When carving pumpkins, the scary part is figuring out where to start.
These illuminated gourds of the night come in a variety of shapes, sizes and attitudes. The key is to start slowly. An excellent beginner jack-o-lantern isn’t carved at all.
Using markers or paint, you can create designs without the mess and smell of the pumpkins’ guts. This is a good idea if you want to decorate early because the pumpkin won’t rot.
It’s also perfect for little brothers and sisters. If the marker and paint combination seems a little dull, spice it up with some construction paper props or accessories.
A little further from the basics is the classic jack-o-lantern. Triangle eyes, one or two teeth and a big grin mark it as the most recognizable of the jack-o-lantern.
You don’t even need a pattern for this one. It requires a knife, a bowl for the guts and imagination. Use a knife with serrated edges to cut a lid in the top of the pumpkin. Hold the knife at a diagonal angle so the lid is shaped like a cone that way it won’t fall into the pumpkin.
The king of jack o’ lanterns gets a little complicated. It takes patience, dedication and usually a lot of tracing. These are the kind of things you see in competitions and greeting cards.
The best way to go about this is to find an artistic person, have them draw a mini masterpiece on your pumpkin and carve it out. It’s painless and you can take all of the credit.
Unless a beginner pumpkin is your cup of tea, you’re going to need a couple of tools. The basics include a serrated knife and some kind of scooping device. This can be anything from a steak knife to a spoon.
Another thing to consider is lighting. Candles are the go-to source of illumination, but can be dangerous. The best kind to use is a tea light. They’re little, they won’t scorch the inside of the pumpkin and they put off a great flickering effect.
Glow sticks are a safer alternative that don’t put off any heat but add to that overall eerie vibe of Halloween. Mini-LED and strobe lights are another option when lighting a lantern.
Whether you’re preparing for a party or trying to liven up your front porch, jack-o-lanterns are a great way to show Halloween spirit.
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