So, it's been a very busy October. I was going to get to this last week but it just flew by like the Wicked Witch of the West. :)
The last post was about pumpkins. Today, let's talk about carving these beauties. Let's make something clear from the beginning though. I have absolutely no talent when it comes to this hobby. I stink at it. For one thing, I do not have the patience. By the time I am done cleaning out the pumpkin, I'm ready to throw it out into the garden for compost.
Luckily, my husband has a knack for this particular thing and does a beautiful job. The first years we were married he amazed me with his BYU cougar pumpkin, Garfield, Batman symbol and one of my personal favorites, The Trucker Flap Girl. Unfortunately, most of these were carved before the digital age and I don't have readily available pictures of these. That is one reason we have gone to carving artificial pumpkins so that I can enjoy these year after year AND the girls can take theirs when they have their own homes.
So the first thing I would recommend when carving pumpkins is to have patience. Of course, my husband is a very patient man. (He is married to me after all.) Next, it's important to pick the proper shape and size. It really depends on your pattern. I think all growing up the only pumpkins I ever saw were the usual smiley or angry face ones. It wasn't until later that patterns became available and it became an art form for anybody willing to pick up a toothpick and a knife. Over the years, it has become more complex and amazing and now there are whole sites devoted to the patterns etc. If you want to have some fun, just check out these sites. For a donation or small fee you can have the pattern of your choosing.
http://www.zombiepumpkins.com/
http://www.pumpkinlady.com/pattern.htm
http://www.pumpkinmasters.com/free-patterns.asp
You can buy a kit which includes the scraper, toothpick and knife and also a book of patterns for less than $10. Once you have picked a pattern and printed it, you just clean out the pumpkin and scrape whichever wall of the pumpkin you want to place your pattern as thin as possible. I've heard this allows for a cleaner design. You cut the sides of your pattern in order to bend it around and then tape it to the appropriate side. You can brush some flour over the image to make it show up a little better. Begin with the small pieces and work your way to the bigger ones. A smooth action with more speed and less pressure while sawing up and down is best. Holding the pumpkin in your lap is also a good idea in order to hold it steady. Please supervise your young children and be careful if using real knives.
You can pick up the artificial ones at your local craft store. The same suggestions apply here except that you do not have to clean it out. These pumpkins also tend to create more "dust".
This Halloween tradition has been super fun and memorable for our family and I hope it will be for your family too.
Just a note,
I am donating $2 from each sale of my Breast Cancer Awareness magnets to the Susan G Komen Foundation.
Until next time,
Crazed Momma aka Naquai
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