pumpkin carving

Pumpkin Carving 101

pumpkin carving

Tips and tricks for carving your pumpkin for Halloween.

From the top!

Sit your pumpkin down and decide what side you want to be the front.

If your pumpkin just doesn’t want to sit straight, cut a small portion off the bottom to level your pumpkin.

When cutting out the lid out, create a notch in the back or cut out a hexagon shape to make the lid easy to put back on. Cut at an angle so the lid lies on the top of the pumpkin and does not fall through.

Pull and scrape out all the seeds and gooey pumpkin strands. If the walls of your pumpkin are thick remove some of the flesh as well.

Wipe off the pumpkin if it get messy. Save the seeds for roasting.

Pick out a design or create your own. Draw it on paper first to work out the details. Speaking of details, if this is your first pumpkin don’t make the details too fine or minute, as they get tricky to cut out.

For kids, let them draw the face right on the pumpkin with a pencil or pen

For fancier designs select or make a paper pattern. Cut away excess paper from the pattern with scissors and attach the pattern to the pumpkin with tape. Now poke holes with a pumpkin poker (a pushpin or an ice pick will work) along the design lines. You do not need to push the poker all the way into the pumpkin your goal it to make a guide for cutting. Where there is more detail poke more holes. Remove the pattern. Using the detail saw (or a paring knife) cut out the design. Hold the tool like a pencil and use it like a saw, gently going back and forth, don’t cut or try to slice, the pumpkin is thick and the tool is fragile and you may break the tool and/or hurt yourself.

Tips:
  • Work the small areas first. Do the large pieces last to keep the pumpkin stable.
  • Work from the center of your design outward.
  • Don’t bend or twist the cutting tool.
  • When cutting sharp corners remove the tool and re-insert it at another angle.
  • Push cut pieces out from the inside with your finger.
  • You can light your pumpkin with a candle or a glow stick.

If using a candle, cut a hole in the bottom the same size of your candle or make a candleholder out of aluminum foil to steady your candle. Now, light your candle and let burn a minute or two with the lid on. Check the lid of your pumpkin. Where there is a black spot cut out a “chimney” for the smoke to escape. Your pumpkin will last much longer this way.

Take your time and have fun. From start to finish plan to spend an hour to an hour and a half.

Remember to video tape those little ones. They are really cute when it’s pumpkin time.

Make your jack-‘o-lanterns smell really good

Sprinkle the lid of the pumpkin with cinnamon and nutmeg. When the candle is burning it will smell like pumpkin pie.

Check out Web-Holidays’ Pinterest Page for design ideas for that pumpkin!

back to Halloween

⇴ image from Pixabay.com

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