Things You'll Need:
- The perfect pumpkin
- Sharp, pointed knife
- Short handled spoon or scoop
- Old newspaper
- Scrap paper and pencil
- Medium sized bowl
- Battery operated candles
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Step 1
After you’ve made your trip to the farm and found the perfect pumpkin, put it on a firm surface at a good height. The kitchen table is a good spot as you can stand while scraping the insides of the gourd and sit comfortably while designing and carving the face. It’s also easy for children to sit around the table and help with the designing and scraping.
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Step 2
Use some scrap paper to draw different kinds of faces until you find something you like. You can make your lantern happy, goofy, scary or angry – you’re the artist here – you decide!
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Step 3
The angle of the cut is very important!The first cut is the hardest! That’s why you need a very sharp, pointed knife. What you want to do first is cut into the top of the pumpkin at a 45 degree angle and follow around the top to create the lid of the lantern. If you cut straight down, when you put the lid back on, it will just fall into the center of the pumpkin, so that angled cut is very important!
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Step 4
After you remove the top, use a short handled spoon to dig out the seeds and scrape the goop off the inside of the pumpkin. Put the seeds into a bowl and refrigerate them. They taste great oven roasted with a little salt!
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Step 5
After you’ve got the pumpkin cleaned out to your satisfaction, it’s time to decide on the face. Using a pencil, lightly draw the design you want on the pumpkin. When you’re sure you have what you want, go over the design with a heavier marker to make it easier to see.
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Step 6
Using the pointed end of the knife and with a very firm grip on the pumpkin, begin to carve out the parts of the face. Use a sawing, in and out motion with firm pressure, moving a little bit forward with each stroke.
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Step 7
Once you’ve cut all around the design you should be able to push the pieces out with a gentle pressure from inside the pumpkin. If the pieces don’t come out easily, gently run the knife around the edges again. Try to pop out the design in one piece because the extra parts can be carved up to make eye balls and ears!
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Step 8
After you have the initial cuts done you can go back and do the finishing touches. Trim away any rough edges; angle your cuts at a 45 degree angle into the pumpkin. Your lantern will glow brighter without the shadows from the edges to get in the way.
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Step 9
Using the pieces you cut out, carve some into shapes to use for eyeballs or ears. Push one end of a toothpick into the small piece and use the other end to mount the piece in the eye, ear or nose hole. When the light shines through, you will have an awesome effect!
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Step 10
Jack O'Lanterns love comany!Add a battery operated, flameless candle and turn out the lights! For the first couple days your lantern will look great in the fireplace surrounded by other candles. Once it starts to get too soft it’s best to put it on your doorstep to welcome your Trick-or-Treaters!
Most important of all – have a good time!
Comments
motherNN said
on 10/26/2009 Fun for kids this Halloween. I esp. like the flameless candle tip!5*
skyedanzer said
on 10/21/2009 Never knew about the angle cut and my lids always fall straight down inside the pumpkin. Great instructions.