How to Carve a Pumpkin

Jolly jack-o'-lanterns are a traditional welcome for trick-or-treaters, an invitation to stop by for a Halloween surprise. It's also something you can make with the leftovers you can't use for Halloween cooking. Just remember that carving a pumpkin takes more tenacity than skill.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Votive Candles
• Jack-o'-lanterns
• Paring Knives
• Cooking Oil
• Felt-tip Pens
• Pumpkins
• Olive (not Virgin) Oil
• Chef's Knives
• Votive Candleholders
• Pumpkin-carving Sets
• Newspaper
• Cinnamon
• Pencils

1. Select a fresh pumpkin in a shape that pleases you. Some folks prefer their pumpkins low and round, while others like them tall and oval-shaped.

2. Draw a circle or hexagon on top of the pumpkin in preparation for making an opening large enough for your hand to reach through.

3. 

   Cut through the stem end of the pumpkin along your outline with a sharp knife or pumpkin-carving tool. Use a back-and-forth slicing motion to cut through the thick, tough skin.

4. 

   Remove the stem end, which will act as a cap, making sure you scrape off any seeds or pulp.

5. Use a large spoon to scoop out the seeds and pulp from inside the pumpkin. 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 lines into the skin using a pencil. Be sure to make the eyes, nose and mouth large enough; you'll have a hard time cutting out tiny features when you're using a big knife blade to saw through tough skin.

7. 

   Follow your pattern as you cut all the way through the pumpkin.

8. Push the cut-out features gently from the inside of the pumpkin and discard the pieces.

9. 

   Place a votive candle inside the pumpkin to create an eerie glow.

Tips & Warnings

• Coat the cut edges with cooking oil to keep your jack-o'-lantern fresh longer.
• Working with any sharp tools should always be done with adult supervision.
• Avoid leaving burning candles unattended.

Resources

• Halloween Pumpkin Carving Templates

[theoworlds]

on 10/19/2006 And if you need some training without a mess, check this link:
http://www.theoworlds.com/halloween/
You can carve a virtual pumpkin. Very realistic and fun! Plus you can email it to others.

on 11/22/2005 As the pumpkin dries out, it shrinks a bit and often the lid winds up becoming too small and falling through the hole. Instead of cutting a hole in the top of the pumpkin and making a lid, flip it over (watch you don't break the stem) and cut the hole in the bottom. You can set a candle in a holder on a plate and the pumpkin can be placed on top. (It's a good idea to cut a small vent in the top of the pumpkin on the backside to let out smoke.)

on 11/22/2005 Don't empty out the guts of your pumpkin. Make a big wide mouth and pull the seeds and stuff halfway out through the mouth. Result: instant barfing pumpkin!

on 11/22/2005 Use sand paper to scuff the outside of the pumpkin. Then, with a sponge, add water that's been colored with food coloring. It's great way to add color to your Halloween theme.

on 11/22/2005 After you draw what you want on the pumpkin, take a needle or toothpick and make little holes around were your outline is. This will make it easier to cut out the sections.