Jumpin’
Jack-o-Lanterns!
Halloween
pumpkin carving is a beloved family tradition in many homes. Parents and
children alike eagerly anticipate the annual trek to the pumpkin patch to pick
out the perfect pumpkins for carving into jack-o-lanterns. On Halloween night,
as trick or treaters parade through the neighborhood, folks proudly display
their crafty home-carved pumpkins.
What are the seven basic
steps for carving a Halloween pumpkin?
Pumpkin carving is not complex. In fact, it can be quite
simple, although the pumpkin carving designs may be quite elaborate.
1. Wash and dry the
pumpkin before carving.
Pumpkins are produce. As part of the squash family, pumpkins
are grown on the ground. A Halloween pumpkin may be dusty or muddy, even if it
has been purchased at a grocery store. The pumpkin must be washed and dried
thoroughly before carving it into a Halloween jack-o-lantern.
2. Cut the top off
the pumpkin before carving.
Cover a kitchen counter, table or other sturdy, flat surface
with old newspapers. Place the Halloween pumpkin atop the newsprint, and hold
it securely with one hand.
Use a large knife to cut out the top portion of the pumpkin.
Be sure to make a large enough opening to accommodate one hand easily. Ideally,
the edges of this opening will slant outwards, as this will keep the pumpkin
cap from falling into the carved pumpkin on display.
3. Clean out the
inside of the pumpkin before carving.
Carefully trim all pumpkin pulp and seeds from the pumpkin
cap. Set the cap aside.
Use a large spoon or
Melon Baller to scoop out all of the seeds and pulp from
the inside of the pumpkin. Discard the pulp and seeds. (Seeds may be roasted in
an oven with seasoning salts, such as
Johnny's Seasoning Salt, No MSG,
and olive oil for a tasty and crispy Halloween
pumpkin carving snack.)
4. Pick a pattern for
pumpkin carving.
Pumpkin carving stencils and templates are easy to find.
Patterns are sold in pumpkin carving tool kits and Halloween craft books. Some
pumpkin carving stencils even come with special pumpkin knives, saws, and other
tools for creating Halloween masterpieces, while others may include only the
patterns. Here are a few examples:
Pumpkin carving templates may also be downloaded free from holiday
craft websites. Many Halloween pumpkin carving artists create their own
designs. Some folks sketch Halloween pumpkin carving patterns on paper before
picking up a knife. Others dig right in with simple triangle eyes and noses and
chunky toothy grins for Halloween jack-o-lantern faces.
5. Carve the pumpkin.
Most pumpkins have a natural front and back side. Often,
Halloween pumpkin carvers choose the smooth, rounded side for the
jack-o-lantern face. However, some may opt to carve the flat, rough side of a
pumpkin, if it better suits the chosen pumpkin carving design.
Draw or trace the pumpkin carving design on the pumpkin. Using
a sharp, sturdy knife, cut out the various components of the pumpkin carving
pattern. Discard the cut-out pumpkin pieces.
6. Add a candle
inside the carved pumpkin.
Place a sturdy votive or
short
pillar candle inside the carved pumpkin. Light the candle carefully, and
replace the top of the pumpkin.
7. Display the carved
pumpkin.
Halloween jack-o-lanterns may be displayed indoors or out.
Just be sure to keep lit pumpkins away from Halloween corn stalks, paper items
and other flammables.
NOTE: This blogger has no affiliation with any
product/s or companies mentioned in this post and received no remuneration from
the manufacturer/s or product promoter/s for this post.
About artificial
pumpkins:
Many Halloween crafters choose to purchase foam-filled
artificial pumpkins. These inexpensive Halloween decorations need not be
cleaned out before carving, and they may be reused annually. Carving artificial
pumpkins does take some extra tools and skill, but it can be well worth the
expense and effort. (Watch for an
upcoming Practically at Home post on carving artificial pumpkins.)
Image:
Public domain photos
