Pumpkin Carving Tips

Pumpkin Carving Tips
Tips for making your own Jack-o-Lantern:

Always check how your pumpkin sits, before you start to carve. Often it will lean one direction that you may be able to work around.
Lighter-colored, softer pumpkins are easier to carve, but won't last as long.
Use an ice cream scoop to clean out the flesh (don't forget to roast the seeds!).
Pumpkins with lots of flesh can be hard to carve. Scoop out extra flesh where you want to carve details. The flesh should be less than an inch thick for easy carving.
Use a light marker to draw your lines before you start to carve. If you aren't sure about your drawing skills, look for objects you can trace that are the right size and shape (eg. A small plate could be the right curve for a smiley mouth.
Start from the center, and work out. Carve the nose before eyes, and eyes before eyebrows.
For intricate features, try using a craft knife or an exacto knife rather than paring knife.
Sprinkle your pumpkin’s lid with herbs like cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice for a festive scent.
If you don't want to carve this year, get some paint and brushes and let the kids paint the faces on their pumpkins.

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