Halloween wouldn't be complete without glowing pumpkins. Each year, there are hundreds of thousands of pumpkins that get carved into faces, logos, and familiar creatures of Halloween. People carve pumpkins a variety of ways: using kits that give a number of different patterns, drawing faces or logos, or just going at the pumpking with a big ol' carving knife. No matter how you carve your pumpkin, use these helpful hints to create a phenominal Glowing Gourd.
Helpful Hints For Pumpkin Carving
If you, or someone you know, plan on carving pumpking this Halloween, take a peek at these helpful hints:
1. When cutting the top off of your pumpkin, cut the top off at an angle. If you cut straight into the pumpkin there is a chance the top can fall in the pumpkin when you put it back on. If you cut it at a 45 degree angle, then the top sits nicely on the pumpkin and doesn't end up in the middle of the pumpkin.
2. Clean the pumpkin out all the way! Scrape, scrape, and then scrape some more! You want that pumpkin to be clean on the inside. This will prevent anything inside the pumpkin from catching on fire. Plus, it won't smell.
3. If you are working on a detailed pattern, make sure the pumpkin wall is thinned out. You want to make sure the carving tools can easily go in and out of the pumpkin. To make the wall thinner, grab your scraping tool and scrape. You can gauge how thick or thin the wall is by gently knocking on the outside of the pumpkin. If it is thin, it will sound more hollow.
4. Don't make the walls TOO thin. If you pattern is really detailed, you don't want the pumpkin to be too thin. This will cause the pumpkin to cave in and your detail will be lost.
5. Using a pattern? Work from the inside out. If you do this, especially on a detailed pattern, then you won't run the risk of the pattern falling in. Also, start with the small pieces of the pattern, like eyes or face detail, and then do the bigger pieces. If there is more surface area on the pumpkin when you are cutting these pieces out, they will come out more easily.
6. Did your pattern fall in? For small fixes, you can use toothpicks. I usually dip them in water first, just as a precaution.
7. BE CAREFUL! Ok, duh, but be careful when using carving tools and knives. The number of pumpkin accidents is just ridiculous.
8. Use petrolium jelly. I know you are saying, what? Use petrolium jelly (aka Vaseline) when you are done with your masterpiece. Place a thin layer of vaseline on the top of your pumpkin and on the large pieces of exposed pumpkin. This will help keep your pumpkin preserved and help it to last longer.
8. Automatic lights! Yes, you can use small votive candles to light your pumpkins at night, but if you live in a windy city, using small flashlights or battery powered lights will keep your pumpkin glowing all night long. Plus, you won't have to worry about a trick or treater blowing out the candle.
9. Save your pumpkin seeds! When you clean out your pumpkins, save the seeds. Then you can use the recipe below.
Happy Carving!!
The Carving Tools You Need
Below are just a few of the tools you can use to carve pumpkins. Some are fancy, some include directions. However, if you are into simple carving you can just use a kitchen knife.
Pumpkin Seed Recipe
1. Clean the pumpkin seeds REALLY well. Make sure to get all of the pumpkin goop off of the seeds.
2. Dry the seeds.
3. Put the pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil or vegetable oil over the seeds and stir to cover. If you are looking for a lighter option, spray the seeds with a non-stick cooking spray like Pam.
4. Sprinkle the seeds with salt. Garlic salt or Morton's Salt also make for great flavors.
5. Pre-heat the over to 325.
6. Bake the seeds at 325 for about 25 minutes, stirring halfway through, until the seeds are toasted.
7. Take out of the oven, let cool, and enjoy!
Where Do I Buy These Tools?
You can find pumpkin carving tools at any of the stores below. Hurry, Halloween is just around the corner!
 | Wal-Mart
Wal-mart has the best every day low prices. Find high quality merchandise at low prices, from apparel to toys and electronics to pharmacy items. Wal-mart has a large selection of goods, many at discounted prices. Furnish your home with beautiful accessories, fill your wardrobe with the latest seasonal styles, update your memories with top of the line digital photography products or get organized for your new baby. Wal-mart has everything you need at prices that won’t hurt your wallet. Start... |
 | Amazon
Amazon.com -A worldwide, trusted leader in e-commerce offering everything from books to baby gear, games to garden furniture and great electronics such as digital cameras, camcorders, DVD players, MP3 players, desktops, notebooks, VCRs and PDAs.
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 | Kmart
Kmart.com offers a selection of products from categories including Electronics, Toys, Fitness, Tools & Outdoors, Home Fashions, Jewelry, Bed & Bath, Baby and Apparel. Kmart also carries top name brands such as Martha Stewart Everyday, Joe Boxer, Kenmore, Sony, Fisher-Price, Evenflo and Craftsman. At Kmart.com you will find what you are looking for at great prices with our weekly promotions and exclusive coupons!
To receive your automatic cash rebate from K-Mart, simply click on our SHO... |
Pumpkin Carving Parties
Carving pumpkins is fun...but carving pumpkins in a group is even more fun! I highly recommend pumpkin carving parties. You can share tools, help others, and enjoy the competition of having the best pumpkin. Here are pictures from a pumpkin carving party - see how much fun you could enjoy!
 Pumpkin Carving is fun with your friends! |  It's important to concentrate... |  What a little carving can do! |
 Everyone shares the tools |  The final products! |