MACON, Ga. — With Halloween just around the corner, it’s time to get creative with one of the season’s most iconic symbols – the pumpkin!
What you’ll need:
- Medium to large pumpkin
- Carving knife or pumpkin carving kit
- Scoop or spoon
- Marker or pen
- Stencils or cookie cutters
- Candle or LED light
Step one:
Choose a pumpkin.
Look for one that’s firm, with a smooth surface, and no soft spots.
Step two:
Cut off the top of the pumpkin to create a lid so that you can scoop out the inside of your pumpkin.
Cut a circle, but make sure the cut is angled inward so the lid doesn’t fall in.
You can also thin out the shell of your pumpkin so you need less force when carving.
Step three:
Scoop out the insides with your spoon, removing the seeds and pulp.
Don’t forget, you can save the seeds for roasting as a tasty snack.
Step four:
Now that you have our pumpkin prepped, it’s time to design.
You can freehand a spooky face or use a stencil.
If you use a stencil, tape it to the pumpkin and trace the design with a marker or pen.
You can also use cookie cutters as a stencil.
Step five:
Carefully cut along your marked lines, using your knife or carving tool to create your design.
Step six:
Place a candle or LED light inside the pumpkin.
If you're using a real candle, make sure to carve a small hole at the back to allow for ventilation.
