Things You'll Need:
- Large Pumpkin
- Long Serrated Knife
- Metal Ice Cream Scoop or other sturdy scooping spoon
- Patience and Creativity
- Optional: Pumpkin Carving Kit and Tools
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Step 1
First, you need to cut a lid for your pumpkin. Place the knife at a 45 degree angle so the lid will have a shelf to rest on when you replace it and it won't fall through. Cutting a notch or keystone in your lid will aid in securing it as well.
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Step 2
Gut the Pumpkin - Yes, remove all those pumpkin entrails. Use your ice cream scoop to scoop out all the sticky, stringy insides and remove the seeds (Save them to make a tasty snack later). Scrape the insides until the wall thickness is approximately 1 inch thick.
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Step 3
Pay special attention to the back of the pumpkin. Make sure this surface is smooth so that your light will have a surface to reflect light.
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Step 4
Beginners should use a simple pattern while advanced carvers can move on to something more complex.
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Step 5
Print out a template or sketch a pattern for you pumpkin.
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Step 6
Secure the pattern to the pumpkin with tape. Note: Cutting slits in the paper will help your pattern to conform to the shape of the pumpkin.
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Step 7
Using either an Exacto-blade or a nail, trace or punch holes along your pattern. Once you have covered the entire pattern with dots, remove the template from the pumpkin.
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Step 8
Using a sharp, serrated knife, connect the dots as you carve.
