Comments on: How to Carve a Fancy Pumpkin

on 11/22/2005 To transfer your patern to th pumpkin tape it on and use a toothpick to poke little holes along the lines. keep them very small so they dont show when your done carving. After you have poked the holes along your patern, remove the patern and rub flower over the area. The flower gets in the little holes and makes it very easy to follow the lines.

on 11/22/2005 Spread petroleum jelly anywhere you remove skinn or cut into th pumpkin. This will keep your pumpkin rom drying out. if your pumpkin tries to shrivel soak it in cold water for a couple hours and it will perk up again.

on 11/22/2005 Use a dremel or rotary toll to carve the skin away. This makes it easy to get VERY detaled designs. I recomend puting a plasti bag over the dremel with a small hole cut for the bit. This keeps your tool from grtting pumpkin shavings all over it. Try several bits to see how each work. have fun and be carefull.

on 11/22/2005 A jigsaw with a thin blade can quickly carve some very elaborate designs.

on 11/22/2005 I use a clay carving tool called a clay loop to remove the skin only. Make sure that you remove the skin deep enough so light can get through. If I'm not sure I'm going deep enough, I take my pumpkin into a dark room and shine a flashlight into it.

on 11/22/2005 When carving the top of the pumpkin, carve a pumpkin shape so it will fit easier. Carve in, toward the pumpkin, when you are carving the top. Try carving an air hole for the candle.

on 11/22/2005 If you have the variable speed tool with the new chuck for holding bits, you can use the new rotozip bits to cut, slice and shave the flesh of the pumpkin. I've found you should use the variable speed tool for ease of use if you're a beginner or a pro.

on 11/22/2005 After you use the pumpkin, the top will shrink and fall in on your candle, so cut out the bottom instead. Cut several vent holes in the top.

on 11/22/2005 For big projects, use a hand held electric jig saw. I got a used one from a second hand store and have lined the edge of the roof of our home with 2 dozen pumpkins for the past 12 Halloweens. It allows you intricate cuts & turns and keeps the process fun.

on 11/22/2005 Try using linoleum tools to remove pumpkin without cutting through. A wide variety of sizes will allow you to get different gradations and depths!

on 11/22/2005 Sprinkling cinnamon in the pumpkin will make it smell like pumpkin pie.