Stained Glass-o'-Lantern
Apply Colored Paper to Pumpkins and Gourds for Unusual Lighting
Oct 4, 2008
Pumpkin carving is one of the most treasured activities of autumn. Did you know that over 100 million pumpkins are cultivated in the United States each year? This ensures that plenty of the orange, white, cream-colored and other hues of the chubby squash are available to consumers for all of their pumpkin-carving needs. It seems that everyone, from children to adults, enjoys carving pumpkins, and what greater way to spend a chilly autumn afternoon outdoors than with a bunch of pumpkins awaiting their transformation into something unique for celebrating All Hallow's Eve?
To get the best results from your efforts, use the proper tools for carving pumpkins. The serrated blades contained in a pumpkin-carving kit are the safest to use and will yield excellent results. If you want to add more detail to your carving, consider using wood chisels, melon ballers or X-acto knives. You can find many of these simple tools at hardware stores; melon ballers are generally available in kitchen-supply stores and select supermarkets and grocery stores.
Add a subdued glow to the light of a jack-o'-lantern's candle or light source, or embellish unique gourds and squashes, by creating a stained glass pumpkin with sheets of colored wax or tissue paper. If you're a pumpkin-carving purists, and insist on carving a traditional motif, you can also use this technique on an ordinary pumpkin like the "Howden", and create a design such as a star. When the light shines through the paper, it projects a soft glow onto a porch or a walkway.
- With a keyhole or small carving saw, cut a hole into the top or bottom of a pumpkin or gourd; remove all the seeds.
- If you're using a template, trace the design onto a sheet of paper (above, center); cut out. Tape the drawing to the pumpkin or gourd, and use a poking tool or pushpin to recreate the outline of the drawing onto the pumpkin skin or gourd exterior. If you prefer to draw it directly onto the skin, use a soft felt-tip pen, so you won't bruise the pumpkin or gourd (use a color like red so errant marks won't stand out). Cut out the design. Use a knife with a smooth blade to clean up rough edges.
- Attach colored wax or tissue paper to the inside with pushpins. If you're using a candle to illuminate your creation, be sure it's short and sturdy so the paper doesn't burn.
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