How to Make Clown Jackolanterns
Halloween is one of the best times of the year for making creative decorations that kids can help with. Instead of focusing on scary witches, spooky goblins and haunted houses, this jack-o'-lantern will tickle the funny bone of all of the kids. Place your creation outside on Halloween night to welcome trick-or-treaters to your door. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pumpkin
- Sharp knife
- Large spoon
- Permanent marker
- Yarn
- Glue gun
- Glow-in-the-dark paint
- Small flashlight
Instructions
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Cleaning the Pumpkin
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1
Cut a hole about 4 inches in diameter in the top of the pumpkin, around the stem. Grasp the stem and remove it.
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2
Pull out as much of the stringy flesh and seeds as you can with your hands. Discard.
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3
Use the spoon to scrape the flesh off of the inside of the pumpkin, making the sides smooth and clean.
Carving the Pumpkin
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4
Draw a funny clown face on the pumpkin using the marker. Draw big shapes without many details. Triangles, squares, circles, ovals and diamonds are good shapes to use.
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5
Cut out the outline of each part of the face. Once each piece is cut, use your finger to poke it out of the pumpkin from the inside.
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6
After your face is complete, glue yarn around the opening in the top of the pumpkin to make hair.
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7
Add details to the face with the glow-in-the-dark paint, if you'd like.
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8
Place the small flashlight inside the pumpkin to light up the face. If you used paint, make sure it has had plenty of time to charge from the light so it will glow.
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Tips & Warnings
You may want to use a small paring knife to cut the smaller details on your pumpkin's face.
To help preserve your pumpkin, you can rub petroleum jelly on all of the cut surfaces.
Only adults should handle the knife. Pumpkins can be slippery, and young children could be hurt if they try to carve the pumpkin.
If you paint your pumpkin or add fake hair, you should never use an open flame to light the face. This could cause your pumpkin to catch fire.
