Jolly
jack-o'-lanterns are a traditional welcome for
trick-or-treaters - an invitation to stop by for a
Halloween surprise. Carving a pumpkin takes more
tenacity than skill. The flesh of a fresh pumpkin is
very firm, so grab a sharp knife and get carving.
(View this video)
Steps:
1.
Select
a fresh pumpkin in a shape that pleases you. Some
folks prefer their pumpkins low and round, while
some like them tall and oval-shaped.
2.
Using
a knife or a pumpkin-carving
tool, cut around the stem end of the pumpkin.
Use a back-and-forth slicing motion to cut through
the thick, tough skin. ( Image a.)
3.
Make
an opening large enough to get your hand inside. ( Image b.)
4.
Remove
the stem end to create a cap, making sure you scrape
off any seeds or pulp. ( Image c.)
5.
Scoop
out the seeds and pulp from inside the pumpkin,
using a large spoon. Hold the spoon by its bowl to
get extra leverage while scooping.
6.
Draw
a pattern for the face on the clean pumpkin with a
felt-tip pen, or scribe the features into the flesh
using a pencil. Be sure to make the eyes, nose and
mouth large enough to get the knife blade through
the tough skin. ( Image d.)
7.
Follow
your pattern to cut out the features of the pumpkin.
8.
Cut
all the way through the skin and rind of the
pumpkin. ( Image e.)
9.
Push
the cut-out features gently with your fingers and
discard the pieces.
10.
Place
a votive candle inside the pumpkin to create an
eerie glow through the eye sockets. ( Image f.)
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Tips:
If
you are new to pumpkin carving, remember that
straight lines are easier to cut than curved lines.
Make
a 1-inch notch in the cap so that the candle has
enough oxygen to burn inside the pumpkin.
Clean
up any ragged edges after you have finished with the
initial carving. A small, sharp knife works well for
this step. Line the cut edges with cooking oil to
keep your jack-o'-lantern fresh for a longer time.
The
pumpkin seeds can be dried out and salted for a
tasty snack.
Rub
cinnamon into the pumpkin lid to create a pleasant
aroma while the candle burns.
Warnings:
Working
with any sharp tools should always be done with
adult supervision.
Avoid
leaving burning candles unattended.
How
to Decorate Indoors for Halloween
Get
into the spirit of Halloween by setting the right
mood inside your home. A touch of autumn, a dab of
scary music and lots of spooky crafts will do the
job.
Steps:
1.
Use
gourds, pumpkins and autumn leaves to decorate
mantles and tables.
2.
Hollow
out one large pumpkin, fill it with water and add
floating candles.
3.
Make
spiders, bats and tissue ghosts (see Related eHows)
and use dental floss to hang them from the ceiling.
Use a small fan to make
them flutter in the air.
4.
Hang
some Halloween cobwebs
around the house, or improvise with yarn or soft
cotton.
5.
Set
the mood by keeping the lights dim - use candles,
lanterns, small lamps and Halloween lights.
6.
Add
some scary music and sound
effects. You can even make your own sound
effects and tape them. If you don't have scary
tunes, an opera might do the trick.
7.
Improvise.
Make coffins out of old cardboard boxes and gravestones
out of Styrofoam packing inserts, or disassemble old
store mannequins for body parts.
Tips:
Check
out your local dime or dollar store for inexpensive
props such as plastic or wind-up spiders and old
sheets to use to make ghosts.
Warnings:
Never
leave burning candles unattended.
Halloween
Costumes :
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month of October, anyone featuring our Halloween
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orders. Click
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Jolly
jack-o'-lanterns are a traditional welcome for
trick-or-treaters - an invitation to stop by for a
Halloween surprise. Carving a pumpkin takes more
tenacity than skill. The flesh of a fresh pumpkin is
very firm, so grab a sharp knife and get carving.
(
Get
into the spirit of Halloween by setting the right
mood inside your home. A touch of autumn, a dab of
scary music and lots of spooky crafts will do the
job.