A QUICK GUIDE TO CARVING
AND DESIGNING THE
PERFECT JACK O’LANTERN
BY DINAH WOLFE
Pumpkins are everywhere this time of year. We carve them, eat them and wear them as cos-
tumes. We line our mantels with them, turn them into table centerpieces, and bake cookies,
cakes and pies with them. For many, pumpkins symbolize family and tradition during this time of
year. As Jack O’Lanterns pop up in store windows and on the front steps of every home, make
sure your family’s carved pumpkins are looking their absolute best with this helpful guide below.

PUMPKIN CARVING 101
Why do we go crazy over this iconic fruit,
and where does the pumpkin-carving
tradition come from? Jack O’Lanterns
were originally carved out of turnips and
potatoes. While Jack O’Lanterns’ location
of origin is uncertain, pumpkins are native
to North America, and carving and lighting
them gained popularity after Irish and
Scottish immigrants arrived in the U.S. in
the mid-1800s. Pumpkins are harvested
in October, just in time for Halloween and
Thanksgiving. It was once a common belief
that carving scary and grotesque faces
in pumpkins and placing them in front of
your home would ward off evil spirits (or
pranksters) on Halloween.

While pumpkin carving is nothing new,
how often have you or your kids attempted
to create a pumpkin masterpiece to have it
end up falling short? Or, maybe you’ve had
trouble getting a carved pumpkin to last
more than a day or two?
Keep reading for some basic but
essential pumpkin carving tips and tricks.

Perfect for both beginners and more
experienced carvers, these tips will surely
boost your Jack O’Lantern-making skills
this season.

16 Washington FAMILY OCTOBER 2019
Choose the right pumpkin. A large
pumpkin with a sturdy stem and a flat
base is ideal. Large pumpkins are easier
to handle and carve, and a sturdy stem is
a sign of a healthy pumpkin that will last
longer. Be sure to examine your pumpkin
from top to bottom, and avoid ones with
soft spots and bruises.

Use the right tools. These days, many
great tools for both kids and adults are
available in retail stores. A boning knife
or serrated knife works well for carving,
an ice cream scoop works well for remov-
ing the pumpkin seeds, and a scraper
cleans the inside walls nicely. For kids,
you may want to purchase a carving tool
set specially designed for them.

Cut the lid. First, create a lid by cutting
at a 45-degree angle so it does not fall
into the pumpkin when you place it back
on top. You can cut the lid in a zig-zag
shape, or another option is to cut off the
back or bottom. The choice is based on
what you want and the look you want to
achieve for your pumpkin.

Scoop the goop. Remove all the seeds
and pulp with an ice cream scooper.

Place them aside and roast them later
for a healthy snack! Once the seeds
are removed, scrape the walls with
a scraper. If you carve a pattern in
the front, try to scrape the back of
the pumpkin as smoothly as possible
because it will be visible through your
carved design and will reflect the light.

Draw and carve. Draw the face or
trace a template for your desired
design. Your design can be scary, gro-
tesque or funny. Consider using a dry
erase marker so you can easily wipe off
mistakes. If you are a beginner, start
with a simple design. Use a small paring
knife or Exacto knife for more detailed
designs. Make slow, gentle cuts that go
straight up and down, not at an angle.

More experienced carvers may use
drills and electric carving knives.




Preserve it. You can preserve your
pumpkin to make it last longer by
spraying or soaking it in bleach or cold
water. After you soak it, make sure to
dry it completely to avoid mold. As an
added preservative, apply petroleum
jelly to the cuts. This jelly acts as a bar-
rier to lock in moisture and slow down
the dehydration process.

OTHER PUMPKIN DIY IDEAS
You don’t have to carve a pumpkin to
decorate it. There are also many beau-
tiful but spooky alternatives to carving
a pumpkin for your Halloween decor.

You can paint them, decoupage them,
or cover them in fabric or tulle. You can
embellish them with flowers, gems or
gauze. You can even repurpose them
and turn them into fall-inspired serving
bowls, drink coolers or flower vases.

Here are two easy alternatives:
DECOUPAGE To decoupage fabric onto a pumpkin,
cut strips of fabric one or two inches
wide. To determine the length needed,
measure from the stem to the bottom
center of the pumpkin. Apply decoup-
age medium directly onto the pumpkin
with a paintbrush. Place one fabric
strip, and apply another generous layer
of decoupage medium on top of the
strip. Continue applying strips until
your pumpkin is covered. Allow it to
dry completely.

COOLER To make a drink cooler, choose a
large, wide pumpkin. Follow the tips
and tricks above for cutting the lid,
removing the seeds and pulp, and
scraping the wall. Do not carve it.

Place a glass bowl inside the pump-
kin. Fill the bowl with ice and place
a bottled beverage inside. Consider
embellishing the pumpkin by paint-
ing it or attaching paper bats to the
outside. This pumpkin drink cooler
is perfect for Halloween parties and
get-togethers. BOUQUET
Using a medium to large-sized pump-
kin, complete the carving steps above
to hollow out the pumpkin. Then,
turn the hollowed-out pumpkin into a
vase by taking a pre-arranged grocery
store bouquet, holding the stems right
below the flowers, and trimming all of
the stems at once to a length that fits
the pumpkin. Place the shortened bou-
quet into your pumpkin and voilà — a
perfectly festive flower arrangement.

The pumpkin is officially an icon
of autumn. From Halloween through
Thanksgiving we can’t get enough of
them. So now that you know why we
carve pumpkins and how to carve one,
it’s time to make it a family tradition.

Carve them, line them up and light
those Jack O’Lanterns! ■
Dinah Wolfe is a DIY expert and
runs a successful home décor, craft-
ing and DIY blog.

1 Use dry erase markers to trace designs. Use dry erase markers to draw
designs directly onto your pumpkins before carving. Unlike permanent
markers or even pencils, the markings will completely wipe off clean with a
wet paper towel once you’re done.

2 Place silica gel packs at the bottom. Those little silica gel packs that
you find in shoeboxes can serve a great purpose. Put them in the bottom of
Jack-o’-Lanterns to extend their life. The packets not only trap moisture, but
they also prevent mold.

3 Sprinkle on some cinnamon. After you’ve finished carving, sprinkle a little
cinnamon on the bottom of the lid or base of the pumpkin. Because of this,
when you light your Jack O’Lantern, it will smell just like pumpkin pie!
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