Project Guide: Preparing, Carving, and Decorating Pumpkins

Preparing, Carving, and Decorating Pumpkins:

1. Choosing a Pumpkin

• If your pumpkin is intended for Halloween, buy it no more than a week before, so that it won't go bad by the holiday




• Make sure your pumpkin is unblemished, free of scratches, cuts or bruises




• Make sure you pumpkin has no soft spots that indicate rotting




• Check that the stem is sturdy and not too bendable




• Check that your pumpkin is healthy by knocking on the side to make sure it sounds hollow




• Plan your carvings and designs before hand, so that you choose the right shape and size

2. Prepare Your Workspace

3. Prepare Your Surface

1. Wash pumpkins in a mild solution of bleach, water, and dish soap. 1 gallon water, 2 teaspoons bleach, and a drop of Dawn dish soap




2. Scrub them with a soft brush to remove any dirt or grime




3. Dry them thoroughly, turning them over every few hours




4. Give them a coat of clear spray paint (If you're planning on leaving them whole)

4. Prepare Yourself for Working

• Remove all jewelry from your hands




• Wear work clothes that you won't mind getting pumpkin on




• Tie back long hair

Basic Tools Include:

• Sharp Serrated Knife




• Jab Saw




• X-acto Knife




• Spoon or Ice Cream Scoop




• Battery Tea Lights or Candles

• Rotary Tools




• Jig Saw




• Drill with a small bit




• Awl (if transferring a pattern)

1. Cleaning

• To cut the lid, angle your knife slightly towards the center of your pumpkin, so that your lid will fit snugly back into place later




• Make a small mark or line at the back of your pumpkin to indicate where you cut the lid so that it lines up perfectly after cleaning




• Using your hands, a large spoon, or an ice cream scoop, remove all of the stringy filling and seeds from your pumpkin




• The cleaner your pumpkin, the brighter your design will be when the light shines through it




• If your pumpkin is unsteady, level the bottom by cutting off a slab and creating a flat base

2. Planning Your Design

3. Carving

• There are 3 levels of the pumpkin to keep in mind when following a carving pattern: the surface, the pulp, and the inside of the gourd




• Use the serrated knife or jaw saw when trying to cut fully through the pumpkin to the inside, and the x-acto knife when you are trying to carve the skin or just reach the pulp




• Carve your pumpkin in a back and forth sawing motion




• Reattach any broken pumpkin features by pushing a toothpick into your broken piece and then placing it back where it belongs




• If you're having trouble removing small carved details, stab the section with a toothpick and pull it out

Preserving Your Design

• After you've made your cuts, coat the cut parts of your pumpkin with petroleum jelly, Vaseline, or diluted lemon juice




• If you're adding a flame to your jack-o-lantern, be careful not to coat the inside




• If you have cool weather, leave your pumpkin outside




• If you're in a warmer climate, put your pumpkin in a large plastic bag or cover it with plastic wrap, and set it down in the fridge when it doesn't have to be on display




• If it starts to dry out, place your pumpkin in a tub or sink for a couple of hours, carved side down, and let it soak up some moisture

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