How to Make a Drowning Pumpkin

Carving a drowning pumpkin is a craft you can do with the whole family.

A simple jack-o-lantern can get boring after a while, so spice things up by putting your carved pumpkin in a perilous situation. A drowning pumpkin is an oddity your neighbors and guests will enjoy. The drowning pumpkin is similar to other jack-o-lanterns, but you need to submerge it in water to get the proper effect. Make the water slightly murky so guests need to peer in deeply to see the pumpkin’s expression. This adds that extra bit of spookiness to the overall design of the pumpkin.

Things You'll Need

• Carving tool
• Air pump
• Clear container, large enough to hold the pumpkin

Instructions

1. Draw a distressed face on your hollowed-out pumpkin. An open mouth and sad eyes work well to capture the fear caused during drowning. If your pumpkin is just smiling regularly, it may look out of place in the water.

2. Carve along the lines of the face with a pumpkin carving tool. Push out the pieces of pumpkin skin once you finish cutting and dispose of them in your compost pile if you have one.

3. Clean out the orifices of the pumpkin with your fingers. Remove strings and other debris from the eyes, nose and mouth.

4. Drill a 1/4-inch-wide hole in the back of the pumpkin. Thread the hollow plastic tube of an air pump through the hole. Place the end of the pipe at the teeth of the pumpkin.

5. Set the pumpkin in a clear plastic container large enough to hold the entire pumpkin. Hold the tube in place while you move it. Plug the water pump in and power it up so there is a steady stream of air exiting the mouth of the pumpkin.

6. Fill the clear container with water until it reaches the brim. The pumpkin will look like the air is escaping its mouth, creating the illusion of actual drowning.

References

• Extreme Pumpkins; Drowning in a Bag - Creepy; Tom Nardone