Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and remember that you will need this part for the lid. Make sure when you make the cut that you angle it inward, so your lid will sit properly on top of the pumpkin and won’t just fall through! This was the firsWhen it comes to carving your Halloween pumpkin, there are endless design possibilities. You can make it with the traditional happy face, or you can use stencils and make some very elaborate designs. They can be scary, weird, or funny. I’ve seen some outrageous celebrity carvings, one was of Ozzy Ozborne at a Halloween party. Now that really fit the occasion!

First, finding that perfect pumpkin. Consider the shape you want - pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes. Make sure that your pumpkin is ripe, but not too ripe. Here’s a tip…when you thump on it you should hear a hollow sound. That means the pumpkin should be easy to scoop out. Remember to save those seeds for baking. Pumpkin seeds make a yummy snack! Try to find a pumpkin that also has a nice stem & remember not to carry it by the stem, always carry from the bottom. Store your pumpkin in a cool, dry place, until ready to carve. Warm temperatures will only speed up the ripening, then rotting, process. Yuck!

Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and remember that you will need this part for the lid. Make sure when you make the cut that you angle it inward, so your lid will sit properly on top of the pumpkin and won’t just fall through! This was the first

e outrageous celebrity carvings, one was of Ozzy Ozborne at a Halloween party. Now that really fit the occasion!

First, finding that perfect pumpkin. Consider the shape you want - pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes. Make sure that your pumpkin is ripe, but not too ripe. Here’s a tip…when you thump on it you should hear a hollow sound. That means the pumpkin should be easy to scoop out. Remember to save those seeds for baking. Pumpkin seeds make a yummy snack! Try to find a pumpkin that also has a nice stem & remember not to carry it by the stem, always carry from the bottom. Store your pumpkin in a cool, dry place, until ready to carve. Warm temperatures will only speed up the ripening, then rotting, process. Yuck!

Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and remember that you will need this part for the lid. Make sure when you make the cut that you angle it inward, so your lid will sit properly on top of the pumpkin and won’t just fall through! This was the firs

r pumpkin is ripe, but not too ripe. Here’s a tip…when you thump on it you should hear a hollow sound. That means the pumpkin should be easy to scoop out. Remember to save those seeds for baking. Pumpkin seeds make a yummy snack! Try to find a pumpkin that also has a nice stem & remember not to carry it by the stem, always carry from the bottom. Store your pumpkin in a cool, dry place, until ready to carve. Warm temperatures will only speed up the ripening, then rotting, process. Yuck!

Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and remember that you will need this part for the lid. Make sure when you make the cut that you angle it inward, so your lid will sit properly on top of the pumpkin and won’t just fall through! This was the firs

kin that also has a nice stem & remember not to carry it by the stem, always carry from the bottom. Store your pumpkin in a cool, dry place, until ready to carve. Warm temperatures will only speed up the ripening, then rotting, process. Yuck!

Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and remember that you will need this part for the lid. Make sure when you make the cut that you angle it inward, so your lid will sit properly on top of the pumpkin and won’t just fall through! This was the firs

Cut a hole in the top of your pumpkin and remember that you will need this part for the lid. Make sure when you make the cut that you angle it inward, so your lid will sit properly on top of the pumpkin and won’t just fall through! This was the first mistake I ever made when carving and it ruined the whole thing!

To help preserve your pumpkin and prevent mold, wash the outside and inside (when it has been cleaned out, of course) with a mild bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach to 1 gallon of water), and dry. To make your design last longer, coat all of the exposed areas of the pumpkin with petroleum jelly as soon as you have finished carving, including the surfaces you have cut your design into (you may need to use a cotton swab to reach tricky spots), as this will slow down the ’old apple’ look and shrinking.

As for the actual carving part, it’s really pretty basic - depending on your design. Draw your pumpkin pattern on a piece of paper first, this way you can make revisions without damaging the pumpkin. If you do not consider yourself to be particularly artistic, there are many ready made stencils available and some even come with pumpkin carving kits. There are great patterns that you can find online and print ou