How to Use a Projector to Carve Pumpkins

Did you ever wonder how people carve those intricate details into pumpkins? By using a projector, you too can carve out designer pumpkins and have your entire neighborhood believing that you are a talented artist. Carve pumpkins into works of art by using drawings of landscapes, faces and animals just by projecting the image and tracing it onto the pumpkin with a marker.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large pumpkin
• Small sharp paring knife
• Large sharp carving knife
• Large sturdy spoon
• Projector
• Fine-point marker
• Picture
• Projector sheet
• Tea candle

1. Find a picture. When locating an image to carve into the pumpkin, try to find drawings that have wide lines and spaces, especially if you are a rookie to pumpkin carving. Copy the picture onto a projector sheet.

2. Prepare your pumpkin. With a large knife, carefully remove the top of the pumpkin, creating a wide enough hole to enable you to scoop out the pumpkin seeds. Scrape the inside of the pumpkin with a large study spoon until the pumpkin cavity is completely clean.

3. Project the image onto the pumpkin. With a fine-point marker, trace the image outlines. To be sure that you have not skipped over any lines, occasionally turn off the projector to check your progress.

4. Carve. With a small paring knife, carefully carve out the outlined design.

5. Light the pumpkin. Place a tea candle into the cavity of the pumpkin. The carved image will appear more dramatic with the flickering candlelight inside.

Tips & Warnings

• An elegant idea for an inexperienced carver would be to project, trace and carve out your monogram into the pumpkin.
• Never allow children to carve a pumpkin with sharp knives.
• Never burner a candle other than a tea candle inside of the pumpkin.