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How to carve and use a Jack-o'-lantern

Three well lit Jack-o'-lanterns showing differently carved designsCarving the pumpkin for Halloween is fun for both the adult doing the carving and the child sitting and watching. You can get really creative in the process by carving the traditional scary face or something else entirely, like a spooky house silhouette or a car or other inanimate object. Whatever you decide, these carving tips will give you a sense of how to do it;
  • Choose a firm pumpkin – one that will withstand the carving and survive a few days without going mushy.
  • You'll need a long slender knife, preferably one with a serrated edge and a little flexible for carving those curves.
  • Cut out the top of the pumpkin in a circular ring and remove it. With a large spoon, scoop out the stringy flesh and discard it.
There are a couple of ways to come up with the design;
  •  1. You can first draw it on paper, then cut it out like a stencil and transfer the design onto the pumpkin by following the lines.
  •  2. The second method is to draw the design free-hand directly onto the pumpkin.
Once you have your design outlined on the pumpkin, it's time to carve it out. Carve slowly and carefully, so you stay within the design and prevent cuts to your hands.

Tip: After it's carved, you may want to rub a bit of Vaseline around the cuts. This will keep the cuts from drying out and give a longer life to the jack-o'-lantern.

You can add other elements to your pumpkin at this stage – a carrot for a nose or you can turn the parts you've cut away into ears with a little shaping.

If candles aren't for you, you can illuminate with a flashlight or glow-lights. Red Christmas lights will make it even scarier.

Don't forget about safety
Halloween preparations are fun for both young and old, but it's also a time to think about safety. You're carving through a very thick skin, so carve carefully.

Also if you use real candles in the pumpkin, these should not be left unattended. If you want the flicking effect of candles, a safer solution might be to use artificial LED candles.

Finally don't forget to select good locations for your Jack-o'-lanterns. Inside your front window with the curtains open is usually best. Check to make sure they are visible from the footpath. You can also decorate your porch with scarily carved pumpkins, but leave out the candles or use other forms of lighting were you intend to leave them unattended.

Copyright © Lorraine on NiceAnswers.com 2017

Editor's Note: I've included some more information on the Jack-o'-lanterns below;
More information on how to carve Jack–o'–lanterns
Many different Jack-o'-lantern design templates
Jack-o'-lantern safety tips for Halloween

Here is some additional information about Halloween;
Tips for shelling out on Halloween

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