How to Carve a Jack-o-lantern : 7 Steps with Pictures
Since the cut edges of the pumpkin are exposed to the air, they could rot or develop mold quicker. Pat the cut edges dry with a paper towel before rubbing a thin layer of petroleum jelly over the exposed skin. Make simple shape cutouts with cookie cutters and a rubber mallet. If you want to add some striking designs to your pumpkin, hold a cookie cutter against your pumpkin. Tap the cookie cutter gently with a rubber mallet to push it through the pumpkin’s skin.
We think making Christmas crafts as a group is a great way to enhance holiday cheer. All of these projects are simple enough for any beginner crafter to try, which makes them fun for loved ones of all ages. Turn a set of stockings into an advent calendar with special treats as you count down to Christmas.
You can use a serrated knife from your kitchen or the largest serrated tool in a pumpkin carving kit. Draw a circle with about a 2 in (5.1 cm) radius from the stem with a washable marker. Tilt the blade at a 45-degree angle toward the stem and push it into the pumpkin.
When immigrants brought this custom to North America, pumpkins eventually became the vegetable of choice. This Halloween front porches and window sills around the world will be adorned with glowing orange faces flickering in the ghostly moonlight. The tradition of carving pumpkins is one of the most instantly recognisable features of Halloween and has become a favourite pastime at this time of the year. Stingy Jack’s story inspired villagers in Ireland, England and Scotland, who lived near marshlands and observed the eerie lights, to begin making their own versions of his lanterns.
Now, have one of the children start separating the seeds from the glop. Scoop out the stringy pulp and seeds with your hands or a long-handled spoon, placing the seeds in one bowl and the pulp in another one for the chickens or the compost pile. You may need to gently pry it out by inserting your sturdy knife (or a sturdy butter knife, if you’ve been cutting with a Krazy small saw) under one edge.