- Tape or use pins to affix the pattern
to the pumpkin.
- If your pumpkin is quite lumpy, dip
the paper in water or vegetable oil (the
oil will make printer ink run less, but
makes the project quite slippery).
- Smooth the pattern onto the pumpkin,
affix with pins or masking tape and let
the paper dry.
- You can also make small cuts in the
paper where it bunches so it lies flat
on the pumpkin. Add pins or tape to
hold.
- Poke holes through the pattern with a
nail, push pin or pumpkin poker. Make
the holes about 1/8th inch apart (or
even closer for more complicated
patterns). This step can take quite
awhile so be patient. Just place the
pumpkin in your lap and work away at it.
- Remove the paper from the pumpkin.
- Rub flour or chalk dust all over the
part where you poked the holes so you
can see them better.
- Push a nail through the pumpkin skin
where you want to start carving.
- Turn and push until it’s all the way
into the pumpkin, then remove.
- Repeat anywhere you're going to need
to start carving (eyes, nose, etc).
- You want to do all the pushing before
you start carving because it take some
pressure (once you start carving, the
pumpkin becomes weaker and applying
pressure may cause it to break).
- Using your nail hole as a starting
point, cut the design with your serrated
knife or saw.
- start somewhere in the center of the
design to keep from putting too much
pressure on areas already carved.
- Use a sawing motion to cut out your
design, using very light pressure… take
your time and allow the sawing to do the
work rather than applying pressure and
forcing it.
- When making curves, just slightly turn
the saw. When making sharp corners,
remove the saw and re-insert it at an
angle.
- To remove pieces, push them out from
the inside. For larger pieces, you may
want to cut them into smaller bits and
remove them in sections.
- Once your pumpkin is all set, use a
pumpkin light (safer than a candle) or a
candle in a candleholder designed for
pumpkins to light it up.
- Light the candle and place it on a
piece of tinfoil inside the pumpkin. Put
the lid on. Let it sit a minute.
- Remove the lid and there should be a
smoke mark on it.
- Cut a vent in the lid where the smoke
mark shows.
