Ever wanted to know how to carve out a pumpkin?
Well follow these simple instructions below.




Instructions to Carve a Pumpkin



◄ PUMPKIN SELECTION FOR CARVING

• Select an unbruised pumpkin
• Do not buy a damaged pumpkin
• Select a pumpkin with a flat bottom so it wont fall over
• Make sure to get a pumpkin with a sturdy stem

◄ Step 1 — Gather Your Tools

• Sharp knife
• Pumpkin Stencils
• Marker or felt-tip pen
• A spoon and wood chisel
• Knitting needle or poker tool
• A bowl for pulp and seeds
• Newspapers to cover your work area

           


◄ Step 2 — Draw and Carve the Lid

• Remove soil or other debris from the surface of the pumpkin with a moist, soft cloth.
  Draw an outline of a lid around the stem.    It's helpful to draw a notch so you can easily
  tell where to replace the lid when you take it off.    Make the lid large enough to get
  your hand inside the pumpkin (and so you can place a light source inside).    Carve out
  the lid of the pumpkin with a saw or sharp knife.    Make your cuts at an angle toward
  the middle of the pumpkin so the lid stays on and doesn't drop through the hole.     To
  place the light through the bottom, simply cut a hole from the base.

◄ Step 3 — Remove the Seeds and Pulp

• Use a spoon or ice cream scoop to remove the seeds and pulp. Scrape out enough pulp
  so the walls of the pumpkin are an inch or so thick.

◄ Step 4 — Transfer the Pattern

• If you are using a template, reduce or enlarge it with a photocopier to match the size of
  your pumpkin.    Do this by punching guide holes through the paper (be sure not to
  push all the way through the wall of the pumpkin.) Or draw your own design on the
  pumpkin with a marker or felt-tip pen.

           


◄ Step 5 — Cut Out the Pattern

• Cut out the scored design with a saw or small knife. For small openings, use a fine-tooth saw
  (available in pumpkin carving kits).    Gently saw in a continuous motion at a 90-degree angle
  from the pumpkin.    Too much pressure could break the saw or pumpkin wall. When you reach
  a corner, remove the blade and insert it at the new angle.    Don't try to twist the blade.    Once
  you've sawed out an area, carefully push the piece out from the inside.

◄ Step 6 — Make Special Effects

• An advanced technique is to remove the skin without cutting holes in the pumpkin.    Use a
  grapefruit spoon, rounded gouge, wood chisel, or crafts knife to remove the skin.     Cut as
  much skin and pulp as necessary to obtain the look you desire. Remember, the more skin
  and flesh you remove, the more light will shine through.

◄ Step 7 — Illuminate Your Pumpkin

• If you use a candle inside your pumpkin, light it after the carving is done.    If the candle blackens
  the inside of the pumpkin, make a 1-inch-diameter hole in the blackened area to vent the heat.
  Make your pumpkin last longer by coating the cut edges with petroleum jelly.    If your pumpkin
  starts to shrivel, revive it by soaking it in water for several hours.     After you remove the pumpkin,
  let it drain and dry so it doesn't rot.

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