The Budget Casa

 

'Tis the season to be carving. Pumpkins, of course. In honor of this once-a-year activity, we wanted to learn the ins-and-outs of creating a jack-o-lantern masterpiece. With help from PumpkinMasters.com, we’ve pulled together some easy do-it-yourself carving tips and found some cool out-of-the-ordinary patterns to download. Now all you have to do is find the pumpkin that's right for you.

Happy Carving!

What you'll need...
- A pumpkin
- Some old newspaper
- A garbage or compost bin
- A damp cloth
- A permanent marker
- A sharp knife (or preferably, if you can afford it, a pumpkin carving saw)
- A candle
- Long matches

How to buy...
- Before you go on the hunt for a pumpkin, choose the pattern you’re going to use. That will help you decide what kind of pumpkin you need (tall and short versus fat and round).
- Stay away from pumpkins with bruises (it could be a sign of mold, meaning the pumpkin could have a shorter lifespan).

Get started...
- Place newspapers under the pumpkin.
- Make sure your garbage or compost bin is within reach.
First, cut a lid…
- Draw a line around the stem with a permanent marker.
- Cut along the line with your knife.
CUTTING TIP: Angle the blade toward the center of your pumpkin to create a ledge for the lid to sit on.

Get rid of the goop…
-Clean out the seeds with a special scooper or a kitchen spoon. (Dispose or compost accordingly.)
*FUN FOOD TIP: Remember to save the seeds so you can bake them later!

It’s pattern time…
- Tape the pattern you printed off to the pumpkin.
- Use your knife to lightly carve along the lines of the pattern and into the pumpkin. (You want it to transfer to your pumpkin.)

Get carving…- Hold your blade like a pencil (firmly and pointing forward) and steadily move it up and down, cutting into the pumpkin. (Dispose or compost the extra pieces.)
*SAFETY TIP: Make sure to wipe all the goop and seeds off the handle of your knife before you start carving. (You don’t want the blade slipping from your hand mid-carve.)
The finishing touches…
- Wipe any excess goop off your pumpkin with a damp cloth.
- When you’re done carving, remove the lid and place a small candle in the middle of the pumpkin. (TIP: Tealight candles work best.)
- Put the lid back on.
- Use an extra-long match to light the candle.
- Put on your front porch, or use to decorate the interior of your digs for a Halloween party!
- Enjoy!