Pumpkin Carving Tips (cont'd)

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• Consider the size of your pumpkin-- small, medium, or large-- as it will determine the intricacy of your design.
• Consider the dimensions of your pumpkin-- tall & narrow, short & wide-- and whether any irregularities can be incorporated into your design.
• Do you want the design to be spooky, scary, humorous, artistic, or weird?

Step 3: Clean the Pumpkin, Cut Out the Top, and Scrape the Inside

Preparation for carving is the most important part of the process. A little time here will go a long way later.
• To make the best surface for carving, remove all the dirt from the outside of your pumpkin.
• Then, draw a circle or hexagon at least 5-inches in diameter around the stem of the pumpkin.
• When you cut out the top, make sure to slice at an angle (with the top wider than the bottom) so that the top can be replaced without slipping inside the pumpkin. A pumpkin saw is usually the best tool for this task.
• After you have removed the top, scrape all the pulp and seeds from it. Then, scrape the seeds and pulp from inside the pumpkin.
• Try to remove as much as possible without compromising the stability of the pumpkin-- the thinner the pumpkin wall, the easier it will be to carve and the more light it will let through. The best depth for the pumpkin wall is 1- 1.5-inches.
• Make sure to create a flat spot on the bottom for the candle. Most kits come with a scraping tool to make this part easier.

Step 4: Transfer the Stencil

For those with a steady hand and artistic ability, the best way to transfer the stencil is to copy it freehand using a water-based marker, which can be easily wiped away if you make a mistake. For the rest of us, taping the stencil onto the pumpkin is the best option.
• When taping the stencil on the pumpkin, make sure that it conforms to the shape of the pumpkin-- this may mean cutting the stencil into pieces.
• Then, take a nail or plastic poking tool (available in most kits) and score the design into the skin of the pumpkin. The closer the dots, the more accurate your design will be.

Step 5: Start Carving!

Now that you have done all the preparation work, the fun begins!
• First and foremost, work slowly and gently. When you use a saw, saw with it don't cut. This means you should not slice or push the saw through the flesh. The more detailed the pattern, the longer it will take-- but you must be patient for the payoff.
• Start carving from the center of your design and work outwards-- this will avoid putting pressure on the already-carved areas. You should begin with the smallest and innermost features. Try to carve the inside lines before outside lines, and leave the largest shapes for the end.
• Use several passes on a line before pushing all the way through if you are using a knife to carve the pumpkin.
• Don't cut all the way to the end of a line on the first pass. Use successive passes to finish the line.
• Gently push out each piece as they loosen up. For larger shapes, remove in several pieces.
• If you accidentally remove something you shouldn't, use a toothpick to fix it back in place.
• Pick the right tools for the job: Closer teeth and shorter length saws are best for detail work, while wider-spaced teeth and longer length saws are best for removing large shapes.

Step 7: Preserving Your Pumpkin

As beautiful as a carved pumpkin looks, the carving process speeds up the rate of decay. To preserve your pumpkin until Halloween:
• After carving your pumpkin, coat the carved portions with petroleum jelly to prevent water loss. If your pumpkin has already started to shrivel, place in a tub of cold water for eight hours (make sure to remove excess moisture afterwards to prevent molding!).
• Everyday, spray your pumpkin with water. Add a little bit of unscented Clorox Bleach to the water to prevent premature molding.
• When not on display, wrap the pumpkin in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator.

Karin Amundsen is a stay-at-home mom to her beautiful son and a graduate student in British History at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. She is also the Site Administrator for VegasMommies.