Pumpkin Carving

Before you begin crafting your jack-o-lantern masterpiece, first you must prepare your space and your pumpkin. Clean and clear a space and cover it with newspapers or a plastic garbage bag to keep pumpkin goop from getting too messy and out of hand in your space. I keep two bowls nearby: one for the pumpkin seeds and another for the innards I am going to scoop out. Lastly, gather your tools:

• A Serrated Knife to cut the top of the pumpkin
• A Spoon to scoop out the innards
• A Marker for drawing your template
• Various carving tools to make your design

Once you have everything set, prepare your pumpkin:

• Before carving wash the pumpkin with warm water and let it dry. 
• Cut a lid into the top of the pumpkin with a serrated knife. 
  • A circle around the stem about 4″ – 6″ in diameter (depending on the size of the pumpkin) works well. You should be able to easily fit your hand inside to scoop out the innards.
  • Cut at an angle, not straight down! This will ensure the lid stays in place when put back on instead of falling to the bottom. 
  • Alternatively, you can cut the hole on the bottom of the pumpkin, so that a candle can be placed on the base and the jack-o-lantern is set atop it. 
• Scoop out the seeds and pulp. 
  • You can save the seeds and cook them later. 
  • Scrape the inside of the pumpkin walls until the pumpkin is about 1″ – 2″ thick.