Pumpkin Carving

Picking the Perfect Pumpkin

• Select an unbruised pumpkin about the size and shape of your design.
• Choose one that is smooth and evenly colored so your design transfers clearly.
• Make sure the pumpkin has a flat bottom so it sits upright.
• For children, try to select a lighter-colored, softer pumpkin. These don't last as long, but they are easier to carve.

Fitting Your Pattern to Your Pumpkin

• A basketball-sized pumpkin 12"-15" tall fits Pumpkin Masters' carving patterns best.
• You can make your pattern fit any size pumpkin by reducing or enlarging it on a photocopier.
• You can also take your pattern with you when you buy your pumpkin so you can select one that is the size and shape of your pattern.

Carving Tips

• For a cleaner, uncut top, cut a circle from the bottom of the pumpkin to clean the pumpkin out, instead of cutting the lid. (Lift and place the pumpkin over the light source when carving is completed.)
• Scrape away the pulp until the area you plan to carve is 1" thick. (It is easier to carve when the walls are thinner, but not too thin to hold up your design.)
• Hold your pumpkin in your lap while carving for better control.
• Hold your saw like a pencil and steadily saw up and down like a sewing machine.
• Carve dot-to-dot and keep your pattern handy to refer to while carving.
• Start your carving from the center and work your way to the outside of the design.
• Don't twist, bend, or jab saws.
• Don't force or slice with saws.
• Push carved pieces out with your fingers, not the saw blade.
• If your pattern transfer is hard to see on your pumpkin after you have poked it, rub flour over the dots to make them more visible. If your design is unclear, your dots may be too far apart or too large. Refer to your pattern and use a pen to connect the dots. Avoid these problems by making your dots smaller and closer together.

Lighting and Displaying Tips

• Sprinkle your pumpkin's lid with cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice for a festive scent.
• If you cut from the bottom, instead of from the top, attach light source to bottom lid and place pumpkin over it. (For a candle, drill hole and place in hole.)
• If using a candle, always cut a hole on the top/back of your pumpkin to act as a chimney for the heat to escape.
  
• To create a spooky effect for a scary carved pumpkin, choose a flashing light.

Tips to Make Your Pumpkin Last Longer
Two things happen to pumpkins once they are carved:

1. They dry out and shrivel and/or
2. They mold.

To protect against dryness and mold, cover the carving with plastic wrap and put the pumpkin in the refrigerator when it is not on display. To reduce shriveling, coat the cut edges of your carving with petroleum jelly. You can revive a shriveled pumpkin by soaking it in water for 1 to 8 hours. (Use a bucket or bathtub.) After removing it from the water, let it drain for half an hour, then dry it carefully. Once the pumpkin molds, there is really nothing you can do to get rid of the mold.