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Pumpkin Carving

Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-606 -- More Projects »
PHOTO

Leaves make a festive stencil for tracing patterns onto a pumpkin.
Autumn brings the traditional trek to the pumpkin patch, usually with kids in tow. But why is it that kids get all of the fun? Here are some great carving techniques designed for the big kids!

Step 1
First, gather materials:

craft knife with a jigsaw blade
pumpkin
set of stencils or some leaves
felt tip pen
straight pins
petroleum jelly
candle

PHOTO

The size or shape of pumpkin may lend itself to a particular design.
Step 2
There are many types of pumpkins to choose from. The Howden Biggie is a large pumpkin with an average size of about 40 pounds. It has a very deep orange color and will last a long time after being carved. Its smaller cousin is the Howden regular, which has the same qualities as the biggie. There is also the Pankow's Field pumpkin with a nice, smooth skin and a deeper orange color. It's a good carving pumpkin with a very thick, sturdy stem. Or if you are looking for something petite, the Spooky Pie is a great choice. Out in the field, you might find some with a bit of an odd shape to them. These are perfectly acceptable to use. Remember, the color of the skin is a good indicator of how easy the pumpkin is to carve. The lighter the orange, the easier it is to carve, but it won't last as long as pumpkins that are a deeper orange.

Step 3
To begin, remove the insides of the pumpkin. To do this, you must cut off the top of the pumpkin and stick your hand inside to remove the seeds. If you want, you can save the seeds and toast them for a tasty treat.

PHOTO

Use straight pins to secure the leaf or stencil onto the pumpkin. After tracing, remove the pins.
Step 4
Choose a stencil (or any flat flexible object that you want to trace) and position it on any side of the pumpkin. Take a felt tip pen and trace the stencil pattern onto the pumpkin. Now, you have a beautifully patterned pumpkin.

Step 5
The next step is to carve the pumpkin using your craft knife. Be sure to stay within the lines! When the design is cut out, you can pop out the skin. To give the design more definition, you might want to clean up the pumpkin's edges with your craft knife.

Step 6
To ensure that your pumpkin design will last, keep the pumpkin in a cool location and rub the cut edges with a bit of petroleum jelly. Finally, add a candle. Now, you have a jack-o'-lantern to spook the little ones this Halloween.

Also in this Episode
Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-606
•Frost-Hardy Perennials
•Indian Corn Swag
•Pumpkin Carving
•Toasted Pumpkin Seeds
•Bat House
•Growing Artichokes
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