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.
Steps :
- 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.
- 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.)
- Make an opening large enough to get your hand inside. ( Image b.)
- Remove the stem end to create a cap, making sure you scrape off any seeds or pulp. ( Image c.)
- 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.
- 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.)
- Follow your pattern to cut out the features of the pumpkin.
- Cut all the way through the skin and rind of the pumpkin. ( Image e.)
- Push the cut-out features gently with your fingers and discard the pieces.
- Place a votive candle inside the pumpkin to create an eerie glow through the eye sockets
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.
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.
How To Decorate Indoors For Halloween
- Use gourds, pumpkins and autumn leaves to decorate mantles and tables.
- Hollow out one large pumpkin, fill it with water and add floating candles.
- 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.
- Hang some Halloween cobwebs around the house, or improvise with yarn or soft cotton.
- Set the mood by keeping the lights dim – use candles, lanterns, small lamps and Halloween lights.
- 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.
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.ÂWarnings :
Never leave burning candles unattended.