Creating a Jack-o-lantern has been a fun, hands-on Halloween tradition for many years. However, this activity can be very messy or become repetitive over the years, so here are some tips and ideas to reignite that fire inside both you and your carved pumpkin.
Materials:
- Medium or large pumpkin
- Carving knife
- Large bowl
- Thumb tacks
- Permanent marker
- Ladle or large spoon
- White printer paper
- Baby powder
- Draw or print your pattern on the white paper. Be sure to incorporate thick edges so the design will be sturdy when carved into the pumpkin.
- Create a lid by slicing off the top of the pumpkin at a slant so the lid will have a ledge to sit on instead of falling into the pumpkin.
- Remove the seeds and strings with a large ladle/spoon and put them into the bowl. You can also use the spoon to shave down the walls of the pumpkin until they are an inch thick so it will be easier to carve.
- Affix your design to the pumpkin with thumb tacks. Place the thumb tacks about an eighth of an inch apart along every line in your design.
- Remove the paper and tacks, then rub baby powder over the holes, making the image show up more clearly.
- Use the permanent marker to redraw the outline on your pumpkin, using your original design for reference.
- Carve the smallest sections of the design first, then progress to the larger, less complex areas. Take your time to avoid mistakes and injuring yourself.
Easy Designs
Miniature bats are easy to make because you only have to carve one simple shape for each bat. Draw a bat on a piece of paper, then create two more in different sizes. Arrange the bats on your pumpkin and transfer the image using the thumb tack and sharpie technique.
A cat and mice design is simple to create and looks unique. Carve the silhouette of a cat onto a large pumpkin. Then, carve the silhouette of a mouse onto three small pumpkins. Place the pumpkins in a row with the large pumpkin at the end so it looks like the cat is chasing the mice.
A haunted house design incorporates both painting and simple carving. Paint a haunted house onto your pumpkin in black paint. Cut out squares for the windows and carve a semi-circle behind the house to create a moon.
Tips for Carving with Kids
- Allow your child to draw or pick out the design, but you should carve the pumpkin for them to reduce the risk of injury.
- If your child wants to create the jack-o-lantern without assistance, skip the carving and give them markers, paint, and any other glue-on embellishments that they can safely handle themselves.
- Encourage your child to draw their own design to promote creativity.
- Remind them that their design doesn’t necessarily have to be Halloween-themed. Some other creative ideas include favorite animals or cartoon characters.
