For detailed designs like these, the right tools are a must. Party City has everything you need!
Be picky at the pumpkin patch and choose according to dimensions (oblong, round, square, oval shaped).
Look for some nice smooth patches for the face.
After prepping your work surface with newspaper or garbage bags, use a sturdy kitchen knife to cut an opening
along the "edge" of the top and sides of the pumpkin, centered around the stem. Cut a 5 or 6 sided shape,
at a 45 degree angle for best results. Also consider cutting a hole at the bottom to accommodate the light or candle
you will use later.
Using your hands, remove the bulk of seeds and string. Next use a scraping tool or big spoon to scrape the
inside walls nice and smooth. Scrape the front wall where the face will be to about one inch think.
Print the stencil of your choice. With scissors cut the design out to help the paper curve best around the
pumpkin. Place it on the face and tape or tack to the edges.
Use the poking tool from your kit to poke holes along the lines of the stencil, at 1/8 to 1/4" distance apart.
Remove the paper. If the lines are hard to see, rub a little flour over the face, then connect the dots with a fine
point marker.
Hold the carving tool like a pencil and insert it straight into the pumpkin. Start carving the smaller elements first eyes,
teeth, etc. and work your way outward.
Follow curved lines by gently turning the saw in the direction you wish to carve. Do not twist it! Leave the cut
shapes in place until you're ready to pop all the pieces out. Leaving them in gives you more support for good
carving. When you're sure you're done, pop the pieces out.
Look over your pumpkin and compare it to the stencil, touching up lightly If you break anything off, don't worry you
can use toothpicks to repair!
Light it up with lights - white lights available at Party City are the best choice.
Enjoy!
Pumpkin Carving SAFETY FIRST!
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WHAT YOU'LL NEED
1 Pumpkin
1 PartyCity pumpkin carving kit
1 pair safety scissors
1 PartyCity stencil
1 battery-powered light
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Party Tips & Tricks
