Carving Pumpkins for Halloween Step by Step
Carving pumpkins for Halloween is a tradition that has been around since the late 19th century. You do not want to be left behind and jump on the festival during Halloween night. If you do not know what to do, then do not worry since it is pretty simple to carve a pumpkin yourself.
Carving Pumpkins for Halloween Step by Step
Get your pumpkin You can use any size pumpkin as long as it is fresh so it will last throughout the season until Halloween. Find one that does not have any bruises with a sturdy stem. You do not want the pumpkin to roll so choose one with a flat bottom.
Cut the pumpkin open To make sure that the pumpkin sides would not cave in later it is better to cut the opening on the bottom instead of the top. But if you do want to make the opening on the top then you need to make sure that the lid is cut with an angle. That way you can still put the lid back on and it would not sink in.
Remove the insides Next you need to remove the insides of the pumpkin, especially the pup using a pumpkin claw. But if you do not have it then you can just use a regular scoop for ice cream. Besides removing the pup, it is better to also remove some bit from the inner wall of the pumpkin where you will carve later on. Make it thin to around one and a quarter inch thickness. This will help you piece the pumpkin shell easier when carving pumpkins for Halloween.
Make a sketch Before you put your design right on the pumpkin, you need to create a sketch on paper first. Then you can tape the paper to the pumpkin and use it as a pattern. Poke some holes along the sketch you make using a pencil or fork. This will then become your final design on the pumpkin. Then you can just remove the paper to reveal your design.
Hold the pumpkin Most people will just put the pumpkin on the table when carving. But this will make the carving process harder since the pumpkin can move around when you put pressure on it. So, it is better to just hold the pumpkin and put it in your lap when carving.
Start big You can use a regular kitchen knife to carve if you do not have pumpkin cutting tools. Or you can also use a small saw if you want to create a more intricate design. Make sure you cut it with up and down motion and do not create a slanted cut. Follow the design that you have put on the pumpkin earlier. Cut the whole design first so most of the big pieces will be gone. Then once you have a rough cut all over you can redefine the edges of the cut and clean up the design.
Accessorize your pumpkin You can actually put some accessory on the pumpkin to make the design look more unique. Use the scraps from the previous carving pumpkins for Halloween step and make hair accessories, pope or even tongue for your pumpkin.
Add a seal Most people will start pumpkin carving near Halloween since it would not last that long. But you can actually help to make it last longer by adding petroleum jelly and spreading it around the cut edges. If the pumpkins still shrivel then you can soak them in cold water with your face down for around 8 hours.
Light the pumpkin Last step is to light the pumpkin using candles to make your design stand out. You need to put the candle into the pumpkin before you light it up. Then after you light up you can put the lid back into the pumpkin. Next you need to create a small hole when you see the lid blackened that will act as a chimney for the candle.
But if you do not want to use candles then you can use a Christmas light since it will make the appearance spookier when it blinks. You can also use a battery candle so you do not need to worry about fire hazard.
As you can see, carving pumpkins for Halloween is very easy as long as you follow the right step. Be creative with your design and you will get the best Halloween pumpkin.