Halloween Jack-o-Lantern Pumpkin Carving Tips
Safe Pumpkin Carving Tips for Kids
- Purchase ripe pumpkins that are free of scratches, dents, gouges and bruises. A bruise, soft-spot or blemish on the pumpkin will cause the pumpkin to decay faster.
- To make your creations last longer, store them in plastic bags in the refrigerator when not on display. Wash the inside of the pumpkin with a mild bleach solution and rub petroleum jelly on the outside of the pumpkin (after carving) to slow the process of decay.
- Use Paper Pumpkin's stencil templates with specialized pumpkin carving tools to make pumpkin carving easier, safer and a lot less messy.
- Cut into the pumpkin top at an "\ /" angle to remove the stem and create a lid. The angle prevents the lid from falling into the hollowed-out pumpkin.
- Use a large spoon to remove the seeds and other pumpkin matter. Make sure the walls of the pumpkin remain thick and strong. Save the pumpkin pulp and matter to make Pumpkin Soup and spread the seeds thinly to dry on a cookie sheet or paper towels for pumpkin seed roasting later.
- Print a Paper Pumpkin pattern and tape it onto your pumpkin.
- Trace the pattern into the pumpkin flesh with a sharp pencil, large nail, or skewer to press the template design into the pumpkin flesh.
- Remove the paper and touch up the tracing so the design is easy to follow if necessary. Rub flour into the holes or scored lines to make them turn white and easier to see.
- Use a safe carving tool to gently carve the pumpkin pattern.
- Place a small emergency or tea candle in the cavity and turn out the lights to see your pumpkin face glow.
- Your design will depend upon whether your pumpkin is tall, fat or round. Use Paper Pumpkin's printable pumpkin parts to cut and paste to design your own unique Jack O'Lantern design.
- Use toothpicks to add extra features like ears or noses.
- Use plant hangers of different lengths to display the carved pumpkins in a group to give the spooky illusion of several glowing faces floating in mid air.
- To give your pumpkin a fresh pumpkin smell, sprinkle pumpkin pie spice inside the shell.
- Keep pesty squirrels and other varmints away by sprinkling Tabasco sauce or cayenne pepper in and around the pumpkin.
Walt's Pumpkin Carving Secrets: Making Patterns This is an excellent tutorial page for creating and visualizing pumpkin pattern.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds make great snacks rich in fiber as well as vitamins B and E.
- 1 1/2 cups dry pumpkin seeds
- 2 tsp. melted butter or oil (olive or vegetable work best)
- salt to taste
Other options for variety:
- garlic powder
- seasoning salt
- cayenne pepper
- Cajun seasoning blend
Preheat oven to 300° F.
It's O.K. to leave some strings and pulp on your seeds for flavor, but clean off major chunks.
Mix the pumpkin seeds in a bowl with melted butter or oil and the seasonings of your choice.
Spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer on baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes until golden brown. Stir occasionally.
Pumpkin Recipes
Pumpkin Soups
Pumpkin PlayDough
(Not for eating)
- 5 1/2 cups flour
- 8 teaspoons cream of tartar
- 3/4 cup oil
- 2 cups salt
- 1.12 ounce container of pumpkin pie spice
- Orange food coloring (2 parts yellow, 1 part red)
- 4 cups water
Mix all of the ingredients together.
Cook over medium heat until all the lumps disappear. (Stirring constantly)
Knead the dough on a floured surface until it is smooth in texture.
Store dough in an airtight container.
Pumpkin Carving Tools
- Dremel Pumpkin Carving kit available through Amazon.com
- Battery Operated pumpkin carver by Power Master available at Target Stores
- Battery powered pumpkin carver by Halloween Works available at Walgreens
You can also find pumpkin carving tools and kits at Safeway stores and Rite Aid.
Trick or Treat Jokes
Halloween Trick or Treat Jokes
- Question: Why was the skeleton afraid to cross the road?
Answer: It had no guts...
- Question: What do you get when you cross a werewolf and a vampire?
Answer: A fur coat that fangs around your neck...
- Question: What do ghosts add to their morning cereal?
Answer: Booberries...
- Question: What do you get when you cross a vampire and a snowman?
Answer: Frostbite...
Good Pumpkin Sites for Kids
the Pumpkin Patch littlegiraffes.com
Pumpkins
Easy Fun School
Pumpkin Nook Everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins! How to grow, how to cook, carve,
World Class Giant Pumpkins!
Bizarre and Extreme Pumpkin Sites - PG rated at the very least!
Extreme Pumpkins.com Pumpkin carving at its wildest!
Printable Hallowen Gift Wrap
Print Your Own Wrapping Paper
