Top 10 Pumpkin Decorating Tips
One of the most popular images around Halloween time is that of the colorful orange Jack-o-Lantern. There are endless possibilities when designing a Jack-o-Lantern. They can be scary, happy, sad, weird, angry, silly, human or animal like. People love looking at carved pumpkins, and they are often the centerpiece of outside Halloween decorations.
While carving a pumpkin is relatively simple, there are 10 tips to keep in mind while you are hunting for that perfect pumpkin for your display.
- Look for pumpkins that have a strong stem that is firmly attached. To check for ripeness, pick up the pumpkin and thump it a few times. You should hear a hollow sound, which lets you know this pumpkin will be easy to scoop out. The pumpkins surface should be smooth and free of blemishes and discolorations.
- Be sure to always carry your pumpkin from the bottom. DO NOT carry it by the stem, because the stem may snap, which speeds up rotting.
- Store your pumpkins in a cool, dry place. Heat and light speeds up rotting.
- Before carving your pumpkin, wash it in a solution of 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water. This prevents mold.
- Draw your pumpkin pattern on a piece of paper first, that way you can make easy revisions without damaging your prize pumpkin. If you can’t come up with an original design that will work, you can always use ready made stencils or templates. You can easily find these stencils and templates online or inside a pumpkin carving kit. Cut the pattern out and secure it on the pumpkin surface with masking tape. Use a carving tool to create pinpricks, or marks, to score the design for you to use as a guide.
- Carving doesn’t have to be limited to a traditional pumpkin face. Consider mixing things up a little with some other interesting designs like: black cats, witches, ghosts, moon and stars, popular movie characters, or drilling holes in your pumpkin that form an unexpected pattern.
- To cut the actual design out of the pumpkin, use a small serrated saw for best results. Carve with a back and forth sawing motion. Go slow. NEVER use a straight-edge razor, because this can damage the pumpkin and cause possible injuries.
- Consider buying a pumpkin carving kit to save time. Pumpkin carving kits contain all the tools youll need to create great looking Jack-o-Lantern faces.
- If the thought of carving a real pumpkin sounds messy or like too much of a hassle, you can opt to buy an acrylic craft pumpkin. These look pretty real and are easy to carve too. And, the best thing about acrylic pumpkins is that you can reuse them year after year!
- While one pumpkin on the porch or front yard is great, imagine how it will look if you use several small to medium sized pumpkins. Displaying several pumpkins together creates more drama for neighbors and trick-or-treaters.
Do you have any pumpkin decorating tips to share?
