As Halloween looms on the horizon, parents start thinking about costumes for the kids, or perhaps even for themselves; stocking up on candy and other goodies for trick-or-treaters; decorating the house with such appropriately ghoulish objects as ghosts, goblins, witches, spider webs, and black cats; and, of course, locating the perfect pumpkin to make a Jack-o-Lantern.
Selecting the Perfect Halloween Pumpkin
Choose a pumpkin that is smooth and firm, not rough, uneven, or spongy in places, as well as one that has a sturdy stem. Round pumpkins are the norm, but a more vertical shape is preferable for designing interesting and unusual faces. Of course, when it comes to size, larger is better, unless one's goal is to create small Jack-o-Lanterns for display on a tabletop or mantel. And as for color, the overall orange shading should be uniform and intense, not uneven, pale, or mottled with brown.
Necessary Supplies for Carving a Jack-o-Lantern
Although one can simply take a knife and start carving, in order to avoid a mess, as well as the risk of destroying the pumpkin, it’s best to have certain supplies on hand:
- A felt-tip marker (non-permanent) or grease pencil for outlining facial features or creating unusual designs.
- A serrated knife or craft saw for cutting a hole in the top of the pumpkin, as well as creating irregular shapes.
- A regular knife (a sharp one) for cutting detailed shapes, for example, the eyes and mouth.
- A large metal spoon or sculpting tool for removing pulp from inside the pumpkin and smoothing the interior.
Some additional supplies that might come in handy include the following:
- Templates of Jack-o-Lantern designs are available at some craft stores as well as offered for free at online sites like Jack-o-Lantern.com or familycrafts.about.com; however, it’s possible to create original templates by measuring the pumpkin’s “face,” drawing a design on paper, then taping the design to the pumpkin to use as a pattern to follow when cutting.
- Vellum, which can be used to line the inside of cutout sections to prevent wind from blowing out the candle, although battery-operated candles are an option, and unlike real candles, they will not burn down but instead flicker all night long, or at least until the batteries die.
- Items for decorations, for example, carrots for noses and different types of hats (available at craft stores), although witches’ hats are especially popular for the occasion.
How to Carve a Jack-o-Lantern
When it comes time to carve the pumpkin, follow these steps:
- Cut off the top of the pumpkin.
- Hollow out the pumpkin, using a spoon or sculpting tool to shave down the interior walls, but don’t make the walls too thin.
- Using either a felt-tip pen or a grease pencil, with or without a template, outline the face on the front of the pumpkin.
- Begin cutting, but cut just outside the lines, not directly on them, and if a piece of pumpkin accidentally breaks off, reattach it with a toothpick.
Tips for Preserving a Jack-o-Lantern
These tricks can help ensure that a Jack-o-Lantern lasts until Halloween instead of beginning to deteriorate before the big night:
- Spray the outside with a solution of 16 ounces water and one tablespoon household bleach, let it set for several minutes, then wipe the pumpkin dry with a clean cloth. This will prevent insects from dining on the pumpkin.
- If the pumpkin gets wet, either from rain or a heavy dewfall, dry it off as soon as possible, since leaving it damp will encourage the growth of mold.
- Do not place the pumpkin in direct sunlight; but, instead, place it in a cool, dry place out of the direct sun, and it will last for up to two weeks, possibly longer.
By following these steps, people can create a Jack-o-Lantern for Halloween that will not only thrill pint-sized trick-or-treaters but also look attractive in the yard or on the front porch and possibly even be the showpiece of the neighborhood.
Readers might also want to check out Easy Halloween Recipes and Halloween Decorating Ideas for some ghoulishly delicious desserts and frighteningly simple homemade decorations.
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