Halloween

One of the most popular images around Halloween time is the colorful orange Jack-o-Lantern face.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal live. John 3:16 (NIV)

While carving a pumpkin is relatively simple, there are a few things to keep in mind while you are hunting for that perfect pumpkin for your display.

1) Look for carvable 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 pumpkin's surface should be smooth and free of blemishes and discolorations.

2) 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.

3) Store your pumpkins in a cool, dry place. Heat and light speeds up rotting.

4) Before carving your pumpkin, wash it in a solution of 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water. This prevents mold.

5) 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 your own design idea, you can always use ready made stencils or templates (these can be found online or inside a pumpkin carving kit). Cut the pattern out and secure it on the pumpkin surface with masking tape. Use a carving knife (or poking tool) to create pinpricks, or marks, to score the design for you to use as a guide.

6) 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.

7) Consider buying a pumpkin carving kit to save time. Pumpkin carving kits contain all the tools you'll need to create great looking Jack-o-Lantern faces.

8) 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. Best thing about these acrylic pumpkins is that you can reuse them year after year!

9) Once you've carved your traditional pumpkin face, think about 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.

10) 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.

About the Author
© Donna Monday Create fun, spooky and absolutely ghoulicious Halloween Treats with these free recipes http://www.best-brownie-recipes.com/Halloween_Fun_Food.html

Source: Family Articles on ArticlesTree.com

Web ChefJackie.com

Choosing a Halloween Pumpkin - 7 Tips to Ensure That You Get the Best Pumpkin For Your Needs by Melania Karel
Creepy and Cute Halloween Cake Design Ideas by Samantha Mitchell
Easy Halloween Snack Mix by Sara Gray
Ghoulish Entertaining Tips for Halloween by Keith Sinclair
Halloween Bash - Great Ideas For Your Next Party by Kimberly Emminger
Halloween Cake Conjures Up A Witch's Brew! by Samantha Mitchell
Halloween Cakes – Centerpiece and Dessert by Susanne Myers
Halloween Celebrated Around The World Terry Kaufman
Halloween Decorations: 10 Pumpkin Decorating Tips by Donna Monday
Halloween Finger Foods Are Great Crowd Favorites For Scary Theme Food Ideas by Daryl Plaza
Halloween Party Menu by Liz Alderson
Halloween Pumpkin Craze by Sean Carter
Halloween Recipes
Halloween Recipes by Jill Borash
Halloween Treats by Jill Borash
Halloween Treats - Monster Mix by Sara Gray
Halloween - Trick Or Treat? by Joseph Camerlin
How To Carve A Halloween Pumpkin Or Jack O Lantern by Brian Johnson
Jack o' Lantern Halloween Cake - A Bundt Cake Treat! by Samantha Mitchell
Make a Black Cat Cake for Halloween by Patricia Jensen
Pumpkin Carving Ideas by Lata Tokhi
Pumpkin Carving Safety Tips by Gerald Gore
Pumpkin Carving Tips by Lisa T
Pumpkin Painting A Halloween Activity For The Whole Family by JoAnne Westcott
Pumpkin People by Arleen M. Kaptur
Pumpkin Sculptures - They Are Not Your Ordinary Pumpkin by Gerald Gore
Quick And Simple Halloween Recipes by Jeff Layer
Spicy Pumpkin Seeds for Halloween by Sara Gray
The Art of Photographing Food Debbie Jensen
The "C's" of Halloween Treats - Cider, Candy Corn, Caramel Corn, Pumpkin "C"-ds, Candied Apples by Anne Clarke
Three Great Halloween Cake Ideas by Leefe Poche
Tips and Tricks on Carving Jack-o-Lanterns by Rose Smith
Unique Halloween Party Food Ideas by William Smith
Yummy Halloween Treats by Susanne Myers

< Back to Halloween