How to Carve a Pumpkin for Halloween - With Little Known Extra Tips!

Carving a pumpkin is a age-old Halloween tradition! Use these tips to create your own fun or spooky Halloween decoration this year.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pumpkin
• Knife
• Spoon
• Marker or Design Template
• Candle or Flashlight

1. Where to Get a Pumpkin
   
   The most fun way to procure a pumpkin is to go to a pumpkin patch and pick your own. However, you can also get pre-selected pumpkins from a variety of places like your grocery store.

2. How to Select a Pumpkin
   
   Pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes. Don't get one too small, or it will be difficult to carve. Choose a tall and skinny pumpkin, fat and plump pumpkin, or anything in between! It's all about your personal preference. Choose a nice, orange one that has a flat or smooth side that will be good for carving.

3. When to Carve
   
   Many people carve their pumpkins too soon! They won't last long (especially if you keep them outside) after you carve them. So make sure you wait until about a week from Halloween if you want to display yours to trick-or-treaters.

4. Design and Carve
   
   Use a marker to draw a design on the face of your pumpkin, or place your design template on the pumpkin face and use your knife to poke holes at key points which you can later connect by cutting (like connect the dots).
   
   Before you carve, you have to scoop out the guts of your pumpkin. AWESOME TIP: Instead of cutting out the top of your pumpkin around the stem as many people do, cut off the bottom instead. Doing this allows you to preserve the stem, flatten the bottom so it sits upright, and easily place the pumpkin over a candle. Use a spoon to scoop out all the guts.
   
   Cut out around your design and use the tip of the knife to pull out the pieces. TIP: You can re-use some of the pieces to add appendages to your pumpkin, like ears, horns, or eyebrows. Cut the pieces down and use toothpicks to affix them to the pumpkin.

5. Preserve Your Creation!
   
   There are some things you can do to make your pumpkin last as long as possible! The key is to avoid letting your creation dry out. Use your hand to coat the inside of the carved-out shell with petrolium jelly or vasoline. This keeps your pumpkin from drying out. When your pumpkin is not on display, put it in the fridge! The cool air will help it last longer. Keep your scary pal out of direct sunlight and away from heat.

6. The most important step: enjoy your new spooky pal!

Tips & Warnings

• Instead of cutting out the TOP of your pumpkin around the stem as many people do, cut off the BOTTOM instead. See step 4 for details.
• You can re-use some of the pieces to add appendages to your pumpkin, like ears, horns, or eyebrows. Cut the pieces down and use toothpicks to affix them to the pumpkin.
• Make sure you help preserve your pumpkin creation by using the tips in step 5!

[amandals20]

on 10/21/2008 Wonderful article and just in time for Halloween! My favorite part of carving the pumpkin is salvaging the seeds for spiced pumpkin seed snacks!

[abbeyroad920]

on 10/16/2008 some great tips

[Ballzy]

on 10/14/2008 Great Tips! Thanks for the info! 5*