Carving Pumpkins is one of the best ways to get into the
spirit of Halloween. However, carving a pumpkin could seem
like a daunting task…the scooping, the design, the tools…not
mention the clean up. But come on, even with all of that, carving
pumpkins on Halloween is so totally worth it.
So...in the spirit of our Rewards Hub Contest, we thought it might be a good idea to give you all a few pumpkin
carving tips and tricks.
TEN TIPS FOR CARVING THE PERFECT PUMPKIN
1. Pumpkin Selection: When shopping for pumpkins think about
the shape and what sort of a face you could carve to really bring the shape to
life. Pumpkins that might be considered “ugly” sometimes make for the most
interesting faces.
2. Flip Your Lid: You don't have to take off the top, consider
taking out the bottom or even the back of the pumpkin. Sometimes the stem of a
pumpkin makes a great nose when you turn the pumpkin on its side. Regardless of
where you choose to make your lid, you just want to be sure you have a big
enough space to get in there and remove all of the seeds.
3. Create the Perfect Fit: After you have selected the best
spot for your lid, don’t just cut a simple circle. A circle makes it difficult
to figure out how the lid fits back on. Cut the lid into a cone shape or put a
little notch in it, so that it comes out easily and fits back easily too.
4. Scoop the Goop: A large metal spoon or an ice cream scoop
works well for this. Forget about purchasing those Pumpkin carving kits that
include the plastic scoops. For one thing the, the handle on those are way to
small and for another, the thick plastic makes it hard to really get all of the
goop out. Also, keep your arms fairly clean by starting the scraping from the
lid hole, down the sides and then then bottom. Then, after all of the walls are scraped, dump
the pumpkin goop into the trash.
5. Design the Face: Dry erase markers work best when drawing
on the face, because if you don't like your work, you can erase it!
6. Cut it Out: An old kitchen knife with a serrated edge works
best…even if it is slightly dull. Small, paring knives are great for carving detailed
designs into the pumpkin. But for the young carvers in the family, a carving kit
knife will do the trick.
7. Think Outside the Box: Great pumpkin props can be found
anywhere. Look for fun props at the grocery store, hardware supply store and the
craft store. Twizzlers are good for hair, wood chips for teeth and Laffy Taffy makes
a great tongue.
8. Preserve Your Pumpkin: Most of us get excited and want to
carve our pumpkins the minute we bring them home. But the fact of the matter is…Pumpkins
rot. Try your best not to carve your Pumpkin until the Day before Halloween. To
help preserve your Pumpkin, spray the inside and all exposed carved areas with
bleach…this keeps the bugs and mold away. Before Dehydration sets in, covering
the carved areas and interior of pumpkin with petroleum jelly. This will keep
the pumpkin from drying out. But, If your pumpkins start to show signs of shriveling,
bring it back to life by soaking it in the tub for a few hours. This
re-hydrates the pumpkin and makes it looks like you just carved it.
9. Light it Up: Candle-free options are the safest and are
great for showcasing your pumpkin designs. These days you can find color-changing
strobe lights, battery-operated tea lights and rainbow LEDs that are made
specifically for pumpkins. And Battery-operated tap lights are a great option
for a small pumpkin or gourd or use several in a larger pumpkin. But if you’re
a traditionalist, nothing beats the old standby…votive or pillar candles. A
good tip when illuminating a pumpkin with a candle is to cut a small hole in
the top of the pumpkin, like a chimney, allowing the heat to escape.
10. Proper Placement: Organize your carved pumpkins in
darker areas of your yard…not right on your well-lit porch. Walkways and flower beds make great stages for
your Pumpkins and really showcase the glow and design.
No matter what...make sure you have fun! Invite your friends over and carve pumpkins together. Turn on a scary movie and get inspired. Pumpkin carving is a blast and truly is the kick off to Halloween.
