An attractive accessory to your Halloween costume this year, would be a well designed pumpkin. Select one with no bruises or spots, because it will last longer. The difficulty when selecting, is we usually see a pumpkin as a large face. So for example, you might pick one that a family member always bought and carved out in to a grinner. Maybe you go for the oddly shaped one that needs looking after. You can see how they start to take on a life of their own.
Skilled carvers use utility knives and all sizes of small saws to make their life easier. You may have a double edged serrated knife which is particularly good for small areas because you can cut in both directions.
An apple corer is excellent for making holes to represent freckles. Cookie cutters can be tapped through the pumpkin to punch out the design. As a guide, cut open the top of your pumpkin in a five sided shape and angle the cut inwards so the top does not fall inside.
Scoop out all the insides so you leave a shell no more than one inch thick. Before you start, sketch out on paper what you want it to look like. This will serve as a good guide to the finished article. You can paste your drawing on the pumpkin to help guide you. Always try to make your mistakes on paper first. It is far easier to ditch it and start again before you have even started cutting.
If you have been to a Halloween festival you know that no two pumpkins look the same. You can experiment with winking eyes, teeth, freckles and angry eyebrows. If you do make a mistake in your carving you can re attach a piece with toothpicks.
Finally, you can preserve your pumpkin longer if you keep it cool and do not start cutting until nearer Halloween. This is because they retain moisture and will last longer. After you have cut it you can still retain it longer by dipping it into water. Cover all cut surfaces with petroleum, jelly or vegetable oil. All of these steps to seal the moisture in the pumpkin and keep it in good condition for Halloween Eve.
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