How to Do Designs in a Pumpkin
Pumpkin carving, while commonly associated with Halloween, needn't be relegated to the month of October. By learning the fun and enjoyable skill of pumpkin carving, you can enjoy a homemade, carved pumpkin whenever you find a suitable one in the market. The best part of carving your own pumpkin is that you can do whatever design takes your fancy or that you have conjured up in your mind. With a little mess and some patience, you can create brilliant works of produce art. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Pumpkin
- Marker
- Long serrated knife
- Spoon
- Paper
- Pins
- Nail
- Pumpkin saw
- Small serrated knife
Instructions
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1
Set your pumpkin on a table to find the steadiest position. Most pumpkins will stand up well on its bottom, but you can try turning your pumpkin upside down for more stability.
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2
Draw a horizontal line around the top edge of the pumpkin with a marker. This is to create a lid-like shape so you can remove the top of the pumpkin. Try to keep the line straight so the lid will sit nicely on top of the pumpkin.
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3
Cut into the line using a long serrated knife. Keep working around the pumpkin until you can lift the top of the pumpkin off and away from the lower portion.
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4
Remove all of the flesh and seeds inside the pumpkin and from the bottom of the lid. Use a spoon to scrape the flesh away until you are left with clean, smooth sides inside.
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5
Print out a pattern or draw a design onto a piece of paper. Use large, simple shapes to create a design that will translate well onto the pumpkin shell. Pin the paper onto the pumpkin where you want to transfer the design.
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Poke a series of holes along the lines of the design using the tip of a nail. The holes should be 1/8th of an inch apart from each other and the nail should lightly pierce the skin of the pumpkin to successfully transfer the design. Remove the paper when you have pierced the entire drawing to reveal the transferred holes on the pumpkin.
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Push a nail into one of the holes you made in the pumpkin skin and drive the nail in until the tip is visible form the inside. Pull the nail out when you create the hole. Do the same thing for one hole in each area of the design. For example, if you are making a face, pierce a hole in each eye, the nose and mouth.
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8
Work the pumpkin saw into the hole you pierced with the nail. Keep pushing until the saw reaches through to the inside of the pumpkin. Cut along the dotted line of holes using a back and forth motion to work the saw blade into the pumpkin.
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Cut out all of the elements of the design with the saw then push the shapes out from inside the pumpkin. Clean up any raw or scraggly edges with a small serrated knife.
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Tips & Warnings
Gently turn the saw to ease the blade along slight curves. For sharp angles or corners, take the saw out of the pumpkin then push it back in at the correct turn.
Place a tea light inside the pumpkin once you cut out the design to create a jack-o-lantern. Put the pumpkin lid back on to keep the light bright and glowing.
Do not allow children to work with the pumpkin tools because they could easily hurt themselves.
References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
