Kids and adults alike love to carve pumpkins during fall. Carving is a fun activity, and people can create amazing designs and interesting faces. But sometimes, it can be challenging to translate your creative idea into reality. Use these tips to get your carving pumpkins like a pro in no time.
Get Creative With Tools
You don’t need to buy fancy carving kits and spend a lot of money on tools. In fact, you probably have things around the house right now that can help you make your pumpkin unique. A cheap carving kit with simple tools is a good place to start. Then, look around your kitchen. For example, a melon baller can help you scoop out your pumpkin or create eyeball shapes. A zesting tool can be useful for adding texture to your pumpkin. Finally, paring knives and box cutters work great when you’re adding details.
Less Than Perfect Pumpkins
It’s tempting to search for a perfectly round pumpkin, but sometimes the weird and funny ones have more character. In fact, it can be fun to mix and match orange, round pumpkins in several sizes with squat, pale, or green pumpkins. In addition, you can include some with warts or bulges. The most important thing is to check each gourd for soft spots or cracks that could cause your carved beauty to rot too quickly.
All Hollowed Out
Many people cut into the top of the pumpkin where the stem is. Then, they scoop out the seeds and strings. But many pumpkin carving gurus say you should cut out the bottom of your pumpkin instead. Cutting the bottom can help you get the pumpkin guts out faster and with less work.
Scoop More to Get More
Scooping out a pumpkin can take a lot of effort. But if your goal is to create a stenciled look or a carving with a lot of detail, then you’ll want to scoop. In fact, scrape and scoop until the pumpkin walls are about an inch thick. You can use dressmaker pins to check the thickness or pin your design in place while you carve. Then, you’ll get the translucent look with less carving.
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Your Design
If you are going to try something more complex, you’ll benefit from taking a few extra steps. Carving freehand is very tough, so try tracing your design onto your clean pumpkin. Sewing transfer paper is perfect for this. In addition, set aside plenty of time and try to avoid distractions, so you don’t get frustrated.
Finally, don’t be afraid to take a break. If you are not going to finish until the next day, use plastic wrap to cover the design tightly and put the pumpkin in the refrigerator.
You can make this year your best pumpkin-carving holiday yet.
Disclaimer: The stock image is being used for illustrative purposes only, and it is not a direct representation of the business, recipe, or activity listed. Any person depicted in the stock image is a model.