How to Carve Jack o' Lantern Faces
Pumpkins are a beacon to trick-or-treaters and a merry light to illuminate the dark Halloween night. The pumpkin is like a blank canvas, and the face a carver chooses to put on one is a unique act of self-expression. A pumpkin face doesn't have to be scary. Happiness, somberness, humor and any other emotion can be conveyed in the expression of a jack o' lantern. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cut a circular hole around the stem of the pumpkin big enough to easily stick your hand through. Cut using either a pumpkin carving knife or an ordinary kitchen knife using a sawing motion. The knife should be angled slightly inward when you cut so the top will pull out easily. If you want to, you can draw a circle on top of the pumpkin and cut along the circle, but it is not necessary.
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Grasp the stem and pull the top off. It will come off, trailing a cluster of stringy pulp and seeds. Use the knife to cut off the seeds and pulp. You can discard both the seeds and pulp, or discard the pulp and save the seeds in a bowl for roasting.
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Roll up your sleeve and reach into the pumpkin. Pull out a big handful of pulp. As before, you may wish to either separate and save the seeds or throw the whole thing out. Keep pulling out pulp until your pumpkin has no more stringy bits inside.
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Draw eyes, a nose and a mouth on the side of the pumpkin. A permanent marker works well, but some pens will work as well. Bigger and simpler shapes will be easier to cut out, but small, intricate designs are feasible if you have the patience.
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With a pumpkin knife, cut out the basic shapes. Use a sawing motion and go slowly to avoid overcutting. If your shapes are complex, cut the basic designs out and then go back with a smaller pumpkin knife to carve out the details. Pop all the pieces out of the pumpkin and pull out any bits of pumpkin guts that may be hanging behind the eyes, nose or mouth.
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Put a small votive or tea candle inside your pumpkin and put the pumpkin in your window or on your front porch. Light the candle around dusk and put the top back on your pumpkin.
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