Turning Pumpkins into Jack-O’-Lanterns
Turning Pumpkins into Jack-O’-Lanterns
The time has come to start thinking about the masterpieces you and your family will create for Halloween. Will it be a scary face, the silhouette of a black cat, or the logo of your favorite sports team? Fear not, you still have time to decide!
The Pattern
Some pumpkin carving kits have stencils included. If yours does, it’s a good idea to make some copies of them as you will probably want to toss them out after one or two uses. If you do not have stencils, check online. Be careful as there are lots of sites that will seem to be free and then want $2.29 for the pattern you just promised your kid. Here are two that are actually free: ehow.com, pumpkinglow.com.
If you prefer to draw your pattern freehand, the best thing to use is a china marker, which you can buy at a craft store. Pencil works, but is hard to see, and a marker does not rub off at all, so any mistakes in cutting will be seen by all.
Gutting the Pumpkin
Time to get dirty! Everyone knows to cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin and gut out the seeds… so what is there left to say? Plenty! If this is your chosen approach, be sure to tilt the handle of the knife at about a 45 degree angle away from the stem to ensure the top won’t fall in when you are done.
For those of you looking to do something different, cut the bottom of the pumpkin. This will be more of a challenge with gutting, but it will keep people guessing how you hollowed the pumpkin without taking the top off. It will be easier to light the pumpkin too, as you can just set up your light and lower your pumpkin onto it. Because you will be lowering the larger top part onto the small base, it is helpful to draw a small line (vertically) where you cut the hole so that you can use it to line up the pumpkin when placing it down.
Use a spoon to scrape the inside of the pumpkin, making sure you save the innards as we’ll be baking pumpkin seeds soon enough.
Carving
If you are using a stencil, apply it with tape to the face of the pumpkin. Use a push pin to poke holes along the lines of the image. Be sure to poke plenty of holes so you can follow the stencil clearly afterwards. If you are designing your own, draw your picture on the pumpkin.
There are two schools of carving – cutting everything out, or just peeling off a few layers of the outer skin. The first is easier, as you only have to worry about the final look. The second requires more tools and more patience, as you will want some consistency. The nice thing about this look is that your light will make the design of the pumpkin glow without having to look at the source of the light (notice we didn’t say candle…). If you go this route, be sure you really scraped the inside of the pumpkin as much as possible; you won’t have to peel as many layers on the outside. Check your local hardware store for some small saws and other tools that can be used for carving. Often times these can be easier to use and more sturdy than store-bought carving kits.
Lighting
Everyone knows you can use a candle, but that can be a bit of a hassle. Who wants to worry about fire, wax, and keeping it lit? Our tool of choice is a basic light bulb. We light to use the strands of light that are used in ornamental villages (think Department 56). If you don’t have any of these hanging around the house, you can find them at your local hardware store usually. Plug these into an outdoor power strip and you will never have to worry about the candles going out again.
When to Carve
Once a pumpkin is carved it will only last for a few days, maybe even a week. Some tips to help it last longer: keep the pumpkin out of sunlight during the day; soak it in water overnight; coat with petroleum jelly; buy a pumpkin spray.
Final Thoughts
While you are gutting the pumpkin, make sure you save the seeds. Separate them from the pulp, rinse them off, coat them in olive oil and some salt and get them into the oven. Remember to take pictures, don’t worry about the mess, and have fun!
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