of pumpkin needed. You'll need to
pick a pumpkin sizable to the pattern you've picked out.
Visit the local market and pick out the nicest
and healthiest looking pumpkin you can find.
You'll want to pick the one without bruises,
nicks, and cuts. Make sure your pumpkin is ripe
as well.
* Another thing to make sure of is that your pumpkin has a long
stem. This will become the handle to your lid.
* If you want to, you can also wash off the pumpkin so that it's
clean and stays healthy longer.
* Put down some newspaper or a brown sack from
your grocery store on a flat surface so you don't get your
workspace messy; doing this also makes for an easy clean-up.
Measure 2-5 inches (5cm - 12.5cm) down from the stem. This will be
where you will cut around, to make the lid.
* After you've cut the lid, remove it. On the
underside, scrape off excess filling, making the surface flat.
* Use a large spoon to remove all of the
filling and seeds from the inside of your pumpkin. The more that
is scraped from the inside of your pumpkin the better, allowing
more light to shine though. You'll also want to concentrate on
making sure the bottom of your pumpkin is as flat as possible
after you remove all the insides. This way, when you add your
light, it will stand easily.
Draw the design or face on the front of the
pumpkin. Dry erase markers work well because
they're easy to wipe off and start again if you
mess up. Make it as spooky or as creative as you
like.
* One method that really helps is to draw the design on paper, then
tape the paper to the front of the pumpkin. Carve on the lines
where you drew on the paper, so you won't have to draw it again.
* After you've drawn your design on the front
of the pumpkin and you're happy with it, begin to cut the shapes
with a sharp knife, carving tool, or a dremel tool. With a back
and forth motion, use the cutting tool to trace over the design
you've drawn. Be gentle and take your time, removing the pieces
you have cut as you cut. Keep following your pattern until you've
carved the entire design.
* Once all the pieces are removed, the spooky
face will be easy to see.
* Replace the lid set aside earlier.
* Place a candle or an LED (battery operated
light) in the carved pumpkin and watch it glow. Leave your carved
pumpkin outside in the cool air; doing this extends the lifespan
of the pumpkin. Plus, everyone will be able to see your creation.
Enjoy your carved pumpkin!
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* Candles such as tea lights and votives are very traditional.
However, battery powered lights are much safer with young
children, dangling costumes, or high winds about. These lights
often come in different colors as well and some even flicker for
an eerie effect!
* If using a candle inside the jack-o-lantern, light it and let it
burn for a minute or two. Then take the lid off; there will be a
dark spot on the bottom of the lid from the candle smoke, so you
know where to cut the smoke hole or chimney.
* Carved pumpkins can go bad after two weeks. Carve your pumpkin
only a few days before Halloween, or it may start to shrivel up
and cave in.
* If your pumpkin starts to shrivel, fill up a deep sink and soak
the entire carved pumpkin for a couple hours; it will perk back up
(be careful in handling and removing the candle).
* Try to prevent shriveling by rubbing some petroleum jelly on the
exposed parts right after you cut the pumpkin, but not on the
inside, as it could be a fire hazard if you use a flame.
* Roasted pumpkin seeds are good to eat (like sunflower seeds).
Place them on a baking sheet, sprinkle them with a little salt,
and toast them in the oven.
* You can also plant the seeds to grow your own pumpkins (but keep
in mind that this pumpkin is probably a cross between several
types, and what you get when the pumpkin is grown might not look
anything like this one).
* If you carve the "lid" of the pumpkin out in a smooth line, it can
be difficult to replace the lid in the same position you cut it.
It can be helpful to carve a notch somewhere, in the back if you
like, so that you can fit the lid back on easily.
* Be creative with your design. There are many designs available
online, or in stores.
* A drywall jab-saw makes a great replacement for the old kitchen
knife, especially for cutting off the top and any other large
cuts.
* For intricate designs, a RotoZip type saw makes short and easy
work of carving pumpkins. This is the saw commonly used for
drywall, that looks like a small router and the blade looks like a
drill but is designed to cut in any direction.
* Pumpkins are messy to carve and decorate. If you don't have the
patience, space or time, try using paints to decorate pumpkins or
cut pieces of paper and stick them to the pumpkin. Or, purchase a
ready-carved version from the local market and support a local
craftsperson.
* Don't limit yourself to simply carving one side of the pumpkin.
Wrap around designs, such as cat's foot prints or flying bats,
makae great additions. Also, carving a small design on the back of
your pumpkin can add to the effect of the face or scene. For
example, if you have the design of a frightened pumpkin looking
over his shoulder, design a small ghost on the back of the
pumpkin. When lit and placed before a wall, the candle light will
shine through the back and cast a ghost on the wall behind your
"frightened" gourd!
* If a cut section of your design doesn't remove easily the first
time, run the blade around it again and then push on that section
from the inside. You may also find that a toothpick stabbed into
the section will help you to pull it out.
* A neat thing to do with your rind scraps is to carve eyebrows,
ears, tongues, etc from the bits. Then, pin them in appropriate
places on your pumpkin using toothpicks. You can also add "Mr.
Potato Head" parts. Other 3D options include Spanish moss, yarn or
corn silk "hair", feathers, artificial flower stems, etc.
* If using a candle to light your gourd, it's fun to lightly
sprinkle the lid or inner top of your pumpkin with pumpkin spices.
When the candle warms the pulp, a wonderful pumpkin-pie scent will
fill the air.
* If you slip or mess up, try to go with it. If this doesn't fit in
with your design, there are ways to repair a slip. If you slip
while carving your pumpkin and accidentally cut out your gourd's
"tooth" or "pupil", you can easily reattach things like this using
a toothpick. Push the toothpick halfway into the mistakenly cut
area, then slide the missing piece on. Unfortunately, this missing
piece will shrivel much faster than the rest of your gourd so be
prepared to replace it if needed.
* Instead of cutting all the way through the pumpkin, peel off
layers of the skin to different thicknesses. This will give
varying amounts of light, and allow you to make more intricate
designs.
* Get some craft glue (that doesn't dry clear) and smooth it around
the mouth in a bubbly effect. This will make it look like the
pumpkin has rabies!
* Kits are available that have adhesive designs to stick to intact
pumpkins.
!! Warnings !!
* Keep small children away from candles and knives. If children have
picked out a "special" pumpkin and want to carve it themselves,
invest in a "kiddie cutter" so they don't get hurt. An easier
alternative for small children would be markers to draw a face, or
Mr. Potato Head accessories to dress up their pumpkin. Kids can
also help pull out the seeds from inside the pumpkin.
* Watch out for squirrels and deer - they see an easy meal being
placed in the garden!
* Be careful with candles. LEF lights or flashlights are safer in
the pumpkin.
Pumpkins rot very quickly when cut. Doing this too far in advance
will leave a stinky mess before Halloween.
* Consider carving the pumpkin no more than 24 hours in advance of
Halloween, and (if you would like to), use it no more than 24
hours after Halloween.
* Be sure, when cutting and designing (especially if choosing a
wrap-around design), to leave enough solid rind intact so the
pumpkin can stand on it's own. A good measure is to leave 1"
(2.5cm) or more between most designs features. The sides of your
pumpkin still need to support the weight of the top, lid and stem.
Also, the more you cut away, the faster your gourd will "die".
* If using a candle to light your pumpkin and placing it on anything
wooden, it is prudent to place a 8"-10" (20.3cm x 25.4cm) dinner
plate down first, to catch wax and avoid setting wooden porches,
tables, or stairs on fire.
!! Things You\'ll Need !!
* A large kitchen knife
* A smaller knife or scalpel for the details
* A spoon or scoop
* A pumpkin
* Candles or lights
* Add a newspaper underneath the pumpkins that your carving so it is
an easy clean-up afterward
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Use Pumpkins
* How to De Shrivel a Carved Pumpkin
* How to Photograph a Jack O' Lantern
* How to Grow a Pumpkin
* How to Make Pumpkin Candles
* How to Paint a Pumpkin
* How to Create a Jack O Lantern
!! Sources And Citations !!
* Original source of article,
http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/pumpkin_carving Cut
Out+Keep. Shared with permission.
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
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