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Pumpkin cutting knives are sold next to the pumpkins at most supermarket or craft stores. Hardware stores may also carry this specialty tool during the Halloween season.
If you don't want to invest in a pumpkin cutter, wood carving tools or a long knife will work. You may also want to have a short paring knife for any detail cutout work. -
While the cutting tools will be needed for the actual shaping, you will need a drop cloth to place under where you are cutting. Used newspapers or brown craft paper will do if a painting drop cloth isn't available.
You'll need a bowl of fresh water and paper towels to periodically rinse your hands and the tool. Have two bowls ready on the side. One bowl is for the guts of the pumpkin and the cutouts and the other for the seeds. The seeds can be dried and toasted later to eat or sprinkle on salads. - The typical Jack-o-lantern face has two triangle eyes, a triangle nose and a mouth with jagged or squared teeth. But for kids or adults young at heart, a cartoon face might do. Most first time carvers go for a simple old-school character like Scooby-Doo (see Reference 1) or Fred Flintstone.
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Those who want a more creative and spooky design can opt for a scary spiderweb or skull pattern carved on their pumpkin.
More spooky designs could include a gravestone, snarling pirate or witch pattern carved into a pumpkin. If you are hesitant to carve these design free hand, try printing a pattern off the Internet for better results (see Reference 3). - Choose a spooky "word" design cut out on your Halloween pumpkin. Martha Stewart's website provides a template for the word "Boo." She also offers other ideas and templates on her website for other creative Jack-o-lantern carvings (see Reference 2).
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After your Jack-o-lantern has served its purpose, discard the pumpkin in the regular trash unless your town requires composting edible waste.
Do not try to roast and eat the pumpkin since it had been cut out and exposed to the elements. Sometimes bugs and rodents like to snack on pumpkins and this may expose you to diseases spread by these pests. Only un-carved pumpkins can be roasted and consumed.
If you saved the seeds from the carving, dry them out on a paper towel and roast them for 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
