How to Carve a Pumpkin

How to Carve a Pumpkin
Creating beautiful and artistic jack-o-lanterns to decorate your home is easy
with our simple, step-by-step guide

Jess Chamberlain, SunsetChoose:
Select a variety of pumpkin shapes, sizes, and colors. For added personality,
select ones with unique stems.

Plan:
Before carving, group pumpkins in desired location and map out each one’s
design.

Design:
Trace real leaves onto paper, or use patterns from botanical “clip art” books.
Experiment with different leaf size and arrangement.

Hollow:
With a saber saw or pumpkin-carving tool, cut out the top of each pumpkin. Scoop
out seeds and strings with a sturdy metal spoon. Then use a pottery tool called
a loup, a small metal ladle, or a melon balers to scrape out as much of the
interior as possible, especially where you plan to carve (this will make carving
easier and allow for better illumination).

Transfer:
Before copying a design onto a pumpkin, clean the entire surface with a damp
towel, then wipe with another towel until exterior is completely dry. Secure
paper to pumpkin with masking tape or pushpins. Use a pushpin, embroidery
needle, or metal skewer to prick your design onto the pumpkin.

Carve:
Cut along transferred design lines using a saber saw, pumpkin-carving tool,
small paring knife, or linoleum-cutting tool (similar to a box cutter). Shorter
bladed allow more control.

Preserve:
To keep your designs looking fresh, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or
vegetable oil to the pumpkin’s carved cervices.

Light:
To get the right amount of glow in a pumpkin lit by candles, use multiple tea
lights.
****************************************************************
Leafy Pumpkins
Here are five ways to bring the season’s most iconic motifs alive in simple,
elegant displays for outdoor decor.

Glowing Vines
Step 1: Cut out top of pumpkin and scrape the inside clean

Step 2: Using a real vine or a vine pattern, transfer design to pumpkin. (to
create your own pattern, use varying sizes of your favorite leaf shape, then
draw a vine between the leaves.)

Step 3: Carve leaf shapes by cutting completely through the pumpkin or by
scraping a shallow relief. You can combine the two methods, as shown here on the
smallest pumpkin.

Step 4: With a scraping tool, carve vine stem about 1/4 inch deep, being careful
not to break through the pumpkin flesh.

____________________________________________________________ Some posts may contain affiliate links, see our Policies. Please help support Bargains4Wahms. Companies may discontinue freebies, coupons, sales etc. without notice