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Pumpkin Carving Tips for Gorgeous Gourds
The temperatures are dropping, the leaves are changing and it’s that time of year again – pumpkin season! After visiting a local pumpkin patch or farmers market and picking out the perfect gourd, it’s time to get to work crafting festive creations to display leading up to Halloween. But before you dig into your next pumpkin project, do a little planning on the front end for an even more impressive result. Follow the simple pumpkin carving tips below and you’ll be adorning your front porch with the most beautiful jack-o’-lanterns in the neighborhood this year.
Prepare Your Pumpkin
Before you start carving, check out our guide on How to Keep Carved Pumpkins Fresh in 4 Simple Steps. Cleaning your pumpkin to remove all the dirt and wiping it down with a diluted bleach solution will allow your carved creation to last much longer.
See more: Pick a Pumpkin: Carving or Baking?
Browse for Inspiration
Before you settle on your design, spend some time browsing for ideas and inspiration online. You can always go with a traditional carved face, but you might discover a few creative ideas you’d never considered before, like this spots and dots pumpkin, this twisting vines pumpkin or this hens and chicks pumpkin. The options are endless, and you can even find stencils to print out to help you out along the way. Plan and sketch your design before you start carving so you have a good idea of what you’re going for from the start.
Open Your Pumpkin From the Bottom
In addition to keeping the pumpkin’s shape and stem looking pretty, opening your pumpkin from the bottom will make it easier to remove all the pulp and seeds that have settled there over time. This will speed up your cleaning process so you can get to the fun part. It also makes lighting the candle or placing the battery-operated tea light inside easier. You can simply lower the pumpkin over the candle after you place it.
Separate and Save the Seeds
As you remove the pumpkin’s pulp, place it in a bowl of cold water to easily separate the seeds. Stir the water around a few times and the seeds will float to the top as the pulp sinks to the bottom. Skim the seeds off the top and allow them to dry before roasting them in the oven for a delicious crunchy snack or even saving them to plant in your garden next fall. Check out our article on ways to use pumpkin seeds for more ideas.
See more: How to Save Pumpkin Seeds to Plant Next Fall
Scrape Down the Walls
While you’re cleaning out the pumpkin, try to scrape the walls down to about a 1-inch thickness. A big metal spoon or pumpkin scooper from a carving kit works best for this job. Thinning the walls will allow more light to shine through and make the carving process much quicker and easier.
Trace Before You Carve
You’ve found the perfect design and cleaned out your pumpkin – now comes the fun part. But before you start slicing, take a few minutes to trace your design with a ballpoint pen. This way, you’ll know exactly where you need to make your cuts and you’ll be less likely to make mistakes you can’t fix.
Use the Right Tools
Kids’ pumpkin carving kits do a surprisingly good job and even come with special tools for bigger cuts, etching and carving out smaller details. Plus, if you invest in the right tools this fall you can use them for years to come.
See more: 27 Pumpkin Recipes to Make This Fall
Seal Your Jack-O’-Lantern
When you’re finished carving, use petroleum jelly or vegetable oil cooking spray to seal all the cut surfaces of your jack-o’-lantern. This will keep out bacteria and molds and help prevent your jack-o’-lantern from dehydrating over time.
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